Upcoming
events

Parenting, Preschoolers, and the Diagnosis I Didn’t Have Time For

Surviving Breast Cancer
Mar 10
2 min read

By Cherisse Burley

In late 2020, I was 43, working full-time, running a household, and parenting my 1-year-old and 6-year-old boys. My world involved COVID masks, toddler milestones, and constant worry. I had started getting mammograms at 40, but when it came time for my third one, I didn’t think I had the time. I told myself cancer wouldn’t happen to me. I was too busy for cancer.

My doctor’s office was persistent. They called and emailed until I finally gave in and scheduled my annual checkup in September. Even after receiving the referral, it sat on my desk for weeks. It took multiple calls from the imaging center before I finally walked through those doors in November. That persistence saved my life.

The “One Small B-Cup” Surprise

What started as “calcifications” quickly spiraled. A biopsy before Christmas. A meeting with a surgeon in December. An MRI that was supposed to be a formality.

The results shocked me: one small B-cup breast was hosting two different stages of cancer: stage 0 and stage 1. I thought surgery would be the end of it. Then I met with the oncologist, and everything changed. I was told my cancer was HER2+.

The recommendation was chemotherapy, radiation, and estrogen blockers: 11 months of treatment. I didn’t want it. I fought the idea. I sought a second opinion. I cried for days. I lost weight. All I could see was a sick, bald version of myself.

Being “Mommy” While Being a Patient

How do you explain “bad cells” to a 6-year-old? How do you stay present for a 1-year-old who doesn’t understand why Mommy is too tired to play?

I had to find the words. I told my 6-year-old, “Cancer is when bad cells enter your body. For the next year, I’m going to go to the doctor to make them go away. The medicine will make me tired; it will make me sick, and I will lose my hair. But when it’s over, the bad cells will be gone, and we’re going to have a party.”

My toddler didn’t care about cells; he just wanted me. So even on the days my energy was at zero, I pulled it together. I had to be “Mommy.”

My treatment was successful. Now, I try to spread the message to every woman I meet: don’t put off that appointment. Answer the call. Make the time. It can save your life.

About the Author:

Cherisse is the author of I Rang the Bell!, a children’s book designed to help parents explain cancer treatment to young children with honesty, comfort, and hope. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/01UBtILk