Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2019

82 www.MPMcalendar.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com feature S eptember is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, followed by Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. While you’ll notice a flurry of light blue and pink ribbons in their respective months; colorful accents worn by celebrities, football players and newscasters, there are many who carry those colors in their hearts year-round: those fighting cancer, those lucky to have survived cancer and those caregivers and affected family and friends whose lives are also forever changed. While the ribbons and colors are welcome beacons that enhance awareness, donations and support — and indeed these “awareness” months have contributed to lowering cancer-related deaths thanks to empowering people with health knowledge and an emphasis on the importance of early detection — a cancer journey knows no bounds, no set months or time constraints. Every cancer journey is different, just as every person is different. The stage of cancer, the stage of life, the affects, the healing, the outlook. Everything. Four Mount Pleasant neighbors shared their stories in hopes of inspiring others — others with cancer, care givers and those whose future has yet to reveal a similar diagnosis. These are their experiences. JOANN ANTHONY “I don’t care how strong a person you are. When the doctor says, ‘We think you have cancer,’ or ‘You have cancer,’ your heart misses a beat. There’s all this fear. What’s treatment going to be like? What are my odds for survival? Will I have a normal life?” Anthony expressed. She credits MUSC for having a “tremendously supportive” program, but said her fears grew exponentially when she got home and looked it up on the internet. “I know they say not to, but you can’t not get on the internet and do your own research. There’s all kinds of bad information out there that heightens your fears.” Anthony recalled a particular internet article that said to buy an electric toothbrush because she would not have enough energy to make the brushing motion herself. During testing, a second cancer site was found, so Anthony opted for a full mastectomy. In retrospect, she feels lucky to not have had to endure the side effects of chemo and radiation that many others must. Following the surgery, she wondered how her life BY ANNE SHULER TOOLE The Fight for Their Lives Life After Cancer