Behind the Pink Ribbons: Southbury Woman 'Refuses to Sink'

Editor’s note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Patch is sharing inspirational stories of breast cancer survivors to help raise awareness for early detection. Would you like to share your story? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

Written By Cara Spath, 44, Southbury

I went for a baseline mammography when I was 40 years. old. It was my 1 year recheck. I had a mammography and, because I have dense tissue, I had an ultrasound. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the mammo but on the ultrasound they saw a suspicious area and wanted me to have a biopsy. One week later I found out that I had Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

I couldn’t believe it. I’m a mother and a wife. I didn’t have time to be sick. At the time I was also PTO Co-President for Gainsville Elementary School. I did have breast cancer in my family, both of my grandmothers had it, but both were post-menopause. This didn’t raise my risk at all. I also tested negative for the BRCA gene.

After a couple more series of tests, I made the decision with my surgeon and husband to have a bilateral mastectomy. I followed this with 4 treatments of chemo because they found isolated tumor cells in my lymph nodes. I opted to have reconstruction by expanders and implants. I had a few bumps in the road throughout it all, but I‘m happy to say that 2 years later I am a survivor. It was one of the hardest obstacles I have ever faced.

For me, ever since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, 11 years ago, I have always lived life to the fullest and day to day. I don’t live in the past, and always look ahead. The MS and breast cancer have put life into perspective for me. I never sweat the small stuff. I strongly feel that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. My grandmother was like that. She was an exceptional role model. Throughout it all I would think about her and her strength and pull from it.

After I finished my last round of chemo I got a tattoo on the inside of my wrist of an anchor with the saying ”Refuse to Sink.” This is truly how I feel. Cancer made me stronger, confident and invincible. No matter what, I absolutely refuse to sink! Those are qualities that I was lacking before.

It was 2 years ago in May since my diagnosis. I am looking forward to getting some new tattooed areolas, hoping that they will help camouflage the scars that remind me everyday what I’ve gone through.

I have a new career since breast cancer. Because I don’t have areolas yet, not many people do them in our area, and because I have artistic ability, I have gotten certified to do permanent cosmetics. My hope is to help cancer patients and people suffering from alopecia. A lot of chemo patients lose hair that never comes back. I’m also so excited to be going to a two day training session in November to learn how to do areola tattooing and scar camouflaging.