If you or anyone close to you has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you know far too well the debilitating often life threatening symptoms and painful treatments like chemotherapy associated with the disease. But what happens after you beat the illness and return to a “normal” life?
According to Chantelle Nickson-Clark, a former advertising titan, wife, mother, and breast cancer survivor, the road to recovery is riddled with challenges. At 32, Clark revealed she “discovered a lump” under her breast during a self-examination. Though, at that time she admitted she thought “breast cancer was a disease that only older women went through.” A few weeks later – after a trip to her doctor’s office – she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Clark had faced the terrifying disease, telling BlackDoctor.org, “I started to think of how I lost my mother at 42 years old to breast cancer. Who will raise my daughter? Would I have the opportunity to grow old with my husband? So many unanswered questions filled my mind along with fear, pain and sadness.”
Shortly after, Clark’s condition began to wreak havoc on her career. “The company that I was employed with at the time, decided to terminate my contract leaving me with no income and no health insurance.”
She continued of the uncertainty she faced. “I received yet another blow as the oncologist whispered, ‘We are unable to treat you!’ My husband and I walked out of the doctor’s office holding hands with tears in our eyes worried I was going to die. We sat down on the floor right outside the door and cried as he held me in his arms, wondering what’s next. A few moments later one of the receptionists was on her way to lunch and on her way out, saw us. She stated that she had been trying to reach me and that she had found an organization that would be paying for my entire treatment! That was my ‘But God’ moment! I knew that the battle was not over!”
While Clark confesses that coping with breast cancer had its “highs and lows,” despite a solid support system of family and friends who “deposited so much love and support” into her life, things began to turn around once she began chemotherapy. “I went to receive chemo every three weeks — it was my one on one time with God,” she said. Adding that it was during that time she knew “everything would be ok.” So, she “began to journal to one-day share with the world my testimony!”
As for life after treatment, Clark says, “life after chemo has actually been an amazing journey. Me being diagnosed was a pivotal moment in my life.”
In fact, it was because of her experience that The Pink Angels Foundation was birthed. The Pink Angels Foundation encourages breast cancer patients to hang up their wings and instead, allow Clark and other supporters to carry them through the journey.
“I have now been able to mentor and assist other women through their journey of breast cancer as well. I have met some of the most amazing and courageous women and men in which allows me to continue to fulfill my purpose in life,” she said.
“I am a strong believer that if I wake up every morning and set one foot on the ground, God will do the rest,” continued Clark.
“Each day is fulfilled with new grace and new mercy and I am going to do my part. I have been given a second chance at life and each day presents new opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.”
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