BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
story by Rhegan Ortiz & photo by Fred Salley
Deloris Brand's Story Helping Others Along Their Journey While the color pink signifies many things, to some it is a color of survival and hope. Did you know that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime? On average, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. Deloris Brand became part of this statistic in October of 2005. However, through early detection and extensive treatments, she is also blessed to be called a survivor. Deloris has been diligent in doing self-exams since 1992 in addition to yearly mammograms. Her journey began with fibrocystic breast disease, commonly called fibrocystic breasts. It is a benign (noncancerous) condition in which the breasts feel lumpy. Deloris’s doctor, the late Dr. Ed Lee, removed the lumps one after the other but they would resurface. Deloris continued to administer self-exams through the entire experience, and luckily she did. Like many have encountered, a routine mammogram didn’t catch a lump. While Dr. Lee was explaining the negative results from the mammogram, Deloris asked him to take a closer look at a lump she believed she felt. He immediately did additional testing and the results were positive. Upon the findings, Deloris was told surgery needed to be done right away. The next week Deloris had her right breast removed. “I tell everyone to please do self-exams,” Deloris explains. “Machines are great but they aren’t perfect. If we continue to do self-exams, we can help our doctors see what the machines may miss and can help catch potential threats in earlier stages.” Deloris was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Deloris’s life immediately took a turn. “I kept my faith and continued to pray,” she says. Before her diagnosis, no one in her immediate family had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Deloris was caught blindsided. “My family was also not prepared for what was coming but they became my biggest supporters. My husband, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were all by my side
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VIPMagSC.com
October 2020
