*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 vendor they liked at some point during their breast cancer journey or today. The series is called “SurviveHer at the Table: Food. Faith. Fight.”
By Chanda Temple
Tonya Allen ran her hand across her right breast and couldn’t believe it. A small lump sat beneath her fingertips.
“This couldn’t be cancer,’’ she thought. “Not me!’’
But a later visit with the doctor and a 3-D mammogram confirmed she had an estrogen-positive cyst, which would rise in her breast when she was on her period and go down when she went off her period.
Denial was strong that January morning in 2020 as the doctor suggested an option: “You should have a lumpectomy.’’ But Tonya needed more information before making such a big decision.
She talked to breast cancer survivors and did research to make sure a lumpectomy was the right course for her. After additional research and hearing how a lumpectomy can cancer to spread to the other breast for some patients, she opted for a double mastectomy.
“In actuality, it was the best decision (for me) because I haven’t had any issues at all with the implants since the surgery. Doctors cannot believe it,” she said.
“I’ve seen friends who’ve had a successful lumpectomy and nothing happened to them. … but I had to do this for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t steer people from a lumpectomy, but you can do research to make your own determination.”
During her breast cancer journey, friends organized a food train, which is when people sign up to deliver food, have food delivered to a person’s home or give gift cards. Tonya and her family’s refrigerator stayed stocked with food from the grocery store and Niki’s West, one of her favorite Birmingham restaurants.
“I didn’t lose my appetite. I didn’t get sick,’’ Tonya said. “I ate a lot of chicken because the protein is what you need to get your strength back. I liked the Greek chicken from Niki’s West. It’s so tasty and it’s seasoned well.”
During her chemo treatments, Tonya also ate a lot of vegetables. One of her favorite Niki’s West combos includes lima beans, collards and sliced tomatoes. “Their food really made me think of my mama’s cooking,’’ Tonya said. “I needed whatever I could to improve my strength. I needed to push through.’’
What also helped Tonya, now 50, was her recommitment to God. In 2021, she joined a church after spending so many months watching church services on social media.
“I think God used this situation to slow me down so I could focus on my family, on God, my life and living for Him,’’ she said.
Before her diagnosis, she was aspiring to be a principal. All she had to do was take an exam and await the results. But when breast cancer happened, she was forced to take a step back, be in God’s presence and listen to His word.
Today, Tonya is cancer-free and still has a dream of becoming an administrator. But for now, she’s happy working to help students with dyslexia become better readers at Hudson K-8 School in Birmingham.
“I love it!” she said.
NOTE: Each story posted this month is the opinion of the survivor. Readers should consult with their physician for medical and health advice and with their nutritionist for 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.
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