Pretti McNeil

Survivor

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer age 47. I had a stroke less than a month before telling my kids (James Jervon & Precious). I lost 2 of my sisters & Bonus Mom to breast cancer.

I was stage 2 that went to stage 3. I started chemo because the tumor grew and lost hair everywhere. My doctor Carmen Calfa said sometimes it happens. She always makes me feel like I’m her only patient.

Treatment was hell, throwing up at anytime. Chemo Monday’s back to work Wednesday (for 4/6 hours at a time) according how I felt. At work the energy from my postal family kept me moving. The more chemo got in my system, the less I went to work. I got rest also before my kids came home from school.

I finished with chemo now surgery.. yes remove them both .. no only one. Doctors studied my case like on tv.. age 47 overweight, stroke, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack. My right was removed first and the left one 2 years ago.

Why do I need a prosthetic? It is heavy. I didn’t want reconstruction. Radiation treatment came next and I didn’t want it at all. My dad Cleveland was the icing on the cake.

Kill the cells. I think for me, radiation was worse – maybe equal. They make a mold of the location of where tumor was at. My tumor was underneath my left arm, thought it was small like a mosquito bite. I had to lay on the table with my head to the right side and one arm above my head and one arm down, for an hour and a half. I pray before the sessions that I’ll go to my happy place – a margarita on the beach in Hawaii 3 years ago where I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary.

Thank U God for my husband who was there when I was throwing up at night and he would clean me up. Thank u God for my family, friends and postal family.

My daughter told me last week she still has my hair. I AM HEALED. WON’T HE DO IT.