My name is Evette Williams-Francis, and I am a nurse by profession residing in Canada. My journey began in January of 2022. Prior to finding a lump, my last two mammograms showed calcifications but no signs of breast cancer. So, I went on with my life and followed up with scheduled ultrasounds. Then in October of 2021, I sensed something extremely off with my body. My bloodwork revealed this in my white blood cells, B12, and vitamin D levels. I had a vision to check my breast, and this is when I found the lump! Being in the healthcare field, I knew I needed a biopsy to confirm what turned out to be a shocking diagnosis of Stage 1 (HER2) Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in situ. This news came in January of 2022. I started 6 rounds of chemo in February when the pandemic was in full swing. With certain safety restrictions in place, I had little support aside from my loving fiancé. Although, my decision was to remove both breasts, I had a unilateral mastectomy first to remove the one with the tumor. Recovery was hard because I kept getting colds. I went on to remove the other breast during my DIEP flap reconstruction. Following my recoveries, I was placed on treatments for HER2, which my body tolerated well. At 55 years old and without any traces, I have been declared cancer-free. This has given me a more positive outlook on life and I’m living it to the fullest.
As a nurse survivor, I advocate and spread awareness to all my patients, reminding them of the importance of screenings and self-exams. In winning my battle with this disease, I am defined as a breast cancer survivor, not by my diagnosis! I employ others to find positivity and purpose in your pain, and never lose hope.
