Death in the Family - Close to Home

Last week, the reality of breast cancer’s fatal potential hit home when Shermance learned that her dear aunt, Leona, lost her 14-year fight against breast cancer.  The news caused Shermance significant grief.  Leona was a woman whom she respected, and Shermance remembers her as a sweet woman with a generous heart.  Shermance’s cousin Audra, Leona’s daughter, has been one of Shermance’s most consistent, generous, and compassionate supporters.  So it’s been Shermance’s turn to reach back to her cousin to offer support. In fact, the news of Shermance’s cancer has brought all of her cousins on her dad’s side closer than they’ve been on over a decade, so now they have rallied around Audra for support.

One of Shermance’s favorite gifts is the clutch cross she received from Audra to hold during chemo. 

In addition to the grief, it made Shermance question her own mortality.  Even though statistics are overwhelmingly in Shermance’s favor as a young breast cancer survivor, a death in the family has made her question whether she might be among the less fortunate ones.  It didn’t help that within the last week she had some new scares.  A mole on her leg changed shape and color so she had it biopsied.  Results are still pending.  Plus her ankles swelled up considerably.  When pressed the indentation stayed for several seconds.  The condition, called edema, we learned could be a heart or liver problem.  After further tests, it turned out not to be the case, but Shermance didn’t need another scare.  She also didn’t need the pain caused by the swelling.  She found some relief with compression socks.

Shermance takes some comfort in knowing that she is doing everything she can to attack her cancer for now and to ensure it never comes back.  It’s no guarantee, but she leaves the rest in God’s hands.