Surviving Cancer

My story may appear to start out bleak, but at this point in my life, has a happy ending. I went through a painful divorce after 14 years of marriage. Seven months later, June, 1987, I was diagnosed with breast cancer I did not schedule routine health exams as I was reasonably healthy. Depression was the major battle I faced in trying to live with an alcoholic. I tried EVERYTHING until nothing was left to salvage. I was about to change professions when I noticed a small lump in my right breast. I probably would not have gone to the doctor if I had not been about to change jobs and insurance. I wanted to be sure there wasn’t anything to worry about before proceeding with my career change.

I began with an office visit of which the doctor did a needle biopsy. He was unable to draw any fluid so he immediately ruled out a cyst. He sent me for a mammogram that afternoon. I had a strange feeling after having the mammogram and asked about the results before leaving. They told me my doctor was not on call. (They had already tried reaching him) They however sent me to another doctor in that practice. He told me that the mammogram showed something and that I should consult a surgeon. I left the GP and went directly to a surgeon. At that point (all alone by the way) I was told the mammogram showed microcalcification which they defined as very suspicious of malignancy. I was too upset to drive. A friend came and picked me up and tried calming me down. The surgeon set up an appointment for a biopsy 2 days later. I made a rather ubrupt and adamant decision at that point which I do not recommend. I was adopted at 3 days old, and my adopted mother died of breast cancer at 52. One reason was because she put off going to a doctor until the disease had spread into her lymph system. I did not want history to repeat itself. I had two children, a son 13 and a daughter 10. I did not want to leave them without a mother to grow up as I did. (I was 18 when my mother passed away)

Anyway, the decision I made was for the lump to be sent to pathology to be tested before I came out of surgery. If it was malignant, I requested they do whatever it would take to make me well. When I awoke, I knew without a doubt without asking what had happened. However, I did not realize how bad the prognosis was until weeks later. (everyone decided it was best not to tell me) I was told the lump was malignant and a modified radical mastectomy was performed. My lymph nodes were removed as well. The doctor told my family and friends that was initially appeared as a 3 centimeter mass actually entended 7 to 8 centimeters into my chest wall. He told them he had never seen cancer that agressive in a young person. He suggested I would need to take chemo radiation, and possibly cobalt, but he wasn’t sure if this would help. He was actually crying when he gave them my prognosis. (remember, I was not told this initially) Two days later, the doctor came in beaming from ear to ear, there was no cancer in the surrounding tissue or lymph tissue.

I saw an oncologist which did not recommend any treatment whatsoever. He tried to explain how the doctor had made the “misdiagnosis” as seeing inflammation in the surrounding tissue actually keeping the cancer from spreading. However, I had so many Christian people praying for me that I know without a shadow of a doubt God healed me. Today, 21 years later, I still remain cancer free. By the way ladies, I was about as “vain” as you could get. Not really, but I did care about my appearance. I had breast reconstruction a year after my initial surgery with nice results. The scars are there, but as a constant reminder of God’s grace and another chance to ‘get it right.” and a reminder of what is really important in this life. Don’t ever give up. God has a unique plan for each of us!!

J. Jackson