Author: Lucinda West

As a breast cancer survivor, my goal is to help other women who have been newly diagnosed to experience hope as they go through the journey. It is my faith in God that kept me going. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, it is also my privilege to help families who are affected by this horrible disease. My husband of almost 40 years and I have two grown children who are married, and seven grandchildren.
Posted on

I Quit

I Quit

I. M. Poppy

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” ~Jeremiah 33:3 (AKJV)

 

My Story

One evening near the end of my wife Vicki’s 5-year brave battle with cancer, she was having an extreme anxiety attack.  She didn’t appear to have any acute pain but was desperate.  She cried, she moaned, she rocked, and she shook her bed and pleaded with God “take me home.”  Two of my daughters and their significant others sat with me in our bedroom. We tried our best to console her. We all hugged and cried and prayed together.  It was a horrible experience. Finally, with the help of medications, she settled and slept.  We too settled and the girls went home. Continue reading “I Quit”

Posted on

The Caregiver’s Labor of Love

The Caregiver’s Labor of Love

Don Harkey

My Story

The life of a caregiver can be described as both the best of times and the worst of times. When my wife Kathy was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I think my first reaction was one of total selfishness. “How was this cancer going to affect me?” “What would this do to our happy little life?” “Would we still be able to go out to dinner, go to the lake, or go on vacations?” “How would I work?” “Why has God chosen to put this burden on me?”   The pity party had begun. Later, I felt guilty about my initial reaction. To some extent, I think Kathy had the same reaction. Her concern was, of course, on a much deeper more visceral level.   Let’s face it—when your life is on the line, some of the day-to-day worries take on a vastly increased significance. Continue reading “The Caregiver’s Labor of Love”

Posted on

Life is Like Jazz

Life is Like Jazz

Sara Rogers

My Story

I was with my mom when the doctor told her she had Stage II breast cancer in her right breast. My first reaction was disbelief, then denial, and finally acceptance. “It’s nothing; we can get through this.” I am the eldest and my mother is a single parent. Therefore, I had to grow up pretty fast in my younger years. I helped raised my sister and my brother, so naturally, I felt I was responsible for taking my mother to her treatments while I was working and supporting my own family. Continue reading “Life is Like Jazz”

Posted on

Perspective

Perspective

Janina Stout

“Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along.” ~Rae Smith

My Story

After two chemotherapy sessions, I had a repeat breast ultrasound. My tumor was a triple positive breast cancer, and it was not getting bigger with the chemotherapy regime my oncologist had ordered for me. I was very happy with the positive news.

Continue reading “Perspective”

Posted on

Present Peace

Present Peace

Bryan W.

My Story

I was 21 years old and still living in Florida when I received the news that my mother had breast cancer. My family had moved to Texas. With the diagnosis came a looming sense of doubt. A shadow of fear, not knowing whether the clock was about to tick down or the sand was about to run out. While this always seemed like an unlikely end to our story, it was still there. As the words were hitting the page I didn’t know if this would be the end of a chapter or the end of a book. With that, I had fear. I was afraid of not knowing whether my mother would see me walk down the aisle, or hold my first child. I never truly knew which way the story would end.

Continue reading “Present Peace”

Posted on

To God Give the Glory

To God Give the Glory

Shavonda D. Nelson

I still see that “light in my mother’s eyes.”

My Story

I remember planning for my mother’s 56th birthday party, and I was so excited to just see her face. My mother told me that no one had ever given her a birthday party. My goal was to make this the best day of her life, filled with fun, family, and friends. The night of her party I saw a light in her that I will never forget.

Continue reading “To God Give the Glory”

Posted on

A Small Price to Pay

A Small Price to Pay

Tim West

My Story

Breast cancer changed my life in unexpected ways. I’ve always been what I considered to be a fairly “enlightened” husband. When my wife and I first got married, we began our journey by assuming fairly traditional roles. I worked on the outside of the house (e.g. lawn and garden) and she worked on the inside (e.g. cooking and cleaning).

Continue reading “A Small Price to Pay”

Posted on

What Can I Do to Help?

What Can I Do to Help?

Karen D.

“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.” ~Jeremiah 30:17

My Story

I am normally a very active person. You know, the one juggling fifteen things at a time: working full time, managing three kids in different sports, and being a pastor’s wife. Busy, busy, busy. And then I was diagnosed with breast cancer and time stood still. Suddenly, I was forced to hand things off to others. Forced to ask for help. Fortunately, I was surrounded by loving friends and family. The question I most heard was, “What can I do to help?” Continue reading “What Can I Do to Help?”

Posted on

Mom and Me

Mom and Me

Karen D.

My Story

It was the summer of 2013 when my mom got the news that she had breast cancer. We were shocked and concerned since we had no known family history. She and Dad assured us that it was going to be okay; it was small, not aggressive, and could be removed. She had a lumpectomy and then started 21 days of radiation. We live eight hours apart, so we checked in often on the phone to see how she was doing. She was tired frequently, but came through smoothly.

Continue reading “Mom and Me”

Proudly powered by WordPress