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Give Hope. Save Lives. October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month BY: » Jean Spangler
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very October Breast Cancer Awareness Month is marked in countries across the world to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease. This year’s theme “Give Hope. Save Lives” is part of a yearly effort to ask women and men alike to show their support for breast cancer survivors and those battling the disease by wearing pink ribbons or clothing throughout the month. For area residents Jenny Alexander and Vicki Gray, October is especially meaningful as both are breast cancer survivors from different age groups who talk candidly and openly about their respective journeys—from diagnosis and coping strategies to how a cancer diagnosis changes your life in a split second.
Jenny Alexander
Alexander, staff associate for the children’s ministry at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, was a 39-year old mother of three when she felt a lump in her breast in October 2013. “As soon as I felt the lump I knew it didn’t feel right,” she says. “I called my family physician the next day who quickly ordered a mammogram that detected a mass. An ultrasound followed the mammogram and later a biopsy that confirmed the mass was malignant.” Alexander says hearing the word, “malignant” is a shock no matter how prepared you think you’ll be. “My husband Robert and I were expecting our first child when we were told we were having twins,” she says, and that’s a shock, but one you happily settle into.
20 LimitlessMagOnline.com | October 2020
Vicki Gray was diagnosed with breast cancer after her mammogram in May 2018.
“The diagnosis affects the entire family,” says Alexander. “I got in touch with someone who was finishing her journey with cancer treatment to talk— one of the best things I did as she ‘got it’ in terms of what I was feeling. My family and friends were all very supportive, but sometimes talking to someone who has experienced the entire reality of what it means to have cancer helped me tremendously.”
Seven years later, Jenny is cancer free and credits a team of great and caring physicians, a loving faith community, friends and a supportive family for helping her deal with the various states of treatment and recovery. “You can face cancer with either a sink moment or a swimming moment,” says Jenny. “Cancer teaches you a lot about yourself,” and that’s just one of many positives that came out of my journey.”
