Survivors
* 1st in a 4-part series
Tallulah – On Aug. 9, 2023, Amy and Randy Rogers began a path of twists and turns that rocked their world in such a way that they could only turn to the Lord. Rogers remembers getting the call that Randy had wrecked his truck.
As they began the struggle with the insurance calls and paperwork, they had no idea that things were about to get so much worse.
She remembered telling Randy, “God’s got this!”
When Rogers went for her mammogram in 2022, she became aware of a tiny lump. She was told that it was nothing to worry about. By the time the exam rolled around in 2023, the lump had grown significantly. She was sent to The Hope Center for Cancer Care for more testing.
Two weeks after her husband wrecked his work truck – which they depended on for their family business – she discovered she had invasive ductal carcinoma, Stage 2. As her mind raced with thoughts, all she could say to herself was, “God’s got this!”
Invasive ductal carcinoma is also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma. It is the most common breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 80 percent of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinoma.
Because this cancer can be traced to inherited factors, Rogers had already been tested genetically and was found to be 1-of-2 family members who tested negative for the gene mutation. Even so, she began more genetic testing – and the results remained conclusive: she was negative. During an MRI, five more masses were found that had not been picked up by the mammogram. While these masses were not malignant, they were precancerous.
As she found herself making the trips to Asheville for appointments, she was blessed to be accompanied by not only her husband Randy, but her daughter Macy Rogers Garland as well. The Rogers family has long used humor as a stress reliever in awkward situations and she recalls how her family always gave her a reason to smile during the tough times.
“It made me look at life differently,” Amy Rogers explained, as she describes the day she learned that she had breast cancer.
She now realizes what she once took for granted.
“Family is precious. It is everything,” she added.
She said that Janie Haney – who is also a invasive ductal carcinoma survivor – provided strong support to her.
Rogers remembers the love and compassion shown to her by The Hope Center and described them as, “gracious, precious people who have become a part of my life.”
“I saw God work in so many ways in my life,” Rogers recalled.
She also had a new motto: “God’s got this!,” which she would remind her family when times got hard.
On her birthday, Oct. 2, 2023, she underwent a double mastectomy. She gives the prayers of so many people as the reason for the peace she experienced that day. She could feel the prayers, and she received so many cards and phone calls to help encourage her and help her grow in her walk with the Lord.
Eight days after her surgery, her first grandchild, Osie May Rogers, was born.
“Each day is a gift,” Rogers said. “It is a day that I will never get back. I learned to appreciate the people in my life now and spend time with them and enjoy the little things in life.”