Nationwide — Shewanna Strickland, an African American girl from Killeen, Texas, was identified with stage 4 triple damaging breast most cancers in 2024. After months of chemotherapy, surgical procedure, and immunotherapy, she is now cancer-free and decided to unfold hope and consciousness.
In accordance with 11Alive, Strickland first found one thing was mistaken after a routine mammogram shortly after her fiftieth birthday. What started as a small concern rapidly changed into a struggle for her life. By June, medical doctors confirmed she had triple damaging breast most cancers, the identical aggressive kind her mom as soon as battled.
In contrast to different breast cancers, triple damaging circumstances lack sure receptors that make focused remedies potential. Dr. Mohit Bansal of Baylor Scott & White, who handled each Strickland and her mom, defined that this sort is harder to deal with and has a better recurrence charge, particularly amongst youthful and African American girls.
For Strickland, who works in healthcare, the analysis was stunning. “It simply does one thing totally different to you as a result of I’m used to taking good care of folks, after which I knew that ultimately I might be able the place I used to be gonna need to be taken care of,” she stated.
At first, Strickland’s scans confirmed stage 2 most cancers. However when her PET scan revealed exercise in her liver, her analysis superior to stage 4. She recalled the worry of listening to these phrases. “I simply prayed that I might get by way of it as a result of I do know lots of people at stage 4 and triple damaging don’t. I needed to be right here for my children and I needed to be right here with my mother and father,” she stated.
Dr. Bansal and Strickland determined to take an aggressive method as an alternative of simply managing her signs. Her remedy plan included 34 rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, 25 radiation periods, and immunotherapy each six weeks. Collectively, they targeted on a healing aim.
On August 20, 2024, Strickland rang the bell marking the tip of her remedy. Her post-treatment scans confirmed what she had prayed for — she was cancer-free. “I’m nonetheless standing. I’m nonetheless right here, and I’m surviving and I’m thriving,” she stated proudly.
Strickland’s journey has introduced her nearer to her mom, who additionally survived the identical most cancers. Now, she makes use of her story to encourage others to get common screenings. “Mammograms save lives,” Dr. Bansal stated, stressing the significance of early detection.
