Notes From Perry Street: Breast Cancer Can Happen To Anyone

By JOSIE BROOKS EXNER, Special Guest Columnist

A year ago I was waiting to hear the results of a biopsy. I had found it. 

Sitting in the kitchen with my daughter when I leaned against the edge of the table and said “ouch.” You better get that checked out, my graduating senior said. No worries, I had an appointment the next week.

It was cancer. Oh, it was a good kind, I shouldn’t worry at all. After a man from the hospital gave me the “plan,” I asked if I could choose my surgeon. I figured if anyone was going to touch my boobies other than my husband it better be someone good. He was. 

Lots of things go through your mind. A lot of “shoulding” on yourself for things in the past. I called my kids, I prayed – a lot!!! By the next morning I had decided to have a double mastectomy. That might sound drastic and impulsive. I have two women in my family, both related to me by marriage. One had a lumpectomy around nine years ago and the other had a double mastectomy five years ago. Both women have led the way for me with strength and grace.

Breasts are a funny thing. Julia Roberts talks about them in the movie Notting Hill: what’s all the fuss about them? They are pretty awesome. How God gave women the ability to grow a baby and then feed that baby!! I am the mother of four  children  and I read lots of books on the subject of breastfeeding. It’s fascinating! I was just amazed that my body did what the books said it was going to do. Finally, I had found something I could do and do it well. I felt like Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. Total success – four chubby babies.

I was okay with having the surgery because my breasts had done their job. I am so glad I had the opportunity to breastfeed my children. Once again, I had great family members that paved the way for me.

I am amazed that it wasn’t painful. The surgeon puts drains in your incisions and they are terribly itchy. You can’t shower for 14 days. My husband and daughters washed my hair, helped me change my clothes, took care of my incisions and measured/documented the fluid from the drains. The good part is that my cancer was caught early and I will not have any chemotherapy or radiation.

I’m not going to kid you. It’s a sobering sight to look at myself in the mirror. Even with all the physical changes I am blessed because it was to be a busy year. My oldest child got engaged and later married. My husband was retiring from teaching at Moreland Elementary after 29 years and the baby was graduating from East Coweta High School and headed to college.  I had to get better to experience all this joy that was upon our family. It was a great spring and summer.

I have never done a self breast exam. God took care of me anyway. Do your manual exams. You have one body – take good care of it so you can experience all the wonderful things God has in store for you.  Now I have to wear prosthetics and I personally don’t like them. They are hot and heavy. When I have a day off, I usually don’t wear them. If I come home tired my husband will quickly tell me to “ go take my boobies off!” 

So if you see me in town … you never know what I will look like. I am thankful I had wonderful friends and family that looked after us. I hope this helps someone not be afraid. I would have been really scared without Jesus.  If you need to talk I am here. If you want to see my scars – I’ll be glad to show you Frank Powell’s handiwork.

P.S. – We have been married 28 years and lived in Newnan that entire time. Former speech pathologist and former kindergarten teacher at First United Methodist and taught the eldest SON of Thunder.