It all started back in November with an itch. While scratching the itch, she found a lump under her left breast. Although no one in her family had ever had any form of cancer, she felt it was best to get it checked out. She went to the doctor and the battery of exams began. The findings were definite, she had breast cancer.
The doctors wanted to move quickly so they scheduled a lumpectomy. During the procedure the doctors were surprised as they found a massive hematoma and they decided to have the exams reviewed again. When they contacted the office responsible for the CT Scan, they lucked out and got the same person who performed the scan. They explained that they had been trying to reach the doctors because the scan showed that there was more cancer than originally thought; and one month after having a lumpectomy, she found herself having a masectomy.
Today she has no hormone receptors, four out of eleven lymph nodes are cancerous, and she finds herself preparing for chemotherapy. She has Stage IIIA Breast Cancer. Her name is Jody and this is her story. It is going to be my pleasure to spend the next year with Jody, documenting her story through photography.
It has been a hard year and a half for her. She lost her job, lost her home, lost her dog, and found out that she has cancer. She is nervous, scared and anxious. But more importantly she feels alone. Her feelings are that cancer is a lonely disease. Nobody that she talks to can truly relate. Comments like, “I know someone who died from that” or “Sorry to hear that. It will be okay” are all she hears. She doesn’t wish this feeling of solitude on any one so she has decided to share her story. Her hope, and mine, is that others will find comfort in seeing her story unfold.
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