Debbie’s story starts as most breast cancer stories probably do. With a lump. A lump the size of a green pea. A harmless foe in any other arena but a formidable opponent when raging a war inside the human body. At the age of 43, during a routine self-check, she discovered a lump. She contacted an imaging center but needed a referral from her primary care physician before scheduling a mammogram. She was examined about a month later, and the physician stated, ‘It’s probably nothing,’ Debbie decided that didn’t feel right, so she pushed for an ultrasound and mammogram. 

The clinic that conducted the mammogram sent a letter stating that the results were ‘suspicious,’ but, again, probably nothing and to follow up in six months. However, when the clinic called to schedule the follow-up appointment, Debbie had just completed her second round of chemo.

Three months after the first mammogram, that pea-sized lump was large enough to be seen by the naked eye. The biopsy results determined an aggressive malignancy that spread throughout her lymphatic system, resulting in the need for a lumpectomy, lymph node removal, six months of chemo, and four months of radiation. Also, due to the hostile nature of cancer, the medical team proactively recommended a total hysterectomy.

When I first found out I had cancer, it was a punch in the gut.  Initially, I was depressed and felt sorry for myself, and assumed I was going to die. I spent a lot of time praying that God would take care of my family if I wasn’t around.  What He gave me was the strength to fight and that’s what I did.

Debbie

Eight years later, Debbie is living proof that prayer and a positive attitude are part of the formula for survival. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, co-worker, and an eight-year breast cancer survivor. Debbie is proud to be where she is today and said, “God wasn’t finished with me.  I’m here by the grace of God and I am so blessed to be a survivor and kind of a badass.” Badass indeed.