I recently read a post on BET.com that really got under my skin. The article is entitled "Cancer Survivor Featured in Beyonce's Lemonade Faces Backlash After Details of Her Medical History Don't Add Up." (horrible title)
The article is about Paulette Leaphart from Biloxi, Mississippi. Ms. Leaphart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a double Mastectomy to rid her of the terrible disease.
Ms. Leaphart had a 0.7 centimeter cancerous tumor in her right breast and one of six sentinel lymph nodes removed tested positive for cancer.
The article (click here to read) insinuates that a double mastectomy wasn't needed because Ms. Leaphart only had cancer in one breast. As a survivor, I have a problem with this assumption. Cancer is cancer, no matter the size of the tumor. Once a lymph node is affected, there's a strong probability that the disease will spread to other areas of your body.
I applaud Ms. Leaphart for taking such an aggressive approach. My largest tumor was a little bigger than hers but my lymph nodes weren't involved so I chose a less invasive option. I am constantly nagged by the worry of reoccurrence but I trust God with my life.
When I first found out that I had cancer, I immediately thought of my daughter and I'm sure Ms. Leaphart did too.
If you've never been faced with choosing between a lumpectomy, mastectomy or double mastectomy, your voice should remain silent about the choices that someone else chooses to fight for their life.
PeaceMode, Melissa
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