Melissa Lowe
Breast Cancer Fighter
“My Name is Melissa Lowe and I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer, specifically Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.”
Diagnosis
I found out I had cancer on December 23, 2020. At the time, my doctor only knew it was cancer, not necessarily what type of cancer it was. I don’t think it mattered much that day. Just hearing the words, “It is cancer” is specific enough. I was okay initially and then found myself in tears suddenly. I am so grateful to my doctor, because she offered to call my husband and break the news. The hardest part in the beginning is telling the people you love. I will be forever grateful to her for sharing that burden with me.
Daily Impact
My cancer diagnosis made me even more present. My mortality was front of mind and I just wanted to make as many good memories as possible. I found out about my cancer two days before Christmas and I just wanted to make it special for the kids. We did all sorts of fun, new activities and it was one of our best Christmases ever!
Since then, I have also been focused on eating healthier and exercising more. I left my 9 to 5 in August 2020 so I didn’t have to worry about being on someone else’s clock. I understand how much of a blessing that was and don’t take it for granted one bit. Cancer definitely motivated me to do more of what I wanted and to care less about what others thought. I’m not so upset about that part!
I was worried mainly about the cost of treatment and how long I would be “out of commission”. I don’t care how comfortable you think you are, if you don’t have insurance, or the right insurance, cancer can set you back financially. We are still in the beginning stages so it remains to be seen what the financial and physical impacts will be.
Support from CSVI
I worked with the Director of CSVI at a previous company and shared my story, not thinking about financial resources but just to get an idea for what kinds of things I should consider. Anique Harrigan was a treasure trove of information and was 100% willing to share it all. She connected me with American Cancer Society and shared other local resources I should be aware of. I was truly thankful.
When you are newly diagnosed with cancer, there are so many unknowns. This is what Cancer Support VI does day in and day out, so they know where to start and can guide you towards the right information and assistance. That can mean everything to a cancer patient that has been thrusted into the complex and uncertain world of cancer. It gave me one less thing to worry about. While the information is important, what I love the most about Cancer Support VI is the way they treat you. All physicians and medical staff are not created equal and as a patient, you interact with so many people at the beginning. As much as you wish they were, those encounters are not always pleasant. Anique, at CSVI, showed so much care and concern for me and my family. How you treat people when they are going through challenging times can mean just as much as money. Thank you, CSVI, for focusing on the people as well as the process!
For those of you that don’t know Melissa, one thing that always radiates is positivity. All of us at CSVI were saddened to hear of her diagnosis. But if we know one thing for sure, Melissa is a fighter! We thank her for her openness in sharing her journey, serving as an inspiration to us all.
If you are a fellow cancer fighter and want to read more about Melissa’s journey, be sure check out her two personal blog posts >>