Unusual Determination: Helen's Breast Cancer Journey to Victory

By Helen Blocker-Adams

I've wanted to write another book for quite some time now. My last work, Unlikely Allies: 8 Steps to Bridging Divides that Impact Leadership, was written and published in 2010. I love to write. I just don't make the time to do it as often as I should or desire. Sharing information, empowering, and inspiring people is what I truly love to do. Part of the challenge of why it's taken me so long to write another book is I didn't know what I was going to write about. Should it be about business, politics, inspiration, or motivation? Yes, there are other books with those topics brewing in my mind, but something out of the ordinary happened to me in 2021 and it's been in my heart to share it.

When I first received the news, I was stunned. It absolutely took me by surprise, but oddly, I didn't get emotional about it. The follow-up letter, additional tests, and consistent information shared to me by the nurses and doctors prepared me for what was to come. They were kind and gentle with the news. Methodical, prepared, and knowledgeable about everything they expressed to me. You see, they've seen all of what I was to experience before. Probably hundreds of times with all the people they serve. But this was my first time…ever. And so, my story, my journey, will be told and is my next published work. As you read this book, you will note that I switch from first person to third person throughout. Parts of this work are direct comments from my journal on any given day. I pray that these words will be a blessing to you!

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him; and if he has committed sins, they shall have forgiven him."
James 5:15-16

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823013130

Helen Blocker-Adams

HELEN BLOCKER ADAMS is a Partner with Senior Life Insurance Company and CEO of The Adams Group Agency, LLC. She is founder of HOPE TNBC, an online initiative designed to inform, educate, empower, inspire, and exhibit hope to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and/or are living with it now. She is a former college professor, radio and television personality, political candidate, and serial entrepreneur. She is a passionate Triple Negative Breast Cancer advocate survivor. The oldest of four children, Blocker Adams is a military brat, born in Hampton, Va., who has travelled and lived around the world including Germany, Italy, and Okinawa, Japan. She now lives in Augusta, Ga. She has 9 nieces and nephews and 10 great nieces and nephews.

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© 2023 Helen Blocker-Adams. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  08/21/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1314-7 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1313-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023914937

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Dedication and in Memory of

In dedication to and In Memory of my oldest niece, Danielle Monique Williams Hunter – she and I shared a text conversation one day – one of many - your health journey is personal and is never insignificant. On any given day. No one wakes up saying she’s going to be diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. It’s not anything one thinks about on any given day. I was talking with Danielle one morning and mentioned that I felt my brief bout with breast cancer paled in comparison to her 15-year journey suffering with multiple diagnoses of cancer. She immediately responded that that was nonsense – everyone’s journey is personal and is never insignificant. Of course, she’s right. My precious Danielle succumbed to cancer on April 22, 2023. I love her and miss her deeply!

CONTENTS

Chapter 1   An Unwelcomed and Uninvited Beast

Chapter 2   My Lifestyle By Appointment

Chapter 3   Information Overload

Chapter 4   Journaling My Journey

About the Author

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CHAPTER ONE

An Unwelcomed and

Uninvited Beast

T hat’s what my brother, Darrell, termed it. An unwelcomed and uninvited beast. His girlfriend, Jayne, had a sister who died of lung cancer and another who is a breast cancer survivor. It’s the term he used whenever he and I talked, from day one. Monday, March 22, 2021, I was scheduled for my annual mammogram, a checkup I consistently began once turning 50. I went to the University Hospital Mammogram Mobile Unit located on the campus of the hospital. As uncomfortable as mammograms are, I believe in being proactive with my health, so I look forward to my annual exams; Self-care is critical. I must admit, I never considered getting a follow-up letter saying anything different than: the results are negative. We’ll see you next year.

A negative follow-up letter was usually the case. This time, I received a letter five days later as promised, but it said something completely different. It was a Friday and the follow-up letter stated there was some ‘abnormality’ and I needed to call to schedule a second mammogram. It was after five o’clock when I checked the mail and read the letter, so I had to wait until Monday to make the call. I didn’t tell anyone about the letter, although my mom knew I had a mammogram. I was anxious the entire weekend and Monday seemed to take forever to come.

I called the hospital on Monday, the 29th of March, and the earliest follow-up appointment available was Friday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m. Whew! This would be a very long week for me. The second mammogram was designed for the technicians to take a more intense, invasive look to verify the image discovered in the first mammogram. A sonogram was also administered to solidify the diagnosis the doctor was preparing me for. A tumor was discovered. It was tiny, the size of a pea. The doctor said I now needed a biopsy to determine if the tumor was benign or cancerous. Twice that day I was told a mass discovered in a woman of my age is typically not benign. The technician even mentioned lumps usually don’t form in a woman’s breasts at my age, or beyond menopause, for no reason. She said the good news was the abnormality was detected early and if the tumor was benign, it could be removed. I was told younger women could have many reasons for abnormal mammograms, but at my age…well, they were optimistic, yet honest with me. I truly appreciated that. I believed it helped me maintain a level head as I waited for the results.

My biopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th at 8 a.m., and of course, I had to share the news with my mom. On the 6th, my mom accompanied me to get something I’ve never had done in my life. A biopsy is a medical procedure to remove a piece of tissue or sample of cells from your body to be tested in a laboratory. My level of optimism came from my mom. She’s an incredibly strong woman. Dr. Pugliese, my Surgeon Oncologist, performed the biopsy that day. My