Breast cancer is ravishing my family, friends, and community. I have lost an aunt to breast cancer.  However, some of my friends have been hit harder. One friend has lost two of her sisters, and another friend has lost six aunts. My friends and I look over our shoulders to see if it is stalking us.  And, and we hold our breath at any sign of breast tenderness. The night before a mammogram is always a sleepless one. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I am filled with joy and happiness as we celebrate my mom’s six-year surviving breast cancer story, especially during the COVID-era.  COVID reminds our family to pause and celebrate
all that bring us light, joy, laughter, and peace. 

This is an updated post of my mom’s breast cancer survival journey.

The Dreaded Phone Call

When you have elderly parents, there are moments of anxiety every time the phone rings. My sister cried, “Mom found a lump in her breast.  I held my breath and my heart skipped a beat.  It was not what I expected to hear.

My mom was 88 with numerous health issue.  She has experienced and survived every known childhood illness of her time. So, she is a tough woman.

I sighed, “Please God, not cancer.” “Please God, not my mommy.” No type of cancer had touched my maternal family line until a few years ago when one of my mom’s sisters died in London a few years before.

The Importance of Breast Self-Breast Exam

My sister put my mom on speakerphone. “I was doing my monthly breast exam and I found a lump in my left breast,”  she said.  Wait, she still does monthly breast self-exam?  I don’t even do it regularly and I am a professor who teaches health.

I said, “Mom, your breasts are old and they are probably just lumpy.  It’s probably nothing.”  [So much for active listening].

There is silence on the other end of the phone.  “I know my body and I have a lump in my breast,” she said emphatically.  “I’ve already called my doctor for an appointment.”  OK, that’s self-advocacy.

The mammogram confirmed that she had a lump, and the biopsy confirmed that it was malignant. I tried to be brave but I was anxious and did not sleep well. My Auntie had fought breast cancer bravely a few years ago, but breast cancer fought harder.  Her breast cancer went into remission but came back stronger. Eventually, she went to rest. 

A conference call with mom’s doctor told us that mom had Stage 0 breast cancer.  He was so proud that she was still doing monthly breast exams and had caught it very early.  Even though she demanded that both breasts be removed, he reassured her that only the affected breast needed to be removed.

No Breast Cancer Pity Party

My mom was not having any pity party.  She shot down all her elderly friends who told her not to have surgery because “once they cut you open, the cancer will spread.”  Nope.  She did not want to hear it.  Her philosophy was “either pray for me or leave me alone.”

Either pray for me or leave me alone

Christine

I flew home to be with her for the surgery. 

On the day of the surgery, my three siblings and I went to the hospital with my mom. My oldest brother (yes, he is her favorite even though she denies it) sat in his car in the hospital parking lot. Apparently, he “doesn’t do hospitals.” My other brother paced the floor, and my sister fielded phone calls in the waiting room.  I accompanied her and the medical team to pre-op. My mom has survived breast cancer for six years

Kissing Mom’s Breast Goodbye

I went into the pre-op room to say goodbye to my mom’s breast.  Yes, I did.  We were all breastfed, but as the baby of the family, I thought it was my duty to officially say goodbye to the breast that had fed me for 9 months.  Afterall, I was the last one who had suckled and been nourished by it. I kissed the left breast and thanked it for nurturing me and my siblings.  She rubbed my head and reassured me that she would be OK.

My mom has survived breast cancer for six years.  She had a mammogram and an excellent checkup last week, and is doing great.  And the even better news is that she will celebrate her 94th birthday in a few months.

Breast Cancer Statistics

According to the American Cancer Society:

• About 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. Of those, about 49,290 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed.  
• About 43,600 women will die from breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women–lung cancer kills more women each year.
• The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 39 (about 2.6%).

Early Detection and Diagnosis Are Important

While breast cancer is often found after symptoms appear, many women have no symptoms.  So, that’s why it’s still important to do monthly self-breast exams.  You should also ask your doctor at what age you should start getting a mammogram.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Women should examine their breasts monthly to familiarize themselves with how their breasts normally look and feel. Thus, if something looks and feels different during your self-breast exam, you can call your doctor to get screened as soon as possible. According to the American Cancer Society, signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:

• Pain in a breast or nipple
• Lump in breast
• Swelling of the breast
• Dimpling of the skin of the breast
• Discharge from the nipple (other than breast milk)
• Swollen lymph nodes, especially under the arm or around the collar bone
• Red, dry, flaking or thickened skin on the breast or nipple

Now, It’s Your Turn

Thank you for taking the time to read about my mom’s experience with breast cancer and surviving breast cancer.  Regardless of the reason for your doctor’s appointment, always ask these 3 questions.

• Do you do monthly self-breast exam? If not, why not?
• Let’s break the silence and start sharing our family health history

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Keep It Tight Sisters.

Eat. Move. Breathe.

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