• For the Breast of Us

    BADDIE BLOGS

    Our mission is to empower women of color affected by breast cancer to make the rest of their lives the best of their lives through education, advocacy and community.

No Mo Chemo: A survivor’s celebration reveals an incredible support system

In May of 2018, I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The crazy thing is, I went to the doctor a few months before because I was having leakage from my breast and was told nothing was wrong. But later, I felt something in my breast (the same breast), went back to the doctor and sure enough, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was devastated thinking of my young son and my daughter who both still need me. I knew I had to fight for them!

I’m glad I know God and have a relationship with him because without him I would have never gotten through this. I stayed positive because I knew and believed that my faith was going to heal me. So I prepared for six rounds of chemotherapy. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. Not being able to eat, you’re so weak in your body and the fatigue was so so HARD! Most importantly, having to explain to my 6-year-old that mommy is going to look different because she is taking medicine that will take her hair out. I cried and prayed many nights but I made it through. After chemo, I had a lumpectomy followed by five weeks of radiation. Radiation was a piece of cake compared to chemo but the burning could be painful at times.

Losing my hair during chemo was so HARD for me. So I decided to show the devil he was messing with a Diva! I put together a warrior breast cancer photo shoot with body paint. It turned out beautiful and it lifted my spirits! This was a very hard journey, but with God I got through it all. And today, in 2019 with the anniversary of my diagnosis coming up, I can say I am cancer free!

I had so much support from my immediate family and my friends. Many came to visit me and gave gifts during my treatment. The prayers and love from them really got me through. My friends, who I call my Dolls threw me a surprise NO Mo Chemo party after my treatment and it was absolutely awesome!

My friends and I are always linking up for some girl time, so a friend called and told me we were having a food taste test party. We had to bring things we had never made before and the recipe with the dish. When I walked in my friend’s home I was totally surprised! They greeted me like it was a celebration! They did a great job from head to toe. Down to the food, the detailed decor and everybody wearing pink and breast cancer socks, so everyone could be comfortable. It was important to me that I was important enough for them to want to do something like that for me. They knew what I had been through and they wanted to give me a celebration and celebrate with me. It was perfect!

It is so beneficial to have a support system. I can honestly say I was shown so much love from my immediate family and my TRUE friends. People came to pray with me, visit me during chemo, help me financially, went to medical appointments with me, brought chemo gifts and food, helped me with my young son and attended breast cancer events. When my job found out I was diagnosed, everyone wore their pink shirts for breast cancer (all three shifts). I really think it’s important to have people by your side, it helps you to get through. You know you have people out there that are fighting with you. They want to see you live!  I’ve always been a giver so to receive the love back at one of the hardest times in my life, was a blessing

If you are fighting cancer, my advice would be to trust God, stay in prayer, stay positive and never give up!

We are all in this fight together!

We are winners!

We are Survivors!

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