The Good Advice Outweighed the Bad Comments During Cancer

After being diagnosed with stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer in July of 2018, my first thought was, I’m going to die! I thought about my six children and my 11 grandchildren. I thought about my younger sister and my nieces and nephew! I flashed back in time when I was 12, and my mother died of cancer. Fear began to grip my mind! Then I remembered the promise that God had given me through my Pastor years prior, that I would not die of cancer as my mother did, but the generational curse was broken. My question to God was, “Why did I get this diagnosis?” This is where my faith had to kick in. I had to remember who I was and whose I was.

I began treatment quickly, first getting a port and then getting an iron infusion before my first chemotherapy. I didn’t know what I was getting ready to face, and I refused to read about my diagnosis; I refused to Google anything, I even refused to watch stories about people dying of cancer. I didn’t want to tell too many people because I didn’t need any negativity in my life.

I did know that I needed to be able to talk to someone, though. So, I did tell a very good friend of mine who was a three-time survivor and thriving. She gave me some great advice. She said, “Selina, if you listen to your body, you will be just fine!” she also said, “Remember, YOU know GOD!”

I began to visualize myself on the other side of this cancer diagnosis. My faith grew tremendously! I stood on the healing scriptures, which say: “No weapon formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17); “I shall LIVE and NOT DIE!” (Psalm 118:17); and “By HIS stripes, I was already healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Before this diagnosis, I was on social media two to three times a week doing my live MLM selling, but after hearing “cancer,” I stopped because I didn’t want people seeing me without hair or the port sticking out of my chest. Again, advice came to me, “Selina, tell your own story so people don’t try to guess and know that someone will be helped by hearing you and seeing your faith in GOD!” So, I did it! I went to my social media page and told my story, my truth! I had people come on with great support. I also had people come on gloomy with negative vibes, but the good advice outweighed the bad!

In 2019, I was cancer free. I’m so thankful to my God, who never left me and still has a purpose and plan for my life, my Pastor, who continued to pray for me and my family and true friends who loved me to life! Today, I am president of a national organization, Sisters Network Tampa Bay Inc., where we support women of color who are diagnosed with breast cancer and need to hear good advice. We also educate our community about breast cancer and offer free mammograms to those who have no insurance. Today, I am a survivor with a passion to keep my sisters from suffering in silence.

This post was written and submitted by a CURE reader. The article reflects the views the author and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.