30th Anniversary Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

My name is Linda Godwin Lewis and I am a two time breast cancer survivor. My first Diagnosis was in 2004, at age 50 in my left breast It was clssified as DCIS I had taken hormones for 10 years and with no family history of breast cancer, assumed it was the hormone therapy that had caused the cancer. My doctors said a lumpectomy since it was confined in a milk duct and not spread that radiation would be all i needed to do. After 37 radiations, I was told I needed to take tamoxifin for 5 years and I would never have any other breast cancer issues.

I followed with mamograms each year and after the five years of tamoxifin, the sixth year following all of the recommended treatment I had an abnormal mamogram. with cancer back in left breast. In 2011 I had a double mastectomy. This was without a doubt one of the most discouraging news was to loose my breast. I had always felt so confident with my body even with my little boobs 34 B cup.
Because of the 37 radiations and the scars, I could not have reconstruction. The only think I could do was travel to New Orleans, Birmingham, for the DIEP surgery. I was divorced and had been awarded custody of my grandson (8 months old) so no way to travel and have a 10-12 surgery with a baby, plus I had been diagnoised with COPD which was a risk of being put to sleep for 10-12 hours. With so much emphases put on womens breast on TV, MAGAZINES, ADVERTISMENTS IT WAS SO DEPRESSING TO KNOW I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A DISFIGURED BODY.

At that time there were very few support groups in Pensacola so a very good friend of mine who was also a breast cancer patient invited me to a bosom buddies of fort walton support group. I would drive down to fort walton because of needing encouragment, hearing from others that I would be okay, to pray and have faith and belief that all would be okay. i ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE POWER OF PRAYERS AND HAVING THE ENCOURAGEMENT. SUPPORT, AND LOVE FROM OTHERS. PART OF GOD'S PLANS FOR ME WAS TO HAVE A NEED TO GET UP AND FIGHT, THE PRECIOUS BABY WHO HAD NO ONE BUT ME THAT WOULD BE THERE FOR HIM.

I decided about a year ago to start and form a Bosom Buddies of Pensacola support group for women of any form of female cancer. Most of my members are breast cancer fighters and survivors but had several contacts of women who had ovarian or uterine cancer. My heart goes out to any women who has been diagnosed with cancer. i had minimum family support AND Was so grateful for the support of the Bosom Buddies of Ft Walton group of ladies.

I believe that women supporting women is being able to feel you are not along in the Cancer journey,

Family, friends, coworkers,neighbors can visit tellING you they are sorry but still have no idea what the stress, grief, mutilation, burns, scars both visible and unvisible do to a female who has gone through breast cancer.

mY FINAL IS PRAY AND ASK OTHERS TO PRAY FOR YOU. kEEP YOUR FAITH, BELIEF THAT THERE IS A HIGHER POWER AND SEEK OUT A SUPPORT GROUP THAT CAN BE AN INSIPRATION FOR YOU.