Montgomery Co. Commissioner Bumped Up To Stage 3 Breast Cancer
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For the next few months, Alabama News Network will be following the story of one of Montgomery County’s Commissioners… who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. Tonight, we’re taking you inside the walls of the Montgomery Cancer Center as she gets her second chemotherapy treatment — but along with that some bad news. Two weeks ago we brought you her story as Montgomery County Commissioner, Ronda Walker, shared with us she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer. She says she had hoped that there would be better news throughout the rest of her journey. But this morning, that wasn’t the case. It’s another day for Montgomery County Commissioner, Ronda Walker at the Montgomery Cancer Center — another day to keep pressing on; another chemotherapy treatment hoping it’ll wipe out the breast cancer. This is her second treatment. “I couldn’t imagine anything I’d rather be doing,” Said Walker laughing as she keeps the situation light-hearted. Meanwhile, fluids are being pump into her body. But beyond the smile, there’s still the worry after she found two lumps on her right breast. Doctor’s told her she had Stage 2 breast cancer. She says it’s not getting any easier. Doctors have now diagnosed her with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. “So this morning when I met with Dr. Davidson, he let me know that the cancer is in fact in my lymph nodes. So that bumps me up to the Stage 3 category which, even though I knew in my head that that was probably going to come. It hits you very hard,” Said Walker. And that’s not all… “It just comes right out,” Said Walker. “And it wouldn’t stop doing that if I kept doing it and again I’ve got a lot of hair, so it’s shocking.” But beyond shocking, it’s emotional. Though she says she’s accepted whatever is to come. With this experience, her goal is to send out a very important message to all of you. “I’ve had two mammograms and I was late getting my most recent mammogram so now I have to live with that. I have to live with the fact that you know, if I had my mammogram on time, maybe it would be Stage 1. And it wouldn’t be stage 3,” Said Walker. “And so I’m going to have to live with it for the rest of my life. Why didn’t I go get that mammogram on time? You know, we get busy, I had a new job and every excuse in the world that keeps us from doing it. Just do it!” As you heard, the cancer is in her lymph nodes as well, so that’s what makes it stage 3 breast cancer — but her doctor told me it doesn’t mean the strategy to wipe out the cancer will change — at least for now. Walker still has 6 more chemotherapy treatments ahead her. And she says it’s her family that keeps her pressing on. Walker’s chemotherapy treatments are planned to wrap up in April. And just as we’ll be following her story on our newscasts, you can also follow it through her blog www.merrychristmascancer.blogspot.com .
