I’m a wife, mother of 2: and a 6-year Colon and Breast Cancer Survivor.
My cancer journey began in July 2015. After delaying my Mammogram screening and Colonoscopy due to lack of insurance, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer simultaneously with Breast Cancer; the two were unrelated.
I’d been healthy, so I thought I could roll the dice and go without my regular screenings because of the cost. Boy, I was wrong. The Affordable Care Act saved my life.
While in treatment, I vowed to advocate for other cancer patients and their families; In 2017, publishing my first Letter to the Editor opposing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in the Charlotte Observer.
A few months later, fate, in a call from Ray Riordan (ACS CAN Grassroots Manager 2017), set me off on the road of Advocacy as an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Ambassador Constituent Team Lead (ACT) for Congressional District 12, Congresswoman Alma Adams.
I share my cancer story and platform to promote legislation that benefits cancer patients and ensures ongoing Cancer Research funding. As a new ACS CAN Black Volunteer Caucus (BVC) member, we are bringing more diversity into our fight for health equity and representation in our communities. We must irradicate Cancer and eliminate those three devastating words - “You Have Cancer.”