By Chanda Temple
When Monique Martin’s father died in May 2024, she was engulfed in grief. And as a result, the lymph nodes under her arms and in her neck, began to swell.
She thought stress had brought on the brief swelling. So, she ignored it.
Then, in August 2024, the swelling returned and it gradually got worse. In October 2024, she felt a lump in her left breast. Officials scheduled her for a mammogram in November 2024.
“I got the mammogram, went on the patient portal and read the results before they even called me,” she said. It said, “Indicative of breast cancer.” She wasn’t totally surprised because her mother is a breast cancer survivor. But she was scared.
“I was kind of kicking myself because I was like, ‘Maybe if I had gotten on this when I first noticed my lymph nodes were swollen, the prognosis would have been a little bit better,’ ” she said.
She later learned she had Stage 2 breast cancer. She had to have another mammogram and schedule MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, an ultrasound and biopsies at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.
“I had to have the whole works,” she said. “Once they got rolling, it was rolling. I was very fortunate. I had the same oncologist and the same breast surgeon my mother had when she went through breast cancer seven years ago. I felt very confident with them.”
Because her mother was a breast cancer survivor, Monique wished she had been more attentive to her own health in 2024. Monique had gone in for a regular gynecology appointment in February 2024, and her doctor encouraged her to schedule her mammogram then. But Monique got busy with life, and she never scheduled the mammogram.
After her diagnosis, she had 12 weeks of chemo, finishing on July 2, 2025. She had a single mastectomy and had some lymph nodes removed on Aug. 15, 2025. Thirty days of radiation is next. And once she gives her body three months to heal, she can have reconstructive surgery.
“I was very scared in the beginning. I feel lot better now,” said Monique, 52. “I still worry about the future. I have a 10-year-old old daughter with autism, and that’s my biggest concern. I have to be here for her.”
To improve her eating habits, Monique started eating meatless meals during treatment. She turned to Birmingham plant-based creator Kimberly Brock of Bitty’s Living Kitchen for help because she was just too tired from chemo to get in the kitchen and cook.
“It was very helpful to get those meals from her because they were either completely raw or mostly raw. I got a lot salads,” said Monique, of Pratt City. “It was very easy, and her meals are delicious.”
“I loved any of her salads where she had the walnut meat. I don’t know if you’ve had walnut meat before, but it makes you think you are eating meat on your salad. She grinds it up and seasons it really well.”
Monique said she was grateful for healthful options from Bitty’s Living Kitchen, which helped to make her recovery at home easier.
Monique also turned to Indian food from Sitar Indian Restaurant in Birmingham during her treatment.
“I did read in some of my cancer books that Indian spices (such as turmeric, ginger and curry) are really good for zapping cancer cells,” Monique said. “At Sitar, I always got their lentil soup and the vegetable biryani,” which is made with basmati rice and comes with a variety of vegetables.
Monique said people should remain aware of their bodies and handle any negative changes right away. To keep better track of her appointments, Monique has now bought a planner to record everything.
“If you ever have to cancel an appointment, reschedule it right then,” she said. “Don’t say, ‘I’ll call back,’ because you probably won’t.
***All food photos were secured from Bitty’s Living Kitchen Facebook page.***
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 their 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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