Betty Davis-Smith, Allegheny County
Diagnosed in 2016
When I was putting together a luncheon at my church to make other women aware of breast cancer issues, my daughter offered to help find literature for the event. She called the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and you sent me out the Friends Like Me care package. I could not imagine anyone going to all the trouble to put that together with such nice gift items and great educational materials. The basic information was easy to understand and helped me to decipher all the terminology. I particularly loved that there was a book for the spouse. The PBCC really thought of everything!
I had a double mastectomy in May 2016, and chemo and radiation. I was treated at Allegheny General Hospital and they did a great job. The hospital had a nurse navigator who answered all my questions and told me what to expect all along the way. When you finish chemo, they give you a little graduation certificate. People are just doing their jobs and don’t really have to go out of their way to stop and think about their patients in that way. They made it special. I also had tremendous support from church members and my pastor. I have belonged to a prayer group for about eight years so there was no shortage of people praying for me. I learned that I could do anything through Jesus Christ who strengthens me. I didn’t do anything by myself.
My husband Jessie and I have two daughters. We love to travel, go out to dinners, and to plays and concerts.
I want other women to know that you can survive this. Breast cancer is not the death sentence it once was. There are amazing advances in breast cancer treatment now. And we have the support of the PBCC. Without the PBCC, women might not know what is available to them in terms of information and support.