Mary
Tell us about your survivor journey. Jeremiah 29:11 What has been the biggest source of support through your journey? Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the
ABC’s Face of Inspiration Campaign is a platform that encourages survivors to share their unique stories & breast cancer journey. Our goal with this platform is to create a space where survivors can share resources, build community & speak openly about their experiences.
Submissions are welcome year round (Jan.1- Dec 31). Our platform allows for written & video testimonials (survivors can choose which option they’d like to submit). Stories will be featured on our website and shared via ABC’s social media platforms. FOI contributors will be notified of the “Inspiration Spotlight” prior to its release.
Tell us about your survivor journey. Jeremiah 29:11 What has been the biggest source of support through your journey? Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the
Tell us about your survivor journey.My story began in 1987. I was a clinical assistant in our local health department. I noticed a lump in
Tell us about your survivor journey. I constantly share articles I think are educational or inspirational on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CancerDidntDefineMe. With that I sprinkle
Tell us about your survivor journey. June 2015 almost a year to the day that I lost my husband and son’s father I found d
Tell us about your survivor journey. I learned I had breast cancer on August 29th, 2019. I went to my annual mammogram and in the
Tell us about your survivor journey. February 9, 2017 almost cancelled my mammogram for the 4th year. I had no knowledge at age 69 in
I was diagnosed March 2016. That whole year is still a blur. It consisted of diagnoses, chemo, surgery
and radiation all done with swiftness and precision to erase the 5.3cm tumor that had grown in my right
breast. From then to now I have gained strength mind, body and spirit. I realize that I will always be on
this journey….as soon as I was diagnosed I became a survivor. What I do along this journey is what’s
important.
I was diagnosed March 2016. That whole year is still a blur. It consisted of diagnoses, chemo, surgery
and radiation all done with swiftness and precision to erase the 5.3cm tumor that had grown in my right
breast. From then to now I have gained strength mind, body and spirit. I realize that I will always be on
this journey….as soon as I was diagnosed I became a survivor. What I do along this journey is what’s
important.
It started with soreness under my left arm. First, I didn’t think much of it, and I never thought it would be breast cancer. Each year when I get my mammogram, they would print out a report which would read something like “you are 4% likely to get breast cancer”. Doctor’s appointments they would ask if breast cancer runs in your family, and it doesn’t. I had just turned 44, healthy, slim and I eat a lot of fruits and veggies.
The journey started when I was 31. I was referred to a surgeon because of a large lump in the right breast. It turned out to be a fluid cyst, which was aspirated in the surgeon’s office. He explained that a fluid mass was less likely to be cancerous than a solid mass, but he diligently created slides with each aspiration over the years, that were sent for analysis.