By Chanda Temple
Breast cancer pushed Denetra Johnson to do two things: enroll in community college and go to church more.
It all started on Oct. 29, 2011 after her doctor called and said she had triple breast cancer. What followed next was all Denetra had to hear: “I think we got it in time.”
Denetra cried at first. Then, she told her family and started working on a plan.
“I said, ‘Well, I’m fixing to do some thangs now,’ ” Denetra recalled. “It’s time for me to grow up, … get stronger, be a thriver and a survivor.’ ”
Denetra enrolled at Brown Mackie College in Birmingham to pursue her medical assistance degree. She also increased going to church from three times a year to every Sunday.
“I didn’t let (breast cancer) defeat me,” she said. “I didn’t wallow in self-pity. I started being more active.”
“I was doing my chemo, radiation and going through school.”
Today, Denetra, 52, is very involved in her Birmingham church, where she hosts a breast cancer program every October. She’s also a member of the breast cancer support group, Sisters CanCervive and serves as a moderator in the group’s online chats. So far as community college, which is now closed, she secured her degree after going through an 18-month program.
During her studies and treatments in 2012, she discovered the Athenian snapper at Fish Market in Birmingham.
“It’s delicious. It’s fresh,” said Denetra, who now works for an insurance company. “I love it.”
Layered with feta cheese crumbles, onions, sautéed tomatoes, capers, lemon juice and black olives, that plate of fish brought a calmness that showed how change can quietly appear in a night or a lifetime.
“Breast cancer pushed me more on what I was procrastinating on,” she said. “It pushed me to be a better me.”
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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