Julia: A Breast Cancer Survivor's Story

At the age of 36, Julia Woods was a healthy, active mother of two. An avid runner, she would often be seen sprinting down a country road in the North Georgia Mountains. But on the morning of September 24, 1998, during her monthly self breast exam, Julia found a lump in her left breast. She immediately made a doctor's appointment for the next day as a precaution, but she wasn't too worried. After all, she was only 36 and the picture of perfect health. Doctors didn't even recommend yearly mammograms until the age of 40. Little did Julia know that her life was about to change forever.

A mammogram revealed a tumor the size of a pecan in Julia's left breast. A biopsy was scheduled as quickly as possible. The biopsy confirmed every woman's worst fear: the tumor was cancerous. However, since it was caught early, there was hope. The cancer had not yet spread to Julia's lymph nodes. Doctors highly recommended surgery to completely remove her left breast. The surgery plus a few rounds of radiation and chemotherapy would give Julia a ninety-eight percent chance of surviving. After consulting with her husband, John, she agreed to a complete mastectomy.

The surgery was a success. The cancerous tumor was completely removed along with the left breast. But that was only half the battle. After undergoing several weeks of radiation and chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells, Julia became very ill. All of her hair came out and she became so weak that it was difficult to get out of bed. She could not even feed herself. John, always the loving husband, fed her and helped with the simple tasks which Julia was too weak to do by herself.

The treatments ended and Julia slowly began to recover. Day by day she regained her strength. The reconstructive surgery began and a new breast slowly started to form for Julia. She began to laugh and smile again. Soon she was healthy enough to resume her daily runs down country roads. She was in remission.

Today, nine years later, Julia is more active than ever. She occupies her time with daily workouts, family, and friends. She is also an advocate for breast cancer research and strives to educate others on the importance of self exams and taking care of your body.

Doctors tell Julia she has a ninety-nine percent chance of the cancer never returning. She wanted to share her personal battle with breast cancer to let others know that it is a battle that can be won.

Source: A close friend 's real-life battle with breast cancer as told to the writer.