[ad_1]
Breast cancer is not supposed to affect young women. This is undoubtedly what Bertha Combs thought when, at age 33, she received the dreaded diagnosis that no woman wants to hear.
The young mother of three, who had left Clark County to settle in Madison in 1960, was busy raising her family when the cancer was under control.
Combs said that prior to her diagnosis, she knew that something was wrong. It might have been exhausted, she was chasing children aged 6, 4 and 3 months, but she knew she needed to see a doctor when she was unable to cross a room without having a sore breast.
However, Combs did not think that it was a cancer. Instead, she was worried about having milk fever, an infection, after the birth of her youngest daughter. The doctor interviewed Combs, asking if she had a fever. The answer was no. An antibiotic was prescribed in the hope that it would cure what made it sick. However, this is not the case and the symptoms of Combs reappear, but worse. Once again, she went to see her doctor for further treatment.
But the doctor found a mass.
Still hoping that cancer would not be cancer, Combs was sent to the hospital on Wednesday morning, where she was scheduled to undergo a surgical biopsy. During the procedure, the cancer was confirmed and a radical mastectomy was performed, with the approval of her husband, Bobby. The combs learned his diagnosis and operation after awakening.
"It was shocking," said Combs. "I was wondering if I would live to see my children grow up, if I went to have treatments."
At the hospital for a week, Combs was released the following Friday. Saturday, his mother is dead.
"It was a lot to deal with, but with the help of God, you can do it," she said.
The combs began a life of follow-up every six months – x-rays, scans and blood tests – fortunately, they never underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy because the cancer did not spread to its lymph nodes. never had to undergo the difficult treatments that many women are fighting.
During her recovery, Ms. Combs said that she did not have much time to think about herself, which was probably a good thing in the long run. Instead, she focused on her children. However, she said that she had taken the time to do her exercises and had found comfort and hope from a neighbor who had also undergone a mastectomy.
In addition, Ms. Combs stated that her husband was always a source of strength and support.
"He never doubted that I would be fine – or, if he did, he never told me," she said.
Eight years after her mastectomy, another mass was found and removed from her other breast, as it was again another last year, although they are both benign.
When asked if she was already afraid of returning from cancer, Combs said no, she does not worry. Instead, she focuses on her faith and stays busy. After her diagnosis, she worked as a cook for Madison County Schools for 23 years.
In addition, Combs became a member of the local breast cancer support group, which helped her to help other women through the battle she won, as well as to share her wisdom. as a survivor.
"Cancer is a journey," she said. "But thanks to faith and help from friends, you can survive everything."
One thing that Combs always says to younger women is to be aware and do a self-examination. If something goes wrong, have it checked.
Reach Critley King at 624-6623; follow her on Twitter @critleyking.
Source link
