Metamorphosis

Five women share their stories of strength, insight and courage while surviving breast cancer.

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Tammie Jones
Survivor: 4 years

Emotionally … I think it was a little different for me only because I knew before I had my diagnosis, before I had my mammogram. I just knew. But because of what I do for a living—I am a mammographer for Woodland Healthcare—I’ve seen the before, during and after; I just had a let’s-get-through-it attitude. It didn’t really hit me until chemo. Before chemo it was all business: “Okay, you gotta do this, you gotta do that.” But when I hit chemo, that was when my hair fell out and that’s when it became real. Even my mastectomy was still just a surgery to me, I wasn’t thinking emotionally about it. I really separated myself from it because I think that was the only way I could get through it.

Preparing my family …  was harder. My husband and I were newlyweds and my three sons are not his. My sons’ first question was, “Can you die from this?” I told them that some do but I’m going to fight as hard as I can. My youngest son had a real hard time; he was just turning 16. He went to a friend’s house and talked to their mom, so I knew that he was at least talking to someone. When I lost my hair it became real for him too.

What surprised me … is that before my diagnosis I felt alone, just going through life day by day. Then I got diagnosed, and with all the support I had from friends and family, I knew that I wasn’t alone and how many true friends I had, and how blessed I was.

My strength came from … just who I am. From being a single mom for so many years and putting myself through school, I learned to be strong, to just forge ahead. I wasn’t a single mom anymore when I was diagnosed, thank goodness. I’m thankful every day that my husband Jack was here. My husband was my rock.
Feeling sexy comes from … my husband, because he was always there for me. The way he looks at me, he never faltered.

My life has changed because … I don’t take anything for granted. I’d like to think I’m a better person. I am a better mammographer. I appreciate everything more. I realized how lucky I am to have the husband and the friends I have. I think I’m a lot more adventurous.

My advice is … do your monthly breast exams. Unfortunately, even though I’m a mammographer, I didn’t do that. I accidentally found the lump; I rolled over in bed and felt this huge lump. A lot of women think that because their breasts are lumpy that they’re not going to feel it anyway, but a breast exam is so you can know your map. Everyone has lumps and bumps, but the exams [help] you know if you feel something different down the road. And get a support group. My best support group was my friends.—J.H.

 

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