Michelle Buchanan

Cont. 

the Covid-19 pandemic, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma.

Prior to this I had always attended my yearly mammograms, but due to my high demanding job, I lost touch with taking care of my own health needs and missed my last mammogram. When I tell you God is so amazing, it is true, and I will always put Him first.
He told me to sleep on my side with my arms crossed and hands on the side of my breasts and low and behold I felt a lump in my left breast.

I immediately jumped up and put my hand in the spot again to make sure I morning, I immediately reached out to my doctor to schedule a mammogram, after which I was referred for a biopsy. I was so grateful to my mom and daughter for being by my side. It was
the one and only time I was able to have someone with me during my treatment due to Covid restrictions.

I remember when my doctor contacted me with the results on March 3rd. I was at work and everything else about that day was a blur. I don’t remember how I made it to my daughter’s house to tell her first. That whole day I just slept. I didn’t know how to tell my mom, let alone say the word “cancer.” I was in complete denial until my third or fourth chemo treatment when my hair started to fall out in patches. That’s when
the reality of what was happening to me was real.

had to have a crying moment for one day before my hairdresser was gracious enough to cut my hair off at her home.
That meant so much to me. She made me feel so good in that moment, I am forever grateful to Sharon Clemons. There was also a time during my treatment when I couldn’t get chemo for two weeks because my white blood cell count was extremely low which gave me such anxiety and I thought I was going to die.

God had other plans for me. He kept sending me reminders from strangers who didn’t even know me saying, “You’re going to make it to the other side,” and they even prayed for me.

Cancer brought on so many other complications including another surgery to remove nodules from lungs revealing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I was being poked and prodded and felt completely depleted. But when I had my lumpectomy surgery, on October 1, 2020, and I got the good news – I was cancer free – I felt like I had a whole new lease on my life.

I am so grateful to my support team of family and close friends who showed me so much love and support when I needed it the most. The Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital was wonderful and very caring. I even received financial support from several organizations. I am not a person who is used to receiving but rather always a giver. God showed me this was a time for me to receive and get a return on my giving to
others.