Last month, church secretary Anny Sanchez was diagnosed with breast cancer and just five days ago, Anny had a double mastectomy. Her journey is one of faith and hope.Anny is a 54-year old mother of 2 adult children. She had always been diligent in performing breast self exams but had never had a routine mammogram. She found a hard painful lump in her right breast and contacted her doctor right away.
The doctor sent her for a mammogram and a diagnostic ultrasound. The mammogram and the ultrasound revealed that there was also a lump in her other breast and that the first lump was very suspicious for cancer and almost certainly involved the lymph nodes. A needle biopsy was done and it confirmed Anny's worst fear... cancer.
Anny was scared! She didn't know what to expect or what to do next. It seemed that everyone had a different opinion on what she should do. It became clear that the "right" answer was going to be what was best for her. For Anny, it was the decision to have a double mastectomy, also called a "bilateral mastectomy" - an operation in which a surgeon would remove both of her breasts. Almost immediately after being diagnosed, Anny was surrounded by friends that offered their own personal experience with cancer as a source of hope and encouragement. Gradually the fear dissolved and the hope and faith of people around her filled her with joy. Her faith in God was strengthened and she started to pray for a miracle. On the evening before her surgery, Anny noticed that the lump felt a little smaller. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination or not, but it felt different to her. She prayed for healing. A friend prayed with her and laid her hands on her in prayer. Together they prayed that the doctors would remove all of the cancer and that the lymph nodes would be clear. She told God that with Him she could handle the mastectomy and the changes that came with it. She would bear this cross lovingly. They asked St. Peregrine to pray for her. When Anny awoke from surgery, her prayers had been answered! The doctors had removed all of the cancer and the lymph nodes were negative. Anny continues to recuperate from surgery and hopes to use her story to encourage others, especially Hispanic women, to get a mammogram.
