NUTRA NAIL CELEBRATES
Cancer Survivor Rashiya Washington Diagnosed At Age 20

I was 20, in college, in a new town and a new university. With balancing a social life and college I couldn’t fathom life any more worrisome.  That all changed a few weeks before spring break. I had been complaining to my mother that I found a lump. She insisted that I get it checked. “Okay, Okay, after spring break” I would say. But just to appease her I went before spring break and was relieved when the doctor told me that the lump was just from my menstrual cycle… I told my mom I was “fine”, but after spring break my mother, persistent as ever, demanded that I get a second opinion. That’s when the worrying started. At my 2nd visit I was referred to get a mammogram and ultrasound. “Okay,” I said, “no problem.” Mammogram: clear, ultrasound: not, the technician called the doctor in to verify what the test had detected – a mass. I wasn’t fine anymore. I went in for a biopsy. I still remember the day I was to receive my results – it was April 24, 2000. I waited all day to hear from my doctor only to be told by his assistant that he would be contacting me shortly. At 5 o’clock, with still no word from the doctor, I called my mother, “Mommy,” I said, “I still haven’t heard from the Doctor.” She broke out in tears. I knew then that I had breast cancer. You see, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27, so her tears told me to expect the worse. I never imagined having cancer at 20.

I was determined to finish the semester. I would spend the summer getting surgery and recovering thus allowing me to return to school in the Fall with no time lost from my studies – at least that’s what my plan was. To my surprise I had to get chemotherapy and radiation. The treatments took the entire summer and fall semester. At times I never thought I would reach my last treatment of chemotherapy. The three weeks in-between each treatment dragged by with me feeling nauseated, vomiting, losing weight, AND MY HAIR! Then came the radiation, which was more tolerable than chemotherapy, plus my spirits were up because my hair was growing back. Unfortunately, about 3 to 4 weeks into my treatments I had no energy. I once fell asleep while leaning on a counter in a department store – how embarrassing. But somewhere around November of 2000 it was all over and I was preparing to return to college.

I had a good return to college. I joined a sorority, got my own apartment and enjoyed the remaining two years of my undergraduate life. Shortly after my graduation in December of 2002 I began preparing to attend law school. During my time off I traveled and enjoyed life as a cancer survivor! However, I never stopped giving myself breast exams, a habit I continued from when I was a teenager. I credit this task to my mother. My right breast felt a little lumpy from the radiation treatments so I always paid close attention because it was hard to tell normal from abnormal. I became focused on a lump about the size of a pea and went back to my oncologist. We went through the process. Mammogram: clear, but then again there came the ultrasound: the doctor was called in. I remembered this feeling all too well. But, the “pea” appeared to be one of many calcium deposits. But, with my history I wanted another biopsy. My oncologist called me back and just 3 yrs and 2 months after I was first given the grave news the diagnosis came again -- I had breast cancer! Who would have imagined, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know how to feel and neither did my family. I remember telling my Uncle. He got silent and we just continued to drive.

At times I thought I would die from cancer because I had never known anyone my age to have breast cancer, let alone have it two times in about a three year period! Then I thought, “That’s it. I want them to cut my breast off and I will get implants. That way I won’t have to worry about it again.” Apparently my doctor had the same intentions. I underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy with re-constructive surgery and the lymph nodes under my right arm were removed. I refused the chemotherapy treatment and instead turned to prayer. It was already tough living with implants. I even had to get counseling. It was so much that I couldn’t imagine going through the physical or mental ailments of chemotherapy again. Fortunately, I have been in remission for 2 years. And finally, I’m in law school and I’ve just successfully completed my first year.

I still worry that it will come back. But, I get checked on a regular basis. I still exercise and try to maintain a healthy diet – anything to reduce my cancer risks. It was tough being so young and going through a bi-lateral mastectomy and I have never condoned plastic surgery. But, I have learned that life brings a lot of unexpected surprises. I find it surprising that breast cancer awareness is directed at older women even while diagnosis in younger women is on the rise. Today, I am mentally and physically fit and I actually enjoy sharing my story with other people – men and women – with the hope that I can reach as many as possible. Someone may have a mother, sister, wife, daughter or friend that needs some encouragement to perform self breast exams or support during their time of need. If my story can help in anyway then it’s my story that I want to be heard! It’s important to know your own body and give yourself breast exams. A lot of times women can detect an abnormality earlier than a doctor by just performing regular self breast exams. One 60 second exam can save a life by early detection – it did mine.