Survivor reflects on year-long cancer journey
MANSFIELD — Around this time year ago, the world became a sea of pink for Marcia Robbins.
It was October — annual breast cancer awareness month — and the 38-year-old Mansfield resident had never been so aware.
She noted each pink ribbon and each breast cancer awareness story in the news and even participated in a the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund Walk-a-thon at North Central State College, where she was a student.
Meanwhile, she had a gnawing feeling the lump she had found in her breast back in March and finally decided to have tested was cancer. She tried not to panic as she waited on the test results.
"Deep down I knew something was going on, but I kept telling everybody no. You just have those feelings that something is wrong," Robbins said. "When I finally went in and they said it was cancer, I guess it was a shock to hear it, but in a way it wasn't a shock to find out."
Robbins was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. The cancerous lump in her left breast was large, measuring about two inches by four inches, and it had spread to 18 lymph nodes.
"I'm just so glad I didn't put it off any longer," Robbins said, adding that she now would advise all women, regardless of their age, to perform self exams and get mammograms and not to wait if they feel something is wrong.
In mid-October 2014, Robbins underwent a lumpectomy to remove the lump and the affected lymph nodes, but some of the cancer lingered, and the surgical site became so infected it swelled to nearly the size of a basketball, Robbins said.
At the end of the month, Robbins went to The James Cancer Hospital in Columbus for an emergency debridement surgery to remove the infection. She had to wear a negative pressure wound therapy vacuum for three months to help the wound heal.
And then the chemotherapy began. Robbins started chemo two days before Christmas and continued her treatments every two weeks through the end of April.
Robbins said the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund was a huge help at that time, assisting with gas money for her frequent trips to Columbus and helping her get the special bras she needed.
Meanwhile, she began to lose her hair and made the tough decision to have it cut short.
"I think that was one of the hardest mental things for me," Robbins said of the hair loss. She had grown accustomed to having long hair that reached halfway down her back, and having it hair fall out was difficult to handle.
Robbins admits she also battled the questions of "why me?" and "how can this happen at my age?"
"My faith is what kept me going," Robbins said. "God was my co-pilot in this."
But Robbins' turbulent ride wasn't over.
In June, Robbins had a full masectomy to remove what remained of her left breast. Then her cancer journey continued with six weeks of radiation, which she finished in September.
Robbins said she now is cancer free, and doctors have told her she has only a five to 10 percent chance of the cancer recurring.
Though she will be taking an anti-cancer pill for the next five years, Robbins can start to establish a new normal for her life.
Cancer has left Robbins with scars and financial burdens, and it also has given her a new outlook on life.
"I'm more persistent on reaching my life goals just because I realize life is short and there's more things I want to accomplish. I'm more aware of that now."
Robbins plans to have breast reconstruction surgery and to return to school next year to become a drug and alcohol counselor.
And this year, breast cancer awareness month is a chance for Robbins to celebrate the milestone of becoming a breast cancer survivor.
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