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Charlotte
I am a stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer survivor, diagnosed in May 2001. My journey through Faith began at that time and
turned into a closer walk with God. I have always been a positive Christian, but in the past 5-1/2 years, I have been more
vocal and outspoken about my relationship with God.
In February 2001 when I was 51, I noticed itching on my left nipple that stopped after a few days, and some discomfort in
March and April. I specifically remember that on April 13th, there were no visible symptoms, but 2 weeks later, my breast
was swollen, pink and warm with fever, a portion of the tissue across the top was hard, and I had shooting pain every so
often.
When my symptoms were at their worst, I was out of town on business – they seemed to appear overnight. I saw the doctor on
May 4th, and he said that the breast tissue was '1,000 times worse than in December' and he gave me Zithromax to take for 5
days. He hoped that I had an infection, but there was a mass about 8.8 cm that was very strange and hard.
I returned on Tuesday, May 8th, and the doctor was very disappointed that the antibiotic had not helped. He explained that I
should get an ultrasound that day. I had a very painful mammogram and then an ultrasound. The radiologist was noncommittal
– said he could not tell me what it was or wasn’t, and told me to go back to my GYN.
When I did, he was so upset and said the radiologist thought I might have a malignancy, and I should see my PCP right away.
Imagine my shock, when that had never crossed my mind at all. My PCP’s nurse called the surgeon who saw me on Thursday,
May 10th.
My husband, Randy, was away on a fishing trip, and I had told him on Tuesday night about the ultrasound, but told him not
to worry. He came home on Wednesday and went with me to this biopsy appointment on Thursday. The doctor said I had a 50/50
chance of having breast cancer - what a shocker!
I had pain - you are not supposed to have pain with breast cancer, right? The next day, Randy went to the Internet and did a
search with the symptoms, found an 'inflammatorybreastcancer' website. When I returned from work on Friday, he talked to me
about it and asked me if I wanted to see what he had found. I told him, 'if you know the enemy, you can fight it better,'
and I needed to know what we were up against.
We got the bad news on Monday, May 14, 2001. When I met my oncologist, I asked Dr. Chaplinski, 'Do you believe in miracles?'
He said, 'I know there are things that happen that are unexplained.' I told him very firmly, that I did believe in them, and
he was going to see one happen.
On Wednesday afternoon, a dear friend brought two of her powerful Christian friends to my office for healing prayer. After
the healing prayer, I left that room with a big smile, saying, 'I am going to be just fine!!' That was the beginning of my
very positive attitude and intense faith that I knew I was right – and here I am!!! My Bible Study teacher tells me I have
the gift of faith, and I used it on myself.
I had the CT, echocardiogram and bone scans on Tuesday and Wednesday and started the Adriamycin/Cytoxan chemo on Thursday,
May 17th and went back to work on Monday the 21st. Since a 'gray' area showed up on my spine, an MRI 3 weeks later indicated
2 metastases in my vertebrae – Randy and I were devastated and again said many prayers that these would go away.
Later in August, we found out there were actually 6 bone mets.
One week after my first chemo on May 24th, Randy and I met with a breast cancer oncologist at Duke University Medical Center.
He was not very encouraging and explained that this was a serious breast cancer. We got the impression from him that I was
not going to be around to worry about whether I had one or two breasts, and he did not recommend a bilateral mastectomy.
I told Randy and myself then that I was going to prove them wrong.
On day 15 after chemo, my hair turned loose – and by the next chemo 1 week later, I was wearing my new wig. I NEVER saw my
head without hair – I could not do it and felt that if I saw myself with no hair, I would look sick, and I refused to be
sick! My last chemo was the Wednesday before my 52nd birthday on July 18th.
I had surgery on August 8, 2001. During the follow-up scans after surgery (CT, MRI, and Bone), a quarter-size spot showed up
in my liver, plus my liver enzymes were 'sky high'. That weekend was the second hardest of all of them. We had our 'pity
party' that Saturday, and Randy and I said lots of prayers. By Monday, we were ready to really fight with all our strength.
I had 2 healing prayers within a 10-day period, and when I had a liver MRI in preparation for a biopsy, the spot was no
longer there. The doctor said that the spot was possibly the duodenum, and the radiologist read the scan incorrectly. Later,
I hugged my oncologist, and he seemed surprised and said, 'What was that for?' I told him that he had a tough job - he said
that I did, since I was the patient…and I told him, 'Not for long - I am going to be healed.'
After having a port placed on my right chest wall, I began weekly Taxol August 28, 2001 and finished on March 21, 2002.
During these treatments, I drove myself to treatment in the afternoon, then drove myself home. Randy went to every doctor’s
appointment but 2 – once he was moving us into our new home and once he went fishing.
I still can’t believe how strong I was, but know where my inner strength came from. And, Randy learned a lot about patience
since he spent a lot of time with me in waiting rooms. He was and still is a rock – God knew I needed a husband like Randy,
and I am so blessed. We celebrate 25 years on December 23, 2006.
In the middle of weekly chemo, I started radiation December 10th and had 33 sessions, completing them on January 28, 2002 –
I said prayers during all 33 treatments, which lasted about 15 minutes each.
My cancer was diagnosed as Estrogen Receptor +/Progesterone Receptor +, Her2neu negative. No females in my family (either
side) have ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. I now take a daily Femara (2.5 mg) and get 4 mg Zometa every 6 weeks, but
will probably change to 3 months in January. I get scans every 6 months, and so far, I am stable with no progression.
Whenever I get anxious, I say prayers - the peace that I felt after my first healing prayer session, the gift of laughter
during the session, and the smile on my face when I left the room stayed with me - I have never thought that I would not be
healed.
During one of my healing prayer sessions in February 2002, during the anointing of the oil, a very different sensation came
over me when I went to hug the preacher – a force pulled me backward, and I sat on the floor – I do not remember getting to
the floor, though……I am told that this was the experience of being 'slain by the Holy Spirit.'
During another healing prayer session the following April, after I sat down in the chair, I felt a hot poker stab me in the
spine where my largest tumor is – I almost jumped from my seat and told the gentleman next to me what happened…..he said,
you know that was the healing fire of God, don’t you? He was referring to Isaiah 6:7 – when the angel took the live coal and
laid it upon Isaiah’s mouth and purged his sin.
Prior to diagnosis, Randy and I had sold our home and were moving to Florida - plans were to be there by the first of July,
and when the surgeon told me I had breast cancer, I said, 'I can’t have breast cancer - we are moving in 2 weeks!' Well,
that didn’t happen, and we knew we would find out why we could not retire as planned - 'everything happens for a reason'
we kept saying.
Three months after I completed chemo, my mother passed away in June 2002. In August of 2000, she was very upset when she
knew we were moving to Florida, and the only thing that would have kept us here would have been either Randy or I getting
sick - since it was the last year of her life, I needed to be here.
God had a plan, and I know He continues to point us in the right direction. I told my mother after my first chemo that I had
good news and bad news – good news, we were not moving to Florida as planned; and the bad news, is that the reason we
weren’t moving is that I had breast cancer - BUT, I told her I was going to be just fine.
All along, my attitude has been very positive, even though I am Stage 4. When people ask me how I got through this, I tell
them that I got my strength from deep down – it’s called 'supernatural strength.' The 6 metastases in my spine have never
caused problems or pain, and I know they are dead.
I had no problems with any of the chemo, and most people do not believe I have cancer. He wants me to be strong for other
patients, and I witness every day about His healing power. I know that God has healed me. If I did not firmly believe it,
I could not say it.
I am now an ACS Reach to Recovery volunteer to help newly diagnosed patients. Many of my new best friends are breast cancer
survivors like me. And, I have met several IBC patients, and do everything I can to encourage them - after all, I am 5-1/2
years from diagnosis at Stage 4. I like to give other patients hope.
During follow-up visits with my GYN and surgeon in 2005, I asked them if they expected me to be doing so well 4 years later,
and they both said they did not really think I would be around, because it is such a serious cancer. I told them I was
glad they did not tell me that earlier.
In May of this year, I sent all my doctors 'Thank You' letters, to let them know their star patient was doing great. This
year, my radiation oncologist gave me a certificate, stating that he believes I am 'cured,' which is something I never
thought I would hear.
I hope my story inspires and helps others…..God has been so good to me and Randy. I am so blessed.
Charlotte Bryant
Age 57
Greenville, NC
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Charlotte
Ms. Bryant,
What a wonderful testimony you have. God is so good and dependable. Thank you for sharing your miraculous story for other
women to know the true healing power of God!
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