Martha “DaQueen” Cousin
JULY 2026 CALENDAR
My breast cancer journey began back in 2016 when I alerted the doctors that I felt a lump in my breast. I went to see a specialist who was referred to me by my primary care physician. Her name was Dr. Niamey Wilson, Director of the Breast Program at Hartford Hospital. She said I was fine.
In August 2020, I had a genetic test done because of the family history of breast and ovarian cancer on my mother’s side. I also had a mammogram done. They both were negative. I also had a PET scan.
Then on January 1, 2021, at the age of 63, I woke up with a lump the size of a golf ball under my arm. I immediately called my primary care physician on the first business day. He asked me to come in and sent me directly for a mammogram. I was then referred to an oncologist after my primary explained what was going on.
At that point I met with the oncologist who explained that I had Stage 4 breast cancer. The treatment process would be chemotherapy, surgery, thenradiation. I was told Stage 4 breast cancer had a 40% chance of recovery, which I did not accept throughout the course of going through all of that.
The hospital staffs at Smilow Cancer Center and at Saint Francis were pretty much my main support. The social worker and the nurses were extremely exceptional in caring for my needs. As far as family, I only had my son who was my next-door neighbor helping me out.
My niece came from New Haven to drive me around because the chemotherapy I was taking affected my vision. I couldn’t drive to see most of my friends who are musicians and singers. So, my niece would take me to listen to music while I was going through the treatment process. I tell anybody that music is life and that is what kept me grounded and focused. I had no other support from family. A few friends would reach out here and there, but pretty much, my journey was done alone. My primary care physician suggested I get a dog for a companion, which I did.
In May 2026 it will be four years since taking the chemo pill – Xeloda (capecitabine). I still take a maintenance drug, Arimidex (anastrozole) to keep the cancer from coming back.