THE TRIUMPHS OF TWO WOMEN

THE TRIUMPHS OF TWO WOMEN

By Marsha Casper Cook

When a woman or man is diagnosed with Breast Cancer, their life is changed forever. We all know someone that has been touched with Cancer, but what we don’t always know is how their life changes the very moment they hear the words “you have breast cancer.” Only they know what those words mean and how they are affected from that day forward

Upon receiving the diagnosis, having a dedicated team helping you find the right course of action is the most important element of your treatment. Every case is unique, and for that reason, this story is about two women, Carol Solomon Proesel and Grace B. Charrier, who fought the battle and won.

Their victory wasn’t easy but they are both alive and well to share some of the more important issues that only Breast Cancer Survivors can speak to. Every Survivor has their own story.

I know both of these women and honor their triumphs. October is Breast Cancer awareness month, but Cancer knows no time. Cancer knows no race or religion. Cancer knows no age or lifestyle. Cancer can happen to anyone at any time and no one is immune.

Early detection is the best protection. Skipping your mammogram may cost you your life. According to the World Health Organization, Breast Cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021.

Carol Solomon Proesel

Carol Solomon Proesel

Carol Solomon Proesel has been happily married for over 51 yrs. She has been blessed with a fantastic daughter and 2 teenage grandsons. Her life revolves around her family, and she is a terrific mother and grandmother.

Before moving to Florida, she lived in Chicago where she trained at Edgewater Hospital to become a Medical Technologist. After her training, she went on to work at several Chicagoland Hospitals, and then for private physicians. While living in Florida, she changed her career, operating and owning a Pet Grooming business for 40 years with her husband.

She is a 14-year Breast Cancer Survivor, and has been the guest host for several years on Michigan Avenue Media Podcasts during the month of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She has always been an advocate for early detection and the importance of mammograms.

She is thankful for having an outstanding team that helped her every step of the way and continues helping women as well as men adjust to their new life after Breast Cancer.

What is the most important advice you can give women concerning yearly Mammograms? And did you have any warning signs?

I am a firm believer in early detection and Mammograms. I have had fibrous breasts for many years and am diligent in having mammograms. I felt a lump that was unusual and a mammogram confirmed my suspicions

After receiving your diagnosis, what steps did you immediately take?

Upon a mammogram and ultrasound X-ray, I met with my surgeon and we discussed my options. Then I met with my oncologist to further discuss my treatment.

After receiving your diagnosis, what were your options, and what was your decision on the best course of action?

I was advised by my surgeon to remove my cancerous breast. The tumor was too large for a lumpectomy. Since I had dense fibrous breasts, I thought about it and decided to have a Bilateral Mastectomy or to remove both breasts. It was not an easy decision, but I felt it was right for me. I also chose not to have reconstruction surgery (even though) I was only 56 years old because I didn’t care about breasts anymore. Only thoughts were to beat this cancer and survive.

Do you have any regrets as to your decision at this time?

I have never regretted my decision to handle my treatment and not have implants put in. It was actually a very freeing moment for me.

How important is nutrition during and after your diagnosis?

Eating properly has always been important to me, and especially during receiving chemo. My chemo nurses gave me sound advice as to what I should eat, and also the importance of exercise. Sweet potatoes, green vegetables, and blueberries were big for me. AND lots of water.

How long did it take you to resume your normal life, and did you find it difficult to adjust to your new lifestyle?

For me, resuming a normal life was easy. I had the usual hair loss and brittle nails, but I never had fatigue. I was cautious around other people because I was susceptible to germs, but it never stopped me. 3 days after my Bilateral Mastectomy, I was out shopping. I never felt the need to adjust. I just respected my body and moved on.

What is your advice to others who face the journey into the light? And how important is the right attitude?

My mantra has always been POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Never ‘why me’, just ‘okay, it is me’, and move on. Everyone has a different journey, but if you can focus on the positive, it helps you and others in the same situation. I used to visit others in the treatment rooms and cheer them on. We were all in the same boat, but encouraging words from others who were going through the same thing, helped them and me.

Grace B. Charrier

Grace B. Charrier

Grace is of African origin and a resident in Brooklyn, New York. She became a mental health advocate in 2013. During this time, she was extremely active and fully immersed in high-impact advocacy with Member States at the United Nations, where she and her team worked tirelessly. Grace became a cancer advocate by circumstance after being traumatized by a Stage 3 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer diagnosis in 2016. She never set out to become a global patient leader, she was discovered just by speaking her truth, and consistently sharing important content about her experience with breast cancer, and information about other cancers whenever and wherever she could because as she always harps, “all cancers matter.” Now considered an ‘expert by experience’, she presents on global stages alongside respected individuals and rockstars in the healthcare space.

As a global patient leader, Grace wears many hats and is involved in several initiatives and projects. Suffice it to say, she has her hands full in cancer awareness, advocacy, and public policy, and serves on the panels of several national and international organizations. The opportunity to share her story and to raise awareness about the power of the patient voice through her social media platforms allows her to be a source of inspiration, and a good resource for those going through any tough diagnosis, such as cancer, any other chronic illness, or any overwhelming challenge.

Grace sits on Patient Advisory Boards and her several affiliations include, but are not limited to, the following:

• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

• Merck

• Blue Note Therapeutics

• WEGO Health

• Fight Cancer Global

• Rare Patient Voice

• Advocates for Collaborative Education

• Lead Delegate, eYs SDGs World Council for SDG 3 (Good

Health and Wellbeing)

Asides the many hats she wears, Grace hosts an engaging talk show: Cancer Convos with Grace B. where she invites experts and stakeholders in the cancer and overarching healthcare space to share their evidence-backed insights on several topics. She speaks passionately to just about anyone who will listen since cancer awareness, health literacy, and communication are her strengths. Whatever she can do to make a difference, and to inspire humanity, she is all in. Her traumatizing breast cancer experience is her WHY. Grace also published her “un-put-downable” memoir “IMPOSSICANT!” at the peak of the pandemic and launched it on her birthday last year. Since then, it has received awesome recommendations and 5-star reviews. She shares her upbeat and fast-paced story about her breast cancer journey with so much faith, humor, and gratitude.

What is the most important advice you can give women concerning yearly Mammograms?

Do not delay having a mammogram, biopsy, or whatever it will take to ensure you are in the clear. In my case, it took an invasive biopsy for a definite diagnosis. Two earlier mammograms had proved inconclusive. Demand a screening, even if you are said to be ‘too young’, ‘not at risk’, or if you feel something is not right. Men have breast cancer too and they must be aware too. Having a genetic testing can prevent getting cancer just by knowing your genes, especially if there is a family history.

Did you have any warning signs before you went for your Mammogram?

I had no warning signs whatsoever. A terrible fall in my bathroom led to my breast cancer diagnosis. I refer to the fall as “the divine fall” because had it not occurred, I was a ticking bomb just waiting to explode. According to the textbooks, one must look out for symptoms, and since I had no itch, no pain, no pinch, or discharge, which are the usual symptoms, there was no way I could know anything was amiss. How wrong I was.

How did you decide your course of action after receiving your diagnosis?

As traumatizing and emotionally draining as it was, I resolved not to fight the process. I mentally conditioned myself to receive everything that came my way and go with the flow. I had countless meetings with my amazing medical team, and was actively involved in shared decision-making about the chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation processes. I asked a series of questions and educated myself on what to expect from all the treatments, and their side-effects. My team of specialists were always on the same page which heightened my confidence and positivity for healing, recovery, and survivorship. I was well-prepared and at peace with what was to come.

How important is it to have a team in your corner from diagnosis to treatment to recovery?

Nothing beats having a team or support system, but I tell patients that sometimes you just need one or two trustworthy persons in your corner to keep you sane, and assure you everything is going to be all right. This is crucial. For the other stuff you did prediagnosis: banking, shopping, cooking, household runs, those are important, but become secondary. Your support team can get those chores taken care of for you. Your mental health and wellbeing become top priority, and lending their shoulder for you to cry on is a BIG deal.

After your decision on your course of action, did it change your femininity?

My priority was to stay alive by getting on with the matter at hand, so the issue of my femininity was the last thing on my mind. Everything I had lost on my journey in terms of weight, hair, skin, fingernails, eyelashes, pieces of flesh, I knew would grow back and heal with time, but I could never have another life if I did not fight to keep the one life I had been blessed with. That was paramount and of the very essence. Thankfully, my femininity has been taken up several notches ever since my healing, and most important, my mental health, happiness, and humor are firmly on point.

How important is it to have a good partner while you are recovering?

Many chronic illnesses have proven to be acid tests for relationships. It is at times like these one gets to know the strength of whatever relationship one is in. Sadly, I know of separations and divorces that have happened because of a chronic illness. Believe me, you would be surprised that there is truly a thin line between love and hate. The patient is already dealing with so much, and does not need a toxic environment while going through the madness of a diagnosis. Therefore, it is better to call it quits or stay far away from a friend, spouse, partner, or blood relative who considers you a liability, than remain in a one-sided relationship and feel more vulnerable than ever before which could prove detrimental to the healing and recovery process.

How important was having good mental health and the right attitude during your recovery?

Acknowledge. Embrace. Deal. Overcome. These were the four steps I took at the time. It was my own way of dealing with my breast cancer journey. No one knows me more than ME. I went through a great deal of introspection to come up with this method, and it worked for me and my mental health. The moment I acknowledged that there was a problem, the lighter my load became, and overcoming gradually became a done deal.

How has your Podcast, Cancer Convos with Grace B, and writing your book, IMPOSSICANT, helped you as well as others through the darkness?

Creating content and launching my YouTube show Cancer Convos with Grace B. has been a purifying and cleansing experience. My guests are distinguished and seasoned medical professionals with evidence-based insights, and I also host cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to share the patient experience and perspective. There is a constant need to encourage, support, and reiterate that there is light at the end of the tunnel if there is early detection and valid information. The tagline for my show is “Demystifying Cancer.” I break cancer down into bitesized pieces of information, and share hope and positivity in the process. Cancer should not be a death sentence as it was years ago. Publishing my memoir IMPOSSICANT has given me so much fulfillment as I receive emails daily from formidable readers and buyers of my book thanking me for the humor and inspiration I share in my quirky, inspirational cancer tales. My platforms have enabled me to collaborate, form friendships, and bond with rockstars in the global healthcare space and others. In addition, they have afforded me amazing opportunities to use my spaces of influence and contribution to finding health solutions and ensuring that the patient voice is and remains at the table.

What is your advice to others who face the journey into the light?

There is light at the end of the tunnel if there is valid information and early detection. In addition, being a part of the ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’ community is extremely important while battling cancer or any other chronic illness. Esprit de corps, if you will. Besides a solid medical team and support system, I attest to the fact that faith, positivity, and laughter lead to better outcomes. To anyone reading this, in facing the journey into the light, do ensure you receive unlimited doses of all three.

Links for Grace

https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B089VM74R7

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracecharrier-021b03143/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCoicS9_zeq5owu7nluE1HjQ

https://www.facebook.com/ cancerconvoswithgraceb/

Marsha Casper Cook

MICHIGAN AVENUE MEDIA

Links for Marsha

www.marshacaspercook.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ michigan-avenue-media-podcast/ id1375404913

www.michiganavenuemedia.com