Giving Back to the Cancer Community
- After Annette Colden survived her own battle with breast cancer, she was determined to become a “cancer counselor” for others and educate people about the importance of mammograms.
- Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research, so there are many treatment options out there. Mammogram are a standard screening procedure for breast cancer, and self breast exams can save lives.
- The American Cancer Society (ACS) says women should begin yearly mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer but earlier if they are at a higher risk. The ACS also says those aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year, and women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
- Having support through cancer, whether it's from support groups or your nearest and dearest loved ones, is critical, and there are many people out there for cancer warriors to be vulnerable with.
Cancer was not a new topic for Colden prior to her diagnosis. Her sister and father both lost their battles with the disease, and three of her brothers have also battled cancer. And it was at her sister’s request that she got the mammogram that changed her life.
Read MoreThe spot had not grown in size, but the initial misdiagnosis understandably led Colden to seek out treatment from a different doctor. Thankfully, Colden has been cancer-free since having two lumpectomies and a mastectomy in 2008.
“I am a person that believes heavily in God,” Colden said. “So, with me going through a whole year and African American women, our cancers much more aggressive than our counterparts and believe it or not, He kept my cancer at stage zero… that told me right there that God had a mission for me.”
“For Him to spare my life, I knew that He had something that He wanted me to do. I didn’t know what it was but I told God, ‘I’m putting my trust in you. When you’re ready to show me, I’m ready.'”
And Colden believes God has since shown her the path she was meant to take: Serving as a cancer counselor for others in need. She started volunteering for Rosewell Park’s Witness Project support group and eventually started her own cancer support group called We R As 1. (Those who wish to know more about Colden’s support group can call (716) 903-7030.)
“I had a tremendous support system and that’s what I try to be for people,” she said.
She even tries to support cancer warriors that come into Rosewell Park while she’s working at the gift shop.
“Oh, that brings me so much joy,” she said. “When you have cancer, you tend to want to talk about it. Those that come in, I get a certain feeling from them and I will bring it up. Just to let them know, ‘You can do this. Just have faith. We don’t believe in pity parties. You can’t feel sorry for yourself because you’re fighting for your life.'”
Colden is also on a mission to encourage mammograms.
“For every excuse you give me as in why you don’t want to have a mammogram, I can give you a reason why you should,” she said. “Some of them test me and say it hurts. Well, cancer hurts a lot worse.”
As if that weren’t enough, Colden also provides in-person support for people who want company with them at their doctors appointments.
“When you’re diagnosed and someone says, ‘Yes, you have cancer,’ after that you don’t hear anything else that’s being said,” she said. “So, what I like to do is go with them, take my notes and I ask questions that that they don’t know to ask.”
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research. Many women develop breast cancer every year, but men can develop this cancer too though it is much more rare, in part, due to the simple fact that they have less breast tissue.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- A newly inverted nipple
- Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
It's important to keep an eye out for these symptoms while remembering that having one or many of them does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Regardless, you should always speak with a doctor promptly if anything ever feels off or you're experiencing one or more of the signs listed above. You never know when speaking up about your health can lead to a very important diagnosis.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Screening for breast cancer is typically done via mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says women should begin yearly mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer. The ACS also says those aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year, and women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
It's also important to be on top of self breast exams. If you ever feel a lump in your breast, you should be vigilant and speak with your doctor right away. Voicing your concerns as soon as you have them can lead to earlier cancer detection which, in turn, can lead to better outcomes.
There are many treatment options for people with this disease, but treatment depends greatly on the specifics of each case. Identifying these specifics means looking into whether the cancerous cells have certain receptors. These receptors the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor can help identify the unique features of the cancer and help personalize treatment.
"These receptors, I like to imagine them like little hands on the outside of the cell, they can grab hold of what we call ligands, and these ligands are essentially the hormones that may be circulating in the bloodstream that can then be pulled into this cancer cell and used as a fertilizer, as growth support for the cells," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
The Unique Features of Breast Cancer: Deciding the Right Course of Treatment
One example of a type of ligand that can stimulate a cancer cell is the hormone estrogen, hence why an estrogen receptor positive breast cancer will grow when stimulated by estrogen. For these cases, your doctor may offer treatment that specifically targets the estrogen receptor. But for HER2 positive breast cancers, therapies that uniquely target the HER2 receptor may be the most beneficial.
Finding Support during a Cancer Journey
During a cancer battle, it's important to know that you are not alone. There's a community out there for you to be vulnerable with, if you'd like, and connecting with people as you battle the disease can make a world of difference.
Kate Hervey is another cancer warrior who received support after sharing her cancer journey. A young college girl, she was shocked to be diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that tends to form near large joints in young adults, after seeing her doctor for tenderness and lumps in one of her legs.
Inspiring College Student, 20, Builds Community on TikTok Sharing Her Cancer Journey During COVID-19
Hervey, a nursing student at Michigan State, had to handle her cancer battle during the COVID-19 pandemic and scale back on her social activities as a high-risk patient. That's when she turned to TikTok as a creative outlet, and inspired thousands.
"One thing that was nice about TikTok that I loved and why I started posting more and more videos is how many people I was able to meet through TikTok and social media that are going through the same things," she says. "I still text with this one girl who is 22. If I'm having a hard time, I will text her because she will understand. As much as my family and friends are supportive, it's hard to vent to someone who doesn't know what it's really like."
Hervey is now cancer-free, and says she couldn't have done it without the love and support of her TikTok followers.
"I feel like I've made an impact on other people and they have made an impact on me through TikTok, which is crazy to say. I can help people go through what I've been going through as well." She has graciously agreed to allow SurvivorNet to use her content in order to help our community.
So while sharing your story to a vast TikTok audience might not be your thing, it's important to consider opening up to others during your cancer battle. Even if it's with a smaller group or just one person, you never know how much the support can help you or help those you share with unless you try.
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