Moore Teacher’s Cancer Fight Inspires Others

BY: Kaylee Campbell

As you might imagine, it’s difficult to learn that you have cancer, let alone to experience that moment more than once. But for Emily Marshall, a first-grade teacher at Moore’s Central Elementary, that experience is one she is all too familiar with.

“The first time I was super terrified,” Marshall said. “You hear the words breast cancer and you think, ‘I’m gonna die.’”

But Marshall didn’t let herself think that way for long.

Marshall was first diagnosed in 2008 at the age of 33. She is now in the midst of her eighth battle with triple negative breast cancer, which she explained is particularly aggressive and difficult to treat.

Marshall tested negative for the BRCA gene, making her initial diagnosis at such a young age even more puzzling.

“Nobody in my family has ever had cancer except myself,” Marshall said. “(The doctors) can’t figure out what’s going on.”

Marshall underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as a lumpectomy, but in 2012, the cancer returned.

“At that time, I had a double mastectomy,” Marshall said. “I did chemo, but not radiation. In 2013, I had my reconstruction, and then I had another recurrence in 2015. I asked my oncologist, how in the world do you get breast cancer when you don’t have breasts!”

Marshall’s cancer had returned and was growing from the chest wall, through stomach tissue that had been used to rebuild the breast. This time around they tried a left mastectomy along with radiation.

When cancer hit Marshall in 2016 for the fourth time, she moved her treatment to the Integris Cancer Institute.

Since that time, she’s had two recurrences in 2017, one in 2018 and now, the eighth in total. This time is different — the cancer has made its way to the lymph nodes, which causes concern that it might also appear in other areas of Marshall’s body.

While Marshall explained that immunotherapy is being considered as a possible course of treatment for her, she is currently being treated with chemo pills and that they are allowing her to go on living her life during treatment.

“I’ve been able to stay in the classroom with my kiddos, which is another prayer answered,” Marshall said.

Sadly, yet not uncommon, Marshall’s health isn’t the only challenge on the Marshall family’s plate. The family is also facing financial troubles due to Marshall’s healthcare costs. In fact, the medical bills have piled so high that the family is in danger of losing their house, which they’ve owned and lived in for 18 years, Marshall said.

Parents and school staff have pitched in, raising money here and there, where they can. They’ve hosted numerous events and fundraisers with community partners to help raise money for the family. One parent even went so far as to start a GoFundMe account to help cover healthcare costs. “They really have been supportive through this. My boss has been phenomenal,” Marshall said. “Moore Public Schools is a wonderful place to be. Very family oriented, and they take care of you.”

Marshall’s story made national news early this year when an ABC News team caught her reaction as she walked into a surprise school assembly, held in her honor. The event featured Marshall’s first graders serenading her with their rendition of Fight Song.

And while the experience and response has been overwhelming, the thing that Marshall said she’s most happy about is that her story may be able to help others.

“I’m glad they’re getting the story out there,” Marshall said. “It’s exciting for me because I feel like it’s going to help other people. Hopefully, they can see my story, and it’ll help them get through it.”– 19SM