Joyce L. Vanley

First of all, let me start off by saying “God Is Good, All The Time”

I am now 58 years old, and I have survived breast cancer twice.  The first time, I went for my regular breast exam with doctor and nothing was out of the norm.  So, I went for the dreaded mammogram and it showed some abnormalities so they did an ultra sound. There it was, a small lump in the right breast.  I thought no big deal.  Well it was, stage one CANCER!!!  I cried my eyes out till the tears stop flowing in the parking lot of the doctor’s office. In 2010 I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation therapy. I was only 49 years old.                   

Forward six years, I was taking care of my sister-in-law who broke her leg in several places.  I kept feeling this pain on the right side of my breast and couldn’t understand why.  Then I felt it.  That dreaded lump.  Of course, staying positive, I thought not a second time.  Not me, this has to be something else. Maybe I pulled something while taking care of sister-in-law. All that lifting and stuff, right?  Well once again, CANCER! This time it was Metastatic breast cancer. What a blow, a hard blow!  I was only 55 years old and just retired.  I should be living a carefree life. Not dealing with the “BIG C” again, but it was happening. December 2016, I had a double mastectomy and I can honestly say, some days I felt like giving up. I did chemo again and it was hard, very hard.  It seemed to be worse than the first time.  But I made it and I am now cancer free!  I kept moving, even when I didn’t feel like it. I never lost hope, even when others seemed to. I never lost my faith, even when some didn’t show any. I never stopped fighting, and I’m still fighting.  I’m not sure what my future holds, but I do know that “GOD IS GOOD, AT ALL TIMES”.