Hello, my name is Tara Brown, and I am a cancer survivor! In December of 2020, during the pandemic, I scheduled my yearly physical because it was cancelled earlier that year, as everything was closed with limited availability. A couple days before my appointment I noticed that the lump that was previously found seemed to be large and a little painful. I just figured that I would address my concerns with the doctor, as he always schedules my mammogram. I went to the mammogram appointment and upon completion the nurse had me wait. I did not think that anything was wrong. The nurse came back to me and instructed me to call my doctor. I said, “OK” and went to the store. When I made it back home, my husband said that the doctor’s office called and had an appointment for me to see the surgeon. I only thought that the lump had to be removed. This is where everything broke loose.

I went to the afore mentioned appointment with the surgeon, and he stated that I may have breast cancer, but if it is not cancer, he is going to remove the lump because it is large, and it does not belong there. This is where everything starts moving fast, so that I did not have time to process what is happening. I went back to my surgeon, and he proceeded to tell me that I have stage 2 breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. My heart sank in my chest and a frog was in my throat. I got myself together and began quoting scripture in my head. As he explains the next steps, I began talking about my God and my faith. He said that I was going to ask if you needed a counselor to speak with about your feelings, but I see that you do not need a counselor. I got to the car, and I wanted to cry but my alarm went off because I had set an alarm to pray for my father every day while he was going through radiation. I went to my husband’s job, no one could go to the doctor with me because of covid, to give him the news and then I cried.

After receiving my cancer diagnosis, I had one and a half weeks until surgery. I had a mastectomy with tissue expanders in Feb. of 2021, that resulted in 8 days in the hospital. The surgery biopsy also confirmed that the cancer was now stage 3. My treatment plan consisted of 4 months of chemotherapy, 33 rounds of radiation, 2 years of oral chemo and right now I am taking Letrozole that I must take for 10 years. I have had 13 surgeries, contracted MRSA, and had the tissue expanders removed during this journey. I still see the oncologist every 3 months.

How am I doing now, you ask? I am doing remarkably well in my new normal. My new normal is filled with body pain every day, walking with a

cane because the chemo has damaged my knee and needs another surgery and I still tire easily, and looking at all the scars and disfigurement from all the surgeries. Visits to the oncologist and I wonder if my cancer number has gone up. I am still remarkably well! My new normal is filled with hope and joy because God allowed me to live. I am still remarkably well! I do not take any day for granted and I do not have bad days. I smile

everyday while making the most out of every day that I am allowed to see.

My new normal has changed my mindset, sparked a fire in my life and I

believe that I can do anything through Christ. I am remarkably well!

---

<< Return to Previous story

It was just a normal day. I went to the restroom as usual, but on this day, there was spotting. I didn’t think much of it at first, but being a woman in her 60s who hadn’t had a period in years, I thought I should get checked out.

I am grateful that I didn’t drag my feet on getting to the doctor. But to receive a diagnosis of stage 2 uterine serous carcinoma was something nobody could have prepared me for. I was devastated. My husband had passed away a year earlier and I had to break my daughters’ hearts with more bad news.

I was told that the cancer that I’d been diagnosed with was very aggressive and we needed to act quickly. So, I trusted my doctors, but most of all, I trusted God to guide me and ultimately to heal me.

I got a hysterectomy. The complete removal of my uterus. My daughters mourned the womb that carried them, but they supported me every step of the way – through my surgery, 6 sessions of chemotherapy and radiation.

I lost my hair. But I wore my bald head proudly and never accepted that I had cancer. Rather, I had received a diagnosis that I believed would only be temporary.

Today, about a year after my initial diagnosis, I am cancer free. I am grateful and blessed to be a survivor and I am excited to be welcoming my first grandchild into the world!