This is my story

This is my story this is my song, praising my savior all the day long…

Oh how I love that hymn of Blessed Assurance while I was growing up. I did not know what it really meant then, but it is ironic how it became my anthem at 56 years of age. This is the song that carried me through the breast cancer journey. This is the song the Lord placed on my heart and in my mind while being infused with chemotherapy drugs.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine… Oh what a foretaste of glory divine…Heir of salvation, purchase of God… Born of his spirit, washed in his blood. I recited every verse over and over again in my head for 2 hours or so until treatment was over for the day.

Below is a brief portion of my journey…

In 2005, a very small lump was found on my right breast from a regular mammogram screening. I was devastated! I went through the protocol of getting an ultrasound and a biopsy. The results came back that it was a benign tumor. The doctor stated that there was nothing to worry about and we could just watch it every 3 months. I insisted that the lump be removed because I did not want to worry about it. The lump was removed and all was well.

In 2015, I had a painful lump that developed in my right breast. My doctor determined through a biopsy that it was a benign internal cyst that needed to be drained. I moved forward and scheduled the outpatient procedure of having the cyst drained. My doctor discovered that I had many small benign cysts in both breast and stated that I had cystic breast and there was nothing to worry about. I attended all of my follow up appointments and everything was fine. My 2016 & 2017 mammograms were fine. I was not due for another mammogram until April of 2018.

In Mid-March of 2018, I discovered another lump, but this time it was my left breast, and this lump was not painful like the lump in 2015. This lump was very hard to the touch, but no pain. My husband and I were preparing for a 4-day vacation. My thoughts were, “this is just another cyst that I will have to get drained. I will get this checked out when we return from vacation.”

By Mid - April 2018, I had visited numerous medical specialist who all pretty much said the same thing… By the end of April, I had gone through two 3D Mammograms, several breast ultrasounds, 2 biopsies, MRI, CT scan, EKG, heart stress test, numerous labs, special genetic testing and a bone scan. I was diagnosed with stage 2B TNBC, Triple Negative Breast cancer.  

This is one of the most aggressive breast cancers that affect mostly African American women and women of color.

Because of the aggressiveness of the cancer, I had to immediately plan for chemotherapy. There was not anytime to be afraid. I had to be just as aggressive as this TNBC. To make a long story short, the chemo did exactly what it was supposed to do, it shrunk the cancerous tumor down so small that it was only a speck visible by the MRI scan, but it was still there. Also, there was a tiny visible spot on one lymph node under my left arm which meant I would need to do radiation.

In my mind, I wanted to do everything I could to fight this beast. I endured 16 rounds of chemo, surgery, 20 rounds of radiation and 6 months of an oral chemo pill as a preventative measure.

It was on September 26, 2018, when I first heard this phrase from my oncologist and surgeon in unison…“NED” NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. So, on Thursday, September 26, 2019 I celebrated my 1st year of survivorship. It’s still a journey and I am being monitored closely for the first five years of survivorship. Every year for the rest of my life if there is still no evidence of disease, I will celebrate September 26th as my cancer-free-versary.

Breast cancer has truly changed my life in many positive ways. I did not choose breast cancer, it chose me. Therefore, I choose to spend the rest of my life bringing awareness and support to others who are going through this disease.

I am so thankful and blessed that the Lord showed Mercy toward me and healed me from this disease. I want to show my gratitude to Him by helping others who are going through the journey of breast cancer and to those who are surviving like me.

I asked the Lord to use me for His Glory and out of that direct message to Jesus, “I am 1 of 8” The Beverly Williams Foundation was birthed.

1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Think of all the amazing women in your life and do the math.

Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer for American women. It is the most common cancer among African American women.

Thanks to better screening, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options, breast cancer death rates have declined since 1990.

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month is recognized in the US and many countries across the world as a time to increase attention and support for awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment as well as palliative care for men and women facing this disease.

I am now an advocate for this disease and hope to someday have a larger platform to bring awareness and support to many others. I plan to bring awareness about this disease in my everyday living, not just the month of October.

If you desire to donate in support of the I am 1 of 8 The Beverly Williams Foundation, your donation will make a true impact. Every dollar goes toward vital breast cancer screenings for the less fortunate, treatment, meals during treatment, education, and research programs.

~Thank you, Beverly Williams