With no family history of breast cancer, a breast cancer diagnosis for Tera Knight in May of 2016 was completely shocking. She was 38 years old with four children, two of whom were only 15 months old.
Knight said she noticed a small lump on the outer quadrant of her breast and initially dismissed it as a caffeine deposit. But something in her mind kept telling her that it was not normal, and she needed to get it checked.
“I had an appointment with my gynecologist, just a routine yearly exam. I said ‘can you feel this,’ and she said, ‘that definitely doesn’t feel good, not like it’s supposed to. I think I need to refer you to a surgeon and let him see what he thinks,’” she said.
Tests were run and Knight went to see the surgeon.
“She (her gynecologist) was pretty good and quick,” said Knight, adding the doctor recognized that she was scared and stressed over the situation. “On May 3, 2016, I went into Dr. Saridakas’ office and he confirmed that it was breast cancer. It was stage one, which was caught really, really early. So, I was scheduled for a lumpectomy.”
They removed a section and determined that the cancer had not spread anywhere else.
Knight was then referred to an oncology team to see what the next step would be. She underwent genetics testing, and it was determined that she would need 33 radiation treatments and no chemotherapy.
“The radiation was difficult in itself because it does wear you out. It zaps you but nowhere near what chemo would have caused,” she said.
“I had to go every day besides weekends so Monday through Friday for 33 total treatments. Every morning before work I would go get a radiation treatment, then come to work and do it all over again the next day,” said Knight.
She said her employer was wonderful and they gave her the option to take family medical leave, but she chose not to.
“I just needed to stay busy, and I needed to keep my mind occupied. There wasn’t an option to give up really. I was like no, I need to do as I normally do every single day,” she said. “There toward the last couple of weeks, the fatigue set in, the burns increased. It was summer so you’re hot, it was difficult, but I made it.”
She described the radiation as uncomfortable but not unbearable. Markers are placed on the skin in the location of the radiation and patients are placed in the same position every day. Radiation treatments are administered directly to the location where the cancer cells were found.
The form of cancer she had was hormone based and not genetic. When she found the spot, it was three centimeters.
“It was caught very early. It was the good Lord looking out for me,” said Knight. “With my age, and with no history, it was not like I was doing self-breast exams like I should. Do I now? Absolutely. Do I have a mammogram every year? Absolutely,” she said.
“That is something else about the breast cancer, there are some people that I came into contact with because of that diagnosis, and I am not sure my path would have ever crossed with them so for that I will be forever grateful,” she said. “There are friendships and bonds that I have made that will last a lifetime and pink sisters that I have.”
“One of my biggest supporters was Peggy Lawson. I never will forget. I went to my first Relay for Life as sitting on the other side. I had always helped participate in the fundraising and whatever, but it’s a little bit different when you are on the other side of that,” she said.
“When they called my name, and it was really early on, and as soon as she gave me the medallion, I started balling,” said Knight.
She said Lawson told her it was going to be alright and that she was strong enough to do this. Lawson was a huge supporter and a huge strength for her.
“That very day was when I met Michelle Larimore. We were two weeks apart as far as where we were in our stage of this for treatment and that sort of thing, so that is my pink sister forever,” she said.
“Some days I never think about having cancer, and then some days I am like, what if that was to come back,” she said. “But I am going to have faith that if it ever came back, the good Lord would take care of me to raise my kids, see my grandkids, and to live to be an old lady.”
Knight encourages young girls to be proactive in protecting themselves against breast cancer.
“I want young girls to know that they need to be aware as well. I never really thought about it, but it is important,” said Knight. “If you feel something, take it up with your healthcare provider. It is better to err on the side of caution.”
Knight is the mother of four boys. At the time of her diagnosis, they were 18, 12, and the twins were only 15 months old.
“The mentality of the diagnosis for me was that I have to beat it, I have to come out on top because I have young children that need their mom. Not just the 15-month-old twins, I want to see all my boys graduate college, I want to see them get married, I want to see my grandbabies,” she said.
Knight’s advice to someone who is diagnosed is to find someone who can relate to the situation you are in. And prayer, a lot of prayer.
“God is good all the time. Even when life isn’t, God is still good,” said Knight.
“That’s why I will forever be grateful for Michelle Larimore, because we were a source of each other’s strength. I think if you can, reach out to someone who has been in the same situation that can give you advice or encouragement, because it is hard for someone who has never been in that position,” she said.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
