By Chanda Temple
The first time Brenda Hong was told she had breast cancer, she was fired up, feeling like she could beat it. And she did.
But three years later in 1994, the cancer returned and it was hard to ignite that fire again.
“All that energy and faith I had were gone because you weren’t the victor you thought you were. That makes you depressed,” she said. “But somehow, because of my faith, I was able to come out of that dark hole. But I had bloody fingers because I dug my way out.”
“It wasn’t easy.”
Brenda clawed her way to top with strength she never knew she had and a plan: have a mastectomy and let God to be her new fire starter.
“You cannot be a successful warrior without faith because somehow, you’ve got to hear that voice saying, ‘Come on! Come on! You’ve got to take the next step!’ ” she said. “You can’t get bogged down.”
A major step for Brenda was to help others just like her. So in 1995, while living in Detroit, she started a breast cancer support group known as Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies .
When she returned to Birmingham around 2001 or 2002, she brought Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies with her, seeking to offer support, education and early breast cancer detection information for minority, low-income and under-served women and men. The group became a non-profit in 2010, and since then, Brenda has hosted the Sistah Strut at Legion Field in September and spring luncheon to celebrate survivors and remind people about the importance of mammograms.
It’s not unusual for Brenda to take an early morning or late night call from a survivor or someone concerned about breast cancer. She listens every time, providing soothing words like salve to a wound.
“Having breast cancer not only changes the way you think, it changes the way you live,’’ said Brenda. “I’m almost 80 years old, and I’m still trying to figure out how to live. Day by day, my life is becoming more fulfilled.’’
After fighting cancer, Brenda stopped eating red meat and started eating a lot of seafood. She enjoys the Fish Market in downtown Birmingham, where she orders oysters, raw or fried lightly.
“They also have a grilled catfish that is absolutely delicious. I like it because it’s moist,’’ she said. “It’s the closest thing to getting fried fish without it being fried. You get two whole catfish. You can get a salad, and it’s always very fresh. The Ranch dressing is good, too.”
These days, Brenda keeps her plates light and her eyes upward as faith continues to be her flame, chasing away the darkness for brighter days.
“Once you dig yourself out, you have to look up because you know the horror in that hole you just left. It’s so horrible you don’t want anybody to have to do that because you already know what it did to your spirit,” she said. “And that’s why I always say, ‘If you have faith, there’s hope.’ ”
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 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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