By Chanda Temple
During her chemo treatments for breast cancer, many things tasted like air to Marshelle Harris.
Everything, that is, except for Newk’s Margherita Pizza when she swapped out its red pizza sauce for the Newk’s white barbecue sauce. She also asked that a little cilantro be added to the pizza’s existing offerings of grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil.
The combo was a game changer, as the white BBQ sauce burst through with the most robust flavors on the warm, soft pizza slices.
“I always tell people about it, and when they get it, they say, ‘Girl, you were not lying! ‘ ” she said.
In an effort to overload with nutrition and to “eat the rainbow” while going through chemo, Marshelle made smoothies at home in the morning and at night. She added three fruits and three vegetables, along with superfoods . (People should always consult with their physician or nutritionist on which food route is better for their specific health conditions and health goals. Marshelle offers a free e-book with 30 cancer-fighting superfoods here. Also, the National Breast Cancer Foundation offers a five-step smoothie guide here. The Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center also has a list of seven foods breast cancer survivors should consider for healthy aging.)
In July 2019, Marshelle was diagnosed with triple negative Stage 2 breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. She underwent 16 weeks of chemo. Then, she had a double mastectomy, followed by six weeks of recovery. She later had five weeks of radiation. About 1.5 years later, she had reconstructive surgery in August 2022.
Now at the age of 48, she’s cancer-free; has published two books about her breast cancer journey; is a breast cancer coach, advocate and founder of Wellness 4 Life at http://www.marshelleharris.com; is a board member for the Cancer Awareness Network; and is a member of Sisters CANcervive non-profit organization. Next week, she will travel to Washington, D.C. and Chicago to take part in national breast cancer conferences. In November, she will leave for Portugal to participate in the Advanced Breast Cancer International Consensus Conference.
I’m a boots-on-the-ground advocate, someone who believes that real impact happens when you move beyond conversations and step into the work,” she said.
Before now, there were times Marshelle struggled to get out of bed, due to the neuropathy that ravaged her hands and feet; walking again; and regaining her range of motion. But there was also victory on the other side of the hard days, including the time she was able to complete a 55-mile bike ride with her bike small group.
“That was hard, and I wanted to quit so many times,” she said in a YouTube video about her journey. “I did not quit, though… It reminded me of my cancer journey.”
Pain raced through her body. But she kept going.
“Life can be just like this, but do not quit. Don’t give up,” she said. “It gets better.”
***NOTE: In America, one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I will be profiling one female breast cancer survivor each day in October 2025. The stories will also highlight a food from a Birmingham, AL restaurant or food vendor they liked at some point during their breast cancer journey or today. The series is called “SurviveHer at the Table: Food. Faith. Fight.”
Each story posted this month is the opinion of the survivor, with a goal to increase awareness about early detection and treatment for breast cancer. Readers should consult with their physician for medical and health advice and a nutritionist for healthy eating tips. Links to area resources will be shared in future posts this month.
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple.
Copyright © 2025, All rights reserved.
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