Wednesday, November 15, 2017

How My Grandmother Beat Breast Cancer ~ Suzanne Bowser

Breast cancer has hit may of us, hard, but it is good to know that it doesn't have to be the final punctuation at the end of a story. Here is a Suzanne's personal reflection focusing on a survival story of a person close to her heart:

The Start of the Breast Cancer
Grandma Shelly was getting ready for a normal day, as she usually would. As she was getting dressed, she discovered a lump on her breast. 

She decided to schedule an appointment with her physician which led to her official diagnosis: breast cancer. 


During her interview, Grandma stated, “It started out as the size of a pea, but that started to grow. By the time it was over, it was the size of a golf ball.”


During the Storm and Stress
Through this dark time of her life, Grandma lived in California while her family lived elsewhere. 

Though she went through this long time alone, she had  the understanding of our love and prayers being sent from thousands of miles away.


She stated, “I felt very scared, but I knew deep down inside that I was going to be okay.” 


Grandma went through six months of strong chemotherapy, and it made her feel very sick. Three times a week, she would participate in therapy which would result in being hospitalized for at least two days.


Conquering the War
Although Grandma knew how difficult the journey would be, she wanted to avoid a radical mastectomy where the lump was found. At a stand still, she was advised to return home, and wait everything out. 

Unfortunately, after returning home, she found another lump. This time, the lump was on the opposite side of her chest. Heart pounding in fear, she contacted her physician once more. Together, they decided to remove both breasts.  


She was hospitalized for three days which gave her plenty of time to think.  After her procedure, she knew the decision she made was the right one.


Today

She conquered breast cancer, and she survived her fight. My Grandma Shelly continues to live cancer free, and she has an incredible story to tell.
____________________________

“Life is short.  Spend it with people who make you laugh and feel loved.”  
Suzanne Bowser, a senior Health Assistance student, is planning to continue on to nursing school upon graduation.  She loves to write, listen to music and help others in need.  A CNA, she participates in Peer leadership, NTHS, Medical Trauma Club, and Journalism.