Survivors
* Part 2 of a 4-part series
Tallulah – Regina Webster knows who holds her future.
A woman of faith, Webster was raised in a Christian home, married a Godly man and raised her four sons in church. She played the piano, helped in Vacation Bible school in the summer and led the youth choir.
In short, Webster had always been a vital part of the Sweetgum Baptist Church family. She was a Christian, and served the Lord all her life – sharing her faith with others.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2011, her faith was put to the test.
Webster had gotten her yearly physical – which included a digital mammogram – in November 2010. It came back normal. She had no family history of cancer and had no idea that she would soon be in the battle of her life against the dreaded disease.
In June 2011, she visited the doctor for a knee injury when she mentioned to Dr. Patricia Johnson that she was having menopausal mastitis. Dr. Johnson knew this was a sign of something more serious, and she began making the calls and setting up the appointments that would lead Webster to spend the end of the week at Hope Cancer Center in Asheville.
An ultrasound revealed a tumor the size of an egg. The next week, she was having surgery, which included removal of all lymph nodes and revealed that 14-out-of-20 nodes tested positive, which meant there was a great possibility that the cancer had spread.
They saw suspicious spots on the lung and liver.
“I waited for the diagnosis,” Webster recalled. “They said it would be three business days. The nurse told me she would call Tuesday. I was told to be sitting down with my phone, and have a sticky note and something to write with. That was the longest and worse time; the not knowing.
“On Tuesday at 4, the phone rang and the nurse asked if I was sitting down, and I said yes. She asked if I had a sticky note, and I said yes. Then she told me to take the sticky note and draw a big smiley face. The cancer was ductal invasive.”
Ductal Invasive Carcinoma is a common breast cancer that starts in cells inside of the milk ducts. It accounts for about 80 percent of all invasive breast cancers.
The carcinoma grows through the duct walls, and into the surrounding breast tissue and can spread to other parts of the body. Ductal Invasive Carcinoma has a 95-percent survival rate if caught early and treated. It is tissue-aggressive and estrogen-fed.
Time was an important factor in treatment.
Webster’s tumor was at Stage 3B. She began the strongest chemotherapy and after the first month of treatment, her cancer numbers had been cut in half.
She underwent 20 rounds of chemotherapy and 37 rounds of radiation, completing her treatments a year later.
She fought hard and prayed harder.
Twelve years later, Webster is cancer-free. She still goes to Hope Cancer Center every six months for precautionary testing, to make sure the cancer cells are not present. She retired at the end of last school year with 35 years in Graham County Schools. She counts her blessings and she remembers that phone call from the nurse that fateful day who told her, “The Lord has answered my prayers, Mrs. Webster.”
“He answered my prayers too,” she added.
Webster can only give credit to the great physician for her healing. She received a diagnosis that didn’t seem very hopeful. Her faith was tested, but she trusted in the one who holds the future. He answered and continues to bless her in so many ways. Webster shares her story with other women who are going through the diagnosis and treatment, and hopes to increase their faith in the Lord.
At the time of her mammogram, Webster had no sign of cancer. Yet seven months later, the tumor was the size of an egg. She was at the doctor with a knee injury and causally mentioned her symptoms to the doctor.
God works in mysterious ways at times. He knew and He directed her conversation with the doctor. He gave the doctor the desire to further investigate. He held Regina through the diagnosis and treatment, and He is holding her today.
If you – or someone you love – has a concern or question about breast health, please don’t wait to go for a checkup. Early detection can make a difference in life or death.