(EDITOR'S NOTE: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On the Sundays in October, the Gazette will feature those who have survived and are thriving despite their battle with the disease. The stories will be told in each woman's own words. Today, Hannah Drake shares her story.)
One day I was headed home.
As I was approaching the railroad track, the whistle began blowing, the lights started flashing and the gate closed.
When this usually happens, I find a spot to turn around to take another path home.
My thought at that time was "just relax and wait for the train to pass."
While sitting there, I started thinking about how wonderful it was to be part of time -- a time to be alive, a time to wait and think and a time to enjoy that moment. Then I notice a car had driven up behind me and I could not change my decision because I was blocked in.
October 2013, I took a mammogram test that came back abnormal.
It was requested that I do a second mammogram, which confirmed that I had breast cancer.
At that moment, I would not let it touch me about the life-threatening situation I was in.
It was just like at the train track, I knew I was blocked in.
I was surprised that I had breast cancer because I had been a vegetarian for eight or nine years and I never smoked. In fact, I really had not been around smokers that much. Still I had breast cancer. When I was first diagnosed, I was in Stage 1 but before I could get treated, I had advanced to Stage 2.
I must admit that I did not get my mammograms or do he self-breast exams as I should have.
My doctor sent me to a surgeon to set up a biopsy.
She immediately wanted to do surgery without a biopsy. She came in and said there was no need for a biopsy; we would do the surgery and biopsy at the same time.
I refused because I learned from 60 Minutes that many women have had their breast removed when it was just a lump, and some women have had a hysterectomy without needing the surgery.
Even though I did not know what I was facing, it was God who led me to refuse her services. I learned that without a biopsy and clips, she would be doing guess work for the exact margin and depth needed for cutting the infected area out. She tried to sell me on a complete removal of the breast.
I went to M. D. Anderson and they found another infected spot. Since the spots were close, I had a lumpectomy and the other breast was reduced. I am well pleased with the reconstruction.
Radiation and chemo was done by local doctors. There were times my blood count was so low they had to postpone some of my treatment.
While in Houston, I was told that there was a possibility that I would get cancer again.
So I went through the Red Devil chemo treatment.
An exam was given me to see if my heart was strong enough to endure the treatment.
In fact, that was another railroad track I had to cross.
This treatment sometimes causes congestive heart failure.
God took me through the chemo just like he did with the surgery.
About two years ago, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I will not say it was from the chemo or whether it is hereditary.
As of today I have finished my five years of pills and I do my mammograms regularly and I am considered cancer free --8 years.