Sunday, February 19, 2012

Breast cancer survivors share bond | Cancer Kick

? Inside every pink shirt is a survivor. Inside every survivor is a story.

Stacie Holley of Leo-Cedarville was one of dozens wearing a pink shirt to the annual IPFW Pink Out on Saturday that honored breast cancer survivors. She also wore a matching baseball cap to hide her bald head.

Holley, 49, was accompanied by her mother, Sherry Caldwell, 65, a breast cancer survivor of 21 years.

?I was about her age when I found out I had breast cancer,? Caldwell said, nodding in her daughter?s direction.

Holley was diagnosed seven months ago and recently completed six chemotherapy treatments, which induced some unpleasant side effects and caused her hair to fall out.

Holley?s sons, Cody, 14, and Chad, 9, shaved their heads in solidarity in October when their mother?s hair began to fall out. Her husband, Andy, has been her caretaker, Holley said, doing household duties and holding and comforting her during the nausea and vomiting spells caused by the treatments.

And her mom? Well, her mom has been her rock.

?The doctors never recommended a mammogram ? they thought I was too young ? but I followed my mom?s advice and had my first one when I was 27,? Holley said. ?When I was diagnosed, I thought, ?Well, here it is; it?s real.? ?

Holley?s cancer was caught at an early stage and had not spread to her lymph nodes, but she will continue chemotherapy until October.

?I?ll have a scan this fall and then, hopefully, I will be cancer free,? Holley said.

Her daughter?s cancer is a fear come true for Caldwell , who also has a 39-year-old daughter. She will never stop worrying about the genetic implications for her daughters and granddaughters.

?If I could go through this for her, I would,? Caldwell said. ?I do not want my daughter to endure this. It?s a tough road to travel.?

Article source: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120219/LOCAL/302199932/1002/LOCAL

Source: http://cancerkick.com/2012/02/19/breast-cancer-survivors-share-bond/

top chef just desserts jamarcus russell sister wives st louis weather jack the cat frank lucas lego man

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.