Surviving breast cancer is a feat that is difficult, but possible. Although breast cancer survival in Black women has increased in recent decades, survival rates remain lower than among white women.
To help further decrease those numbers, two women, Kim Caldwell-DeMoss and LaShawn Scott, tell their stories of survival and offer encouragement to other women.
“LaShawn and Kim are two of the most courageous, optimistic and inspiring women I’ve met,” said Dana Curish, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central Indiana. “Their positive attitude is not only inspiring but also contagious, giving others hope and courage to face their own journey.”
Listen to your body
In 2010, Kim Caldwell-DeMoss, who had been getting regular mammograms since age 40, found a lump in her right breast. She got a mammogram and doctors said all that was there was calcification. Trusting her physicians, she thought nothing of it.
As time went on, however, she noticed the mass was growing and causing pain near her armpit. She had a second mammogram and was instructed to get a biopsy.
“It was then I knew something wasn’t right,” said Caldwell-DeMoss.
She was diagnosed with having Stage IV breast cancer. Caldwell-DeMoss does not have a family history of breast cancer.
Like many women who’ve just received a cancer diagnosis, Caldwell-DeMoss was devastated.
“I have a husband and a son, family and friends. I thought ‘Oh, my God.’ You think it’s the end,” said the 48-year-old insurance employee.
Her husband had a similar reaction. After educating himself, his fear transformed into strong support. Caldwell-DeMoss also decided to be totally honest with her teen son about her cancer.
Due to her strong faith in God, Caldwell-DeMoss only allowed herself one day to be sad. “I said this is what I have. I’m going to go to the doctor, they’re going to give me my plan and we’re going to roll with it.”
Her wellness plan included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, which included a double mastectomy. Oftentimes aggressive treatment brings a wide variety of side effects such as alopecia, kidney problems, fatigue or seizures. Caldwell-DeMoss said she didn’t experience any side effects.
“I did not lay around – I stayed busy. Even on my chemo days,” she said.
In addition to her faith, having a positive attitude and lots of laughter with her good friend helped her get through what could have been a very difficult time.
“There was never a time when I went in sad wondering why me,” said Caldwell-DeMoss. “I was determined not to have a pity party. Nothing brought me down.”
Today, Caldwell-DeMoss is a survivor and is doing well. She visits her physicians once every three months.
Looking back on her experience, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure ambassador wishes she would’ve been more aggressive after discovering her initial lump. Today, that is her message to other women – listen to your body.
“If you feel something, get on it. If someone tells you it’s nothing and you know something’s not right, get a second opinion,” said Caldwell-DeMoss. “If you’re supposed to get your mammograms annually, get it done. If it’s every six months, get it every six months. If you have a mammogram and still feel something, have a biopsy. Do whatever you need to do to get confirmation it’s not cancer.”
Don’t be afraid
As an employee of a local health insurance company, LaShawn Scott had been faithfully receiving mammograms since she was 38-years-old.
“I wasn’t at high risk for breast cancer. It was something I read up on and decided to begin testing early,” said Scott. “I don’t drink, or smoke or do anything like that. I even get my teeth cleaned regularly. I thought I was doing everything right.”
In 2011 after Thanksgiving, she began to feel pain in her breast. She felt around and discovered a lump. She didn’t think anything of it. By Christmastime, it had grown to the size of a golf ball.
“I never thought that it was breast cancer because I had just had a mammogram in August,” said Scott.
Initially, her physician thought the lump was a cyst. Scott was advised to simply monitor the cyst for six months, but instead she insisted on a biopsy. The test came back positive for cancer.
Scott said initially she and her family were shocked by the news, but believing she had caught the cancer early, their attitude became more casual.
“When the doctor said you’re at Stage III, that’s when it really hit us,” said Scott who actually had triple negative breast cancer, a rare and very aggressive form of breast cancer.
Throughout her first eight weeks of chemotherapy, Scott was so sick she was confined to her bed. Her lump shrunk, however doctors switched her chemotherapy medication and her body did not respond. The lump grew back.
Unsatisfied with her treatment, her husband transferred her care to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Illinois. She went through a second dose of chemotherapy, had a mastectomy and received radiation. Her last radiation treatment was March 6, 2013.
“I feel pretty good,” said Scott about her current condition. Her care will continue to be monitored and in the future, she plans on having reconstructive surgery.
Scott had strong faith, family, friends and co-workers to help get her through.
Although Scott had been getting mammograms early, many women fear the uncomfortable feeling of breast cancer. Scott advises women to put that fear aside and get screened.
“Every year I would go, I’d always say, ‘Here we go again.’ But there’s always uncertainty. Just do it even if you’re afraid. You’d rather know than not know,” said Scott.
Join the Recorder at Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Date: April 20
Place: Military Park, downtown Indianapolis
Time: 8 a.m.
Cost to register: $28 before April 11 (you’ll receive a free Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure T-shirt)
Info: Call Alisha James at (317) 924-5143 extension 313 or email assistant@indyrecorder.com.
African-American
breast cancer survivors unite
Sisters Network Inc. (SNI) is a leading voice and the only national African-American breast cancer survivor organization in the U.S. The organization’s purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer crisis affecting African-American women around the country.
For information on the SNI’s Indianapolis chapter, call (317) 823-1466.
