Cancer | Teen Ink

Cancer

June 11, 2015
By Jocelyn Sullivan BRONZE, Wilmington, Massachusetts
Jocelyn Sullivan BRONZE, Wilmington, Massachusetts
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Thirty seven year old, mother of three, finds a lump. Three words are presented by her doctor. “You have cancer”. Breast Cancer.  No routine mammogram spotted this minuscule tumor. One year ago her mammogram showed no abnormalities. Six months later the cancer has formed and spread to her lymph nodes. The fear of death crossed her mind day in and day out. White walls, white ceilings, masks, latex gloves. Doctors rushed her into surgery to remove the tumor. After the surgery she wore pumps to drain the fluid from her chest.  What was next? Chemotherapy was first. Appointments twice a week for ten weeks.  Radiation followed up the chemo twice a week for three months. Eventually shaved her head in order to skip witnessing her body shed her hair. She would wake up, as the sun was rising to a present from the cancer. A clump of brown hair signifying she was in fact fighting a devastating disease.   Some days were much better than others. Sometimes no sickness, other days vomit filled the walls of the toilet bowl.  Suffering through the pain of all the treatments was worth it. The news of being cancer free lead to a big celebration.  She is a fighter. She is a survivor. She is stronger than a bull. And she has one extremely proud daughter.


The author's comments:

This vignette is about my lovely mother and her struggle with breast cancer. 


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This article has 1 comment.


MadisonACS said...
on Jun. 18 2015 at 12:50 pm
MadisonACS, Alexander, New York
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, "because of you, I didn't give up."

Wow... This is incredibly beautiful. Congratulations to your mother!