Survivor:Elizabeth Myers (12)

Painted during TAC session one

"Breastless, Not Breathless"
Acrylic on canvas
16"x20"

 

Elizabeth's Story

In the summer of 2002 I found a lump in the upper interior of my left breast. I was not alarmed as I had received a negative mammogram exactly 6 months earlier. I had an appointment the next day with my pulmonary doctor, and upon telling him of my find the wheels were set into motion. I had a mammogram the following day and a biopsy the day after. On the 19th of July 2002 I was told I had breast cancer. My heart broke! I had to tell my family the news. I had to see the fear in their faces and again my heart broke. I had to be strong for them and prove I could survive. I had a mastectomy on August 7th, 2002, with chemo to start September 9th. Breast cancer was not spoken of in my home, as my father’s mother had died of this disease before my parents met. But I soon learned the history and how it does repeat itself. My grandmother’s and my similarities were uncanny. We both were named Elizabeth, we both were 49, we both had a husband 48, and we both had a son 22. Now here lies the difference. I lived!

I knew I had to fight this disease and make a voice for women who never got the opportunity to speak like the grandmother I never got to meet. I was not to be silenced. I knew there was a reason for my surviving, and I was going to use it. I had to put a face and a voice to a disease that was taking wives away from husbands, daughters away from parents, and mothers away from their children. I had to keep my word to my son when he said, “Please don’t leave me, please don’t die, you have to dance at my wedding and tell my children all the mischievous things I did growing up.” I have a voice and I am using it. I have learned you have to be strong and mentally prepared for the physical changes your body endures. You have to have an enthusiastic spirit and a sense of humor. Because bald is beautiful! I am a better person for surviving this ordeal!

In 2005 I was encouraged by my doctor to have the BRCA cell test since other cancers are so prevalent in my family. On May 13th, 2005, the results came back positive. Again my heart broke! On November 17th, 2005, I had my second mastectomy. I was determined more than ever to eradicate my body of cancer. My daughter has tested negative for the BRCA cell. If by telling my story I can save one life I have done my job. The diagnosis of breast cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Today’s technology and education can help save lives. I know for I am a survivor. I continue to encourage women to do their monthly self breast exam and have their yearly mammogram. Our voices have to be heard and our faces have to be seen. We are the grandmother, the mother, the wife, the lover, the daughter, the sister, the friend, the woman, the survivor!

My heart has healed for me but it still breaks every time a woman hears the words you have breast cancer, or looses her life to this disease.
I am more than a woman in pink, I bleed pink.

I am breastless, not breathless.

Elizabeth Henson Myers
Survivor

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