Linda Knight
Cont.
it was great to have reached this milestone birthday and to be blessed with good health – that was until a month later when I discovered a lump in my right breast while sitting at work. I called my OB/GYN and was able to get in for an appointment the next day. They felt what I did and referred me to a breast surgeon.
My appointment was scheduled a week away. I got to the office and another exam was given and the doctor suggested doing a biopsy that day to spare me from coming back another day. My follow up
was the next week. I went in expecting to hear everything was fine, that the tests were negative, and that it was just fatty tissue. But that wasn’t the case. It was positive for breast cancer. From that
point on everything was a blur. All I remember was leaving there wondering how to give this news to my family, my friends, my coworkers and employer. With Christmas just around the corner,
the timing couldn’t have been worse. And along with it, I was the primary caregiver to my then 81- year-old mom with advanced Alzheimer disease. The doctor explained the surgery would be a lumpectomy and I would keep my breast and I would need to go through eight weeks of chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of radiation. Wow… 2019 was not going to be what I had thought it would be.
On December 31, 2018 (yes, New Year’s Eve) I had the lumpectomy. The doctor said all went well and home I went to rest. I did get up later that night to share in the New Year’s Eve celebration and welcomed 2019 with my family. Giving all thanks to my God for making me aware of this cancer that had entered my body. I know it was God that touched me that day and made me feel that lump in my breast.
On February 14, my port was installed and I began my eight cycles of chemotherapy the next day. My children, Gary (28) and Jasmine (20), were my strongest supporters and sat with me during every treatment. They were amazing throughout my entire journey at home and during appointments. They not only watched over me, but also took on the role of caregiver to my mom, which was very challenging for her grandchildren.
Throughout 2019 my journey was tough, but I was tougher. I got through the storm and I’m still standing, giving God the glory each and every day. I am happy that I
am almost four years Cancer Free!