My Cancer Story

Because my mother and father had succumbed to cancer, I immediately thought I had been handed a death sentence. I was to learn later that my lump was the size of the head of a straight pin. I underwent a lumpectomy, spending only one evening in the hospital. There were months of chemotherapy and radiation. I took a month of leave from my position as a Supervisor at the IRS Baltimore Call Center. Family members and friends were supportive of me physically and emotionally during this time and I was blessed with a top notch oncologist who was with me every step of my treatment and recovery. My oncologist recommended the best radiologist, the best surgeon and the best internist. He also provided encouragement when my faith would waiver. Prayers and support of family and friends helped me get through the roughest ordeal of my life.

While undergoing radiation I learned that a woman undergoing radiation for skin cancer had lived seven years after her diagnosis of skin cancer while my mother had lived only a year. Early detection and research are the keys to wiping out this disease. We are engaged in a war defending our country; we need to engage in a war to defend the lives of women and men who might be diagnosed with this disease.

Waging a war against breast cancer has been my ministry for the past several years. I was recently awarded a Federal Executive Board Bronze Award in the EEO/diversity area for spearheading our call center's Race for the Cure Walk, raising over $5600 for the past two years and for other EEO/ Diversity activities.