When Javacia Harris Bowser walked into her doctor’s office and saw a big box of tissues in January 2020, she knew what words would come next.
She had breast cancer.
The doctor was expecting Javacia to cry. She did not. In fact, it would be some time before Javacia shed a tear over the news of being diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Instead, Javacia, a Type A person with an award-winning writing background, pulled out a notepad and said, “Ok, what do we need to do?”
Breast cancer survivor Javacia Harris has advice for those wanting to help loved ones fighting breast cancer. “Don’t ghost them,” she said. “When we don’t know exactly what to say or do, we just decide not to show up at all. Don’t do that. We would ratchet you say the wrong thing than not say anything because at least you are trying. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.” (Photo by Melissa Newton)
That’s the sound of ground turkey as Mellanie Frazier shapes it into hand-sized burgers.
Filled with fresh pico de Gallo and seasonings, it’s a familiar scene in her kitchen, where she’s made more healthful meals for her husband, three sons and herself since being diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2015.
“In the past, I’ve used purple onions, regular onions, bell peppers, Zesty Italian dressing and a little salt and pepper,” says Mellanie, 48. “Everybody seemed to like them.”
Mellanie Frazier (Photo provided by Mellanie Frazier)
That’s all Kimberly Callines wanted from Piggly Wiggly following her ob/gyn appointment at a Birmingham hospital in February 2022 . In fact, she wanted the meal so badly that she had made up her mind she was going to skip her scheduled mammogram right after her gynecologist visit and head down the street to pick up the Southern delicacy.
But as she stood at the elevator, ready to push the button to the floor that would take her to her car, she changed her mind when she heard God say, “Go get the mammogram.”
She followed orders and had the mammogram. The technician looked at Kimberly’s images and said, “Un-uhh. They may call you back for another mammogram.”
That call back set things in motion that forever changed Kimberly’s life. Additional testing showed that she had Stage 1 breast cancer.
Kimberly Callines (Photo provided by Kimberly Callines)
Tomeka Clemons’ breast cancer journey started in November 2023 when she went in for a routine mammogram. She went home, thinking things were OK. Then, a letter arrived in the mail, telling her the mammogram looked suspicious. A second letter soon arrived, asking her to return for a second mammogram of her left breast.
She returned for another mammogram. The radiologist looked at it and told her she was good. She could return in a year for another mammogram. But God saw different, telling Tomeka to seek a second opinion.
Tomeka has what’s known as “lumpy breasts,” and she could feel a small lump in her breast that just wouldn’t let her rest. “Maybe the mammogram missed it,” she thought. She had her mom feel the lump and her husband feel it. And then, she had her gynecologist, who was a breast cancer survivor, feel it.
Six weeks after being selected as a co-host for a nationally-syndicated radio show in Dallas, Ebony found herself in the doctor’s office to investigate what felt like a hard marble in her right breast.
She was 35, living her dream but now facing her biggest test: cancer.
Ebony Arrington Steele (Photo provided by Ebony Arrington Steele)
Six weeks after giving birth to her second son, Kasandra Brundidge went in for what she thought would be a routine checkup. It wasn’t.
Doctors told her she had stage 0 breast cancer. A month later in November 2007, the cancer had advanced to Stage 2, Triple Negative.
For five years, she had been trying to get a mammogram. But every time she was to go in, she was either pregnant or sick. (She had experienced four miscarriages before her second son was born in September 2007. )
Her diagnosis was crushing news. But Kasandra was determined to fight the disease. She had 18 founds of chemo and then 32 rounds of radiation. Testing also revealed she had the breast cancer gene. In May 2009, she had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
Kasandra Brundidge (Photo provided by Kasandra Brundidge)
Maranda LaRussa knew that lumps in one’s breast could be a sign of cancer. But never had she heard about itchy breasts possibly being a sign.
So, when her breasts started to itch in the summer of 2018, she thought it was odd. Then in October 2018, she experienced pain when she touched a lump in her breast. Immediately, she contacted her doctor.
She went in for an ultrasound. Test results showed it was cancer. A few weeks later, she learned she had Stage 3A breast cancer. She felt like if she had known about itchy breasts, she could have gotten her breasts checked earlier.
“But I ‘m glad that I noticed my symptoms, I was vigilant, and I moved as soon as I could,” she said.
Maranda LaRussa (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)
The year was 1991, and Germaine Robinson had just undergone a mastectomy. As doctors started to remove the bandages, questions filled her head.
“Would men be attracted to me?”
“How will my clothes fit?”
But soon, a 22-year-old Germaine had an epiphany that set the tone for the rest of her life: “If they can’t love me without it, then it wasn’t meant to be.”
Germaine Robinson (Photo provided by Germaine Robinson)
Breast cancer wasn’t part of Jill Carter’s plans. But plans change.
She was a married mom of three boys – one in kindergarten, one in fourth grade and one in 10th grade – when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative breast cancer on Oct. 3, 2008. From working part time to handling home life, she stayed on the go
“I remember thinking I don’t have time for this. But I did, and that began the fight of my life,” she said.
Jill Carter (Photo by Taneisha Tucker Photography)
Every day, Alease Sims walks past a pink wreath that once belonged to her daughter, Stacey Sims Turner.
A sign on it reads: “I stood strong. I fought hard. I won.”
Stacey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. As Stacey fought the disease, Alease knew her pain because Alease had fought the same disease in 1989. Alease comforted Stacey through a mastectomy, chemo, radiation and six-month checkups.
Doctors eventually told Stacey she was cancer-free. But in 2021, the cancer had returned and spread to Stacey’s lungs and brain. Again, Alease was by Stacey’s side, telling her, “We are going to fight this.”
Stacey Sims Turner, left, with her mother, Alease Sims at a breast cancer awareness event. (Photo provided by Alease Sims)
