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Sisters’ Journey Celebrates – TUSHEMIA ROBERTS
Read her inspiring story (thanks www.sistersjourney.org)
My name is Tushemia Roberts, and this is my breast cancer story.
From the beginning, these eight words from the bible kept me going: “Be still and know that I am God.” In 2015 I received a call from my younger sister imploring me to get tested for breast cancer. She herself had been diagnosed at age 32. She was currently in treatment and had recently undergone bilateral mastectomy and ovary removal surgery. Our grandmother (Beverly Gilmore) was a 30-year breast cancer survivor, but eventually passed away from ovarian cancer. My grandmother’s daughter (Nina Gilmore) died three months before she did from ovarian cancer at age 45. This was a very difficult time in our family. It was time to go for genetic testing. I found out I carried the BRCA1 gene, which increases my risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Initially, I chose to keep this information private and only told my husband.
In 2016, while at church, our pastor called me out and said to me, “The Lord told me to tell you that you have a strong gene or illness in your family, but do not worry. The Lord told me to tell you that it will pass over you and your children.” At this point only my husband and I knew that I carried the gene. Of course, this hit me like a ton of bricks because I couldn’t believe God sent a personal supernatural message just for me. I assumed that meant I wasn’t going to get cancer and needn’t worry.
On March 6, 2018, at age 43, I received a call in my office that I did in fact have a mass on my breast. Well, this was devastating news to receive at work, but I just kept on working. It took me a while to process what was happening. It was like my world stopped and would be forever changed. I was absolutely devastated and confused. God told me I didn’t have to worry, right? I waited until the end of the work week to tell my husband because I didn’t want him to have to work with this kind of news all week
After the initial shock and concern, he immediately went into prayer and reminded me of the prophecy that was spoken over me. He never once left my side from that moment. We chose not to tell our children who were 17 and 20 at the time. I wanted them to complete their academic year. My gynecologist referred me for a breast biopsy and referral to Smilow Cancer Hospital. On March 15, 2018 a breast biopsy was obtained and March 20, 2018 it came back positive for DCIS 3, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
On Good Friday (March 30, 2018) we met with my oncologist, Dr. Silber; a breast surgeon; a social worker; a nurse coordinator; and a patient liaison. From the very beginning, Dr. Silber was positive and told me I had a curable cancer, and it was caught early due to my high surveillance screenings. She told us she was recommending me for a clinical trial and my participation would assist with research and potentially save the lives of many others in the future. I endured multiple scans, tests, and blood draws.
Thank God the cancer had not metastasized to any other parts of my body.
I continued to work as a nurse full time for the first three months but had to take a week off after the second round of chemo treatment because of significant fatigue. My tumor was completely gone three months into treatment. They couldn’t find it on the MRI or ultrasound. God said it would pass over me, and it surely did. All the tests after were negative. My tumor was gone, and the treatment was working!
I am truly thankful for my husband and children who never left my side. I wouldn’t have gotten through this without them. Breast cancer survivors go through this journey the best way they know how, and for me it was with only my immediate family knowing at first. I felt I needed to hold onto God’s word without any outside noise or people treating me like I was dying. I needed to be laser focused on the word He promised me. My husband took me to every appointment, showered me, and fed me. He never left my side. He applied ice packs to my hands and feet during chemo (to prevent neuropathy). The nurses usually got a kick out of this. I eventually told close family members and their prayers, and meals, got us through.
I would also like to thank my support team of Sharina Robert-Gibbs (my sisterin-law), Shawn and Julie Browning, and my Aunt Barbara Gilmore. My Aunt Barbara was the first to call me and sound the alarm about cancer in the family. I really appreciated those phone calls. I thank Dr. Silber and the Smilow care team for taking excellent care of me, and my sister, Tanae, who I credit after God with saving my life. If she hadn’t called, I never would have gone to the doctor. I am now seven years cancer free, medication free, and only need to be seen once a year for follow up. I never doubted that God would heal me.
To God be the Glory!
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 kjv
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