Almost Two Decades After Getting Benign Tumors Removed, She Got Devastating News

Rays of Resilience: 31 Stories in 31 Days. So many people around the world have been affected by breast cancer, yet no two breast cancer journeys are the same. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re celebrating a new survivor every day. Their resilience is an inspiration to us all.

My name is Yvette.

In June of 2009, I came in to the same office I’d been going to for five years for a routine mammogram. I was feeling great because I was going on vacation.

A few weeks later, I received a letter stating I needed to come in for a biopsy because the mammogram was irregular. So I got a biopsy done and another mammogram; it really hurt. I was told to see my regular doctor in a few weeks to get the results. I was not worried because I had gotten benign tumors removed in 1990 and 1991.

On September 9th, 2009, I went to my primary doctor to get the results. I waited for over an hour and was very nervous. She came inside the room and her head was facing the floor.

She looked up at me and said, “You have breast cancer.”

I was in shock, and I said, “Ooh ok,” and left the office.

At this point I had a friend who said, “Wait Yvette, come back into the office.”

I broke down crying and was emotionally disturbed. I had three girls, two in high school and one in college. That very same day I went home, took all my clothes off and got in bed. In a few hours, I called my children into my room and explained to them that I had breast cancer.

A few weeks later I had so many doctor appointments. My breast cancer doctor explained to me and my family that the lump in my right breast was the size of an orange. It was triple negative breast cancer and the only cure was chemotherapy.

My first cycle of chemo was October 21st, 2009, and I’ve never felt so grateful, because that first cycle killed that lump. During chemo, I lost my hair, only lost 2 pounds, and became depressed.

My love for God and my children helped me through those dark days. I had an abundance of family support as well as the support of my coworkers.

After six cycles of chemo, I had to do radiation for 30 days (which drained me). The radiation burned me from the inside out. I had a bilateral mastectomy and expanders were put in place. I had to visit my plastic surgeon once a week so he could inflate my expanders (which hurt me). I had to take prescription narcotic all the time (which depressed me). I prayed that I would not become addicted to them.

After it all, I’m nine years breast cancer-free and living my life to the fullest. I take nothing for granted and every day is a blessing. There is a rainbow over the clouds, you just have to keep pushing and not let your circumstance become your permanent condition.

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