When 57-year-old Norma Reid felt an unusual lump in one of her breasts while doing her regular self-examinations, little did she know that this one lump would soon develop into stage three breast cancer.

“A few years before I found a lump and I went to the [Jamaica] Cancer Society, and I did a mammogram. I didn’t say anything to them that the lump was there but by the time I got back to be dressed they called me and said we need to have another look and then that lump that they found I had it removed but it was benign,” she told Our Today.

The now-65-year-old retired nurse outlined that while she was prepared for the outcome of the biopsy, the reality hit when she got the report.

“I was not scared until I really got the report, that was when the reality hit that ‘OK, it’s here and it’s really cancer’. I was prepared that if it was it I would be ok, I’ll just go ahead and get rid of the breast, both of them if possible but then when I finally got the report It was a totally different feeling. I was out of it,” she said.

She outlined that: “the report I got back from the biopsy said it was a stage two but by the time I did surgery, and the respective studies were done it was a stage three triple negative which is the most aggressive type of cancer, it also required an aggressive treatment which means chemotherapy would have to be aggressive and also radiation therapy.”

During the treatment process, Reid underwent 16 chemotherapy treatments and 15 radiation therapy treatments.

She described the treatment process as ‘rough’ however she was determined to overcome the battle with breast cancer.

“Chemotherapy was rough, very very rough but I went through because I had a made-up mind that I would fight for survival. I worked along with my oncologist and my other doctors and yes, I made it, I survived,” she noted.

The breast cancer survivor noted that the support from her family, friends and co-workers motivated her in her fight against breast cancer.

Know your breasts

As countries globally recognise World Cancer Day (February 4), the breast cancer survivor is encouraging women to do their regular breast examinations to aid in the early detection of breast cancer.

“I would like to encourage women to do their breast self-examination, do your breast self-examinations, know your breasts and I always say to men know your partners’ breasts. We have men who have found lumps in the breast of their partners,” she noted.

She further implored persons who are currently diagnosed with breast cancer to practice healthy eating habits to ensure the body is equipped with the necessary nutrients.

“Cancer is not a death sentence, it’s just for you to accept what is happening and tell yourself that it’s going to be a fight and you’re going to be the winner,” she said.