Having faith and finding hope on the journey to survive cancer

By Sheila Phibbs

The Haldimand Press

JARVIS—Joan Gee will never forget the night 10 years ago when she found the lump. Oddly enough, it was November 11, 2009, Remembrance Day. She recalls, “I just had a feeling. My life changed in that moment; fear ran through my body. I felt a lump and I was alone, dread filled me, and I wept.”

There was good reason for this reaction; each of Joan’s four sisters had breast cancer and her three brothers were diagnosed with cancer as well. Joan and one brother are the only siblings remaining. The disease also touched all but one member of her great-grandfather’s family. In spite of this, Joan adopted a positive outlook. She explains, “Even though cancer in my family spells death, I never felt that way.” When told that she had a 50/50 chance, Joan replied, “I’ll go with the 50 that I’ll live.”

Armed with a positive attitude, humour, and faith, Joan faced her diagnosis with the support of her husband, Larry, and her daughters, Laura and Shannon. In hindsight, she believes the disease was present in August when she noticed a slight pink blush on her breast. At the time, she didn’t give it much thought and nothing had appeared in her annual mammogram. The lump she felt in November did not show on a second mammogram, and was only visible with an ultrasound.

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A biopsy confirmed the cancer diagnosis. In the days that followed, Joan did her best to carry on for her family and her customers at the pet store they owned. It was almost Christmas and she had to be strong. She held on to her faith remembering the poem “Footprints” that refers to one set of footprints in the sand. She says, “This was the time that God was carrying me, and I welcomed it.”

That faith helped, especially during the periods of waiting. She had a full mastectomy on January 7, 2010 followed by several appointments with her surgeon, Dr. Matter, in Simcoe. Joan was overwhelmed by the kindness of others as cards, flowers, gifts, and thoughtful gestures reminded her that she was blessed. She recalls thinking, “I just never knew how much people cared.”