Breast cancer survivor shares her story of survival through faith
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Are you wearing your pink this month? It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
One woman who recently beat the disease says a big reason she beat cancer is because of her faith.
“At first when they told me I had cancer, I was like well I’ll be dogged,” Shirley Pinkney said.
She isn’t new to breast cancer, four of her family members have battled or are battling the deadly disease.
She’s the fifth.
Pinkney felt a lump in her breast early this summer and knew something wasn’t right. So she went to her doctor.
“We went in the next day, she found it, and that’s when it all started,” Pinkney said.
After a couple of months of preparations, doctors advised her to remove both of her breasts.
“It tore me down a little bit, but I said Lord you know all about my body so you’re going to handle this,” Pinkney said.
With prayer and support from family, friends, church members, doctors, and nurse navigator Kim Lewis, Pinkney was ready to go.
“We need every woman ages 40 and above to do their mammograms. If there’s a family history you might want to even start earlier,” Lewis said.
Lewis says genetics can play a role in who gets cancer, but it isn’t certain all relatives will get the disease.
Pinkney and her cousin Brenda Hubbard, who’s a 16 year breast cancer survivor, are now advocates for mammograms and early detection methods.
She adds the support of her husband along with her faith is what brought her through the journey.
“The Lord knew who he put in my life, and he put a special man in my life,” Pinkney said.
Now Pinkney is holding her head up high, with a smile, and a new outlook on life.
“Cancer you didn’t beat me, I got it…you didn’t beat me,” Pinkney said .
According to Lewis, one out of eight women in the country are affected by breast cancer.
In middle Georgia, several different events are happening this month to make sure you at home are safe.
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