JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- When someone is sick and doctors are required to run multiple tests to find out what the illness is, questions arise and the mind wanders. One word that many are scared to hear in a time like that is cancer. Of course, no one wants to be diagnosed with such a savage disease, but is the diagnosis the worst part? For some of our Warriors, who were diagnosed with breast cancer, the worst part came after.
A breast cancer diagnosis is not simple by any means. There is not just one type, there are many techniques to help destroy the cancer cells and there are a ton of things that need to be discussed with the patient and their family. With all this piling up, it seems the diagnosis could be the easiest part.
“My initial reaction to the diagnosis was being shocked, wanting to know everything about cancer and no one was able to tell me anything,” said Chief Master Sgt. Christa Dossett, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center functional manager. “The worst part about my diagnosis was having to tell my children and family what was happening.”
Having to be strong and maintain a positive attitude while explaining to your family that you’ve been diagnosed with a disease that could potentially kill you is not something you can be prepared for. What you can prepare for is your attitude, mental state and letting your family know what you need from them to help survive curing the cancer.
“My family and friends stepped in to help me and my husband maintain our household, take care of our daughter and offered emotional support,” said Maj. Marie Perkins, Information Systems Flight commander. “My husband went through everything with me and we learned to love each other in a deeper way. I knew I would beat it to grow old with him.”
Although times like these are when family and friends come closer together, it can still be hard for the person going through all the treatments, surgeries and mental stress to stay positive and wanting to fight. That’s when having connections can be very important and life saving in some situations.
“My squadron and Airmen rallied around me by making my family a meal train, taking my son to scouts and be to my chemo treatments,” CMSgt. Dossett said. “Staying connected is very important even though I didn’t want to share my journey with everyone. Now I go back through social media to read all the love expressed through comments to me and my family.”
Staying connected can help those going through hard times to stay positive and striving for a better tomorrow. Without a strong support system and positive outlook on life, there is nothing to keep someone from falling into a dark path.
“I was truly blessed to have a huge support system with my family and friends, and I was never alone. I always focused on the things I could do when I had the energy and accomplished them. I also made sure to remember everything so that, one day, I could educate other women,” Maj. Perkins said.
Both, CMSgt. Dossett and Maj. Perkins went through more than 20 rounds of chemotherapy, and 7 surgeries between the two of them. Maj. Perkins also went through radiation therapy, 6 additional months of chemotherapy via pills and still has another surgery to go through.
Visit the AFW2 Facebook page to hear stories of resiliency and engage in activities hosted by Air Force Wounded Warriors, Caregivers and Staff. For additional information, visit www.woundedwarrior.af.mil to refer an Airman to the program, read about the program’s mission or learn about additional services offered to Caregivers and families.