Patient Stories: Breast Cancer

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands

Joann: A Higher Power
What breast cancer taught me about trust and faith.
   

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was working two jobs and going to college at night. Looking back, I think it was good I was so busy because I didn’t have too much time to think about it. The more you stay busy, the more you have something that forces you to get up every day and get going and the better off you are.

I had decided to begin a new career at 52 and started college to get certified to teach cosmetology in high school. I have a granddaughter who lives close by and I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.
  

I was so busy with work and classes that I almost put off my well-woman checkup for a couple of months, but something told me I needed to go. They found a lump and did a biopsy immediately. I had invasive lobular and ductal cancer, as well as extensive in situ sites.

As luck would have it, my husband had been laid-off from his job of 15 years just two days before my diagnosis. But, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He was home all summer and able to take me to all my treatments.
   

I had a mastectomy, six months of chemo and then radiation for two months, and I didn’t miss a beat.

One of my biggest fears has always been chronic illness, especially cancer. I just thought I could never do it. But when it happened, I got through it. It really all turned out fine.

I’ve never been a very religious person, but now I think a higher power sometimes has a plan for you and you just have to let things fall into place.

My husband is now back at work, and I’m teaching. My granddaughter is almost two-years-old and I’ve been able to watch her almost every weekend through this whole experience. I am one of the lucky ones.