疯客直播

Frances Williams Bumbrey never thought that a breast cancer diagnosis would happen to her.

However, in 2012, her life changed when she was diagnosed in Montgomery.

鈥淚 always had mammograms even when I lived in other cities before moving back here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 did have my first mammogram here and then they sent me to Montgomery and they saw something.

鈥淚t was just I can鈥檛 believe this,鈥� she said talking about her reaction to the diagnosis. 鈥淚 thought I had done everything I was supposed to do. Examines each month and annual exams and trying to eat the right foods. I guess it was just my time. There was no history of breast cancer in my family. My father had had cancer and other members of my family but not breast cancer.鈥�

After the diagnosis treatment began.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have to have chemotherapy but I did have radiation treatment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 do go every year to the cancer center in Montgomery to be examined.鈥�

Bumbrey said the exams now are to just make sure that the cancer does not come back and that her body is still healing well.

鈥淭he treatment 鈥� I went through it weekly,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really get sick but I was tired after the treatment. There were a lot of things I could not do like driving but I could continue my daily life and participate in various things. I was also diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 in 2015. I went from one thing to another. I鈥檓 able to do some things and I鈥檓 blessed that I鈥檓 able to do these things. I try not to give up and feel sorry for myself. There鈥檚 some people that are worse off than I am. I鈥檓 blessed that I鈥檓 able to do the things I can do.

鈥淚 encourage ladies and young ladies to do self-exams once a month and to make sure they go to the doctors for exams,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e just have to take care of ourselves.鈥�

Bumbrey is a retired educator and she said the need to provide a public service by educating other women about breast cancer still keeps her working hard.

鈥淚 think education is most important, and I want to do whatever I can to help our children or as Dr. (Avis) Williams calls them, our scholars,鈥� she said.

When asked what she would tell others that find out they are diagnosed with cancer Bumbrey said she would tell them to first 鈥減ray about it.鈥�

鈥淭he Lord has helped me through so much,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e is the only one that can help you through this. If it had not been for Him, I would not be able to even talk right now. I would鈥檝e gone into the house, closed the door and pulled the covers over my head but that鈥檚 not the type of person that I am. I try to be a fighter and do as much as I can and enjoy life. I like people and I enjoy traveling and doing other things.鈥�

Bumbrey said she is cancer free now.

Bumbrey is a native of Opelika but said both parents are from 疯客直播.

Bumbrey is also a member of the 疯客直播 Chapter of The Links, Inc. which has an event, Links in Pink, coming up on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. The event offers free exams and information about breast cancer.

Bumbrey said the event is important to her.

鈥淚t helps us realize that so many of us have survived but there are also people who have not,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any of us have family members who have had cancer and we are trying to make everyone aware of the disease and so many of us wish we could eradicate.鈥�