NASHVILLE
Dawn Humphrey Contributor
– It all started
with a BSE. The first time I
remember feeling something
foreign in my breast was in
the shower while doing my
breast self-exam.
It was about the size and
shape of a small jelly bean. I
resolved to remember where
it was and to keep checking
it to see if there were any
changes over time.
It was around September
that I first remember feeling
it, and I told myself that I
would get it checked in January
if it was still there after
the holidays.
The holidays came and
went, and the lump remained,
so I went to see
my family doctor, Dr. Bob
Sykes. He sent me for a mammogram.
The mammogram
didn’t show anything, so the
technician suggested I go
next door to the ultrasound
room.
As the wand rolled over
the lump, I could feel it, and
the technician could see it
on the screen. Several days
later, I received a letter from
the radiologist that said the
lump was highly suspicious,
and a biopsy was recommended.
Dr. Sykes set me up with
an appointment with a local
doctor who was to do the
biopsy. However, when the
doctor didn’t feel anything,
he said he would not do the
biopsy. He said that I should
just “watch” it. I considered
that I could be overreacting
and thought about doing
just that; but on my way
out, this doctor’s nurse suggested
that I should keep
pursuing a biopsy because
her mother had had breast
cancer.
I decided to see if my
gynecologist would do a biopsy
or at least recommend
someone. He referred me to
a surgeon who at last set me
up for a biopsy. That is when
I got my cancer news.
A series of events occurred
over the next few
months. Everything happened
in God’s good timing.
My treatment was a bilateral
mastectomy. Following surgery,
my surgeon came in to
report that I was cured. I was
so thankful that I was only in
stage 1 and would not need
any further treatment.
There is a breast cancer
keychain that reads “I Am
the Cure.” It contains three
superimposed circles that
represent the average sizes
of breast lumps that can
be found 1.) by accident 2.)
with breast self-exam 3.) with
a mammogram. Since my
lump could not be detected
by a mammogram, the selfexam
was key for me. It pays
to be aware of your body.
When you have a feeling
that something isn’t right,
you shouldn’t ignore it. Selfadvocate
and don’t settle for
something that doesn’t leave
you at peace.
It was a simple shower
hanger that reminded me to
do my self-exam, so I now
pass these shower hangers
to other women to remind
them to do the same.
I am not the cure, however,
God is. He spared me
from many things I could
have suffered in my cancer
experience.
He orchestrated everything
and gave me peace in
the midst of fear and uncertainty.
My testimony is too
big to be contained in this
space, but I will be happy
to tell anyone the rest of the
story. I give God all the glory
for my recovery.
