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For 2024, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is encouraging individuals to take an active role in their health journey by focusing on the theme: “No one should have to face breast cancer alone.”

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the City of Troy Tourism Department hosted a “food for thought” event at the tourism office on Thursday morning.

Sheila Jackson, City of Troy tourism director, said the idea was to invite several breast cancer survivors to come and share what it was liked to hear the words, “You have breast cancer” and, Then, today,  thankfully say, “I am a breast cancer survivor.”

“I’m sure that breast cancer has crossed the minds for most all women at some point in their lives,”  Jackson said. “And, it is a fearful thought. So, we invited several breast cancer survivors to come and share their response when they heard the words, ‘”you have breast cancer.’”

One cancer survivor openly admitted that when she heard the words, “you’ve got cancer,” she started crying “almost like a baby.”

Although, she knew that, hearing the word, “cancer,” was a possibility she was not ready to accept it. When she was in treatment in  Birmingham she was  “’still acting like a “big baby.”

She first had to cope with surgery and then she realized that the doctors have done what they could. “Now it was in God’s hands” and she found contentment. She is now five years’ breast cancer free.

Often, after a cancerous breast removal, the way people respond is different and makes one as uncomfortable as the other.

One breast cancer survivor said undergoing breast cancer has given her an even greater love of life. Cancer, she said, has given her even greater love of life and for those who journeyed with her and continue to love and support her through it all.

Having breast cancer is not like a walk in the park. It is often a long journey and it does change you in different ways, a cancer survivor shared and don’t expect to come away from breast cancer looking like your senior portrait.

But, the breast cancer survivors all seemed agree that all women should be aware that breast cancer is the number one cause of death in women.

“Let’s don’t wait for God to take care of the breast cancer once it has been diagnosed.

Those who shared their stories of their journeys through cancer have been cancer free for five to 30 years. And, to a one, they said, I’m here by the Grace of God.