I’m Tifanie Hudson, breast cancer survivor, from Albany, GA. In 2019, I got a breast reduction. But not the traditional one you would think of. Late November, I discovered a lump in my right breast. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my Primary Care Doctor. He gave me a referral for a mammogram, stating I could never be too sure because several young Black women were being diagnosed with breast cancer. Late December, I would have an ultrasound, followed by a mammogram, and then a biopsy.
January 8th, 2019, two days after my 33rd birthday, I received the news I feared most: “You have Stage 1 Breast Cancer, DCIS ER/PR +.” I sat there numb, trying to hold it together to comfort my mom. I put on the mask to ease her broken heart that her baby girl has cancer. This was just the beginning of masking my emotions. I had to still take care of my daughter and simply survive while I fought breast cancer for the months to come. I didn’t have time to process my emotions. I went immediately into survival mode, and spent countless of sleepless nights researching my cancer and reconstruction options.
A month later, February 5, 2019, I would have a bilateral mastectomy, removing both of my breasts at the age of 33. Damn! I ain’t even married yet. Many thoughts crossed my mind of how dating would be after cancer. Back to the mastectomy. It was my first surgery. I didn’t know what to expect. The staff told me they were going to give me some of the Michael Jackson. I didn’t quite understand what he meant until I was knocked. Ohhh, the anesthesia lol. I woke up panicking, asking if they had cut me. I tried to look down my gown, but couldn’t see. But that pain! When I felt that pain I was like, “Yeah, they cut me lol.” I would stay in the hospital for 2 more days before being discharged. My aunt stayed with me a few days as I recovered.
Fast forward, they performed a test on my tumor called Oncotype DX. It is a test that predicts how likely breast cancer is to spread to somewhere else in the body (secondary breast cancer) within 10 years of diagnosis. My score came back in the high intermediate risk, benefitting from chemo by 6.5% along with Tamoxifen, an estrogen suppressant that I would take for 10 years to reduce my chance or recurrence by 50%. Two months later, I would undergo 8 rounds of chemotherapy over the span of 4 months. I was miserable! My bones ached, I didn’t have an appetite, nothing tasted right, and I couldn’t shit! I was constipated from the chemo. Chemo can either cause diarrhea or constipation and I got the latter. Backed up and miserable, but I guess it’s better than a raw ass. With a few setbacks, I thought the day would never come, but on August 5th, 2019, I rung that bell! Glory!
A month and half later, September 16, 2019, I would have my first phase of the DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction. I’ve had eleven surgeries to date, all were related to cancer or breast reconstruction except for one.
After kicking cancer’s ass, I got my life together and committed to a lifestyle change. I cleaned up my diet, began exercising, and lost 55lbs.
When you hear the name Tifanie Hudson, I want you to think of the girl that survived breast cancer and that she is full of life, is a ray of sunshine, and recovered strong! A true warrior!
