Colene Davison's Story

My sister, Sheryl, died of breast cancer in 1996. She underwent a double mastectomy followed by two years of chemotherapy and radiation. My sister did not find a lump; she experienced pain in her back. She had inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive type of cancer that is often difficult to detect until it’s too late. She was only 46 years old when she died.

Another sister, Nancy, died of inflammatory breast cancer too. She was one year younger than Sheryl. She chose not to have a mastectomy, but went with a naturopathic form of treatment. She was also 46 years old when she died.

My oldest sister, Kathy, was next to find a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed as stage one with no lymph nodes involved, but she chose to have a double mastectomy because of our family history. Kathy went through many long months of chemo and is now a 9 year survivor.

I was next. September 20, 2000, I went to the doctor for a polyp in my gall bladder. I also had found a lump along my bra line. The doctor, who knew of our family medical history, cut the lump out that day in his office. Within 24 hours I was told I had stage 3 breast cancer. I was devastated, but not surprised. I was now the fourth sister of five to get breast cancer.

Two days later I had my right breast removed, with plans to remove the left one after chemo. My two sisters, Kathy, the survivor, and Lila, the only sister who has not had cancer, helped me through the painful surgeries, chemo, and blood transfusions. Without the support of my family, friends, and memory of my two younger sisters who had died of breast cancer, I wouldn’t be here today to write my story.

I am now getting my reconstruction done at the Waldorf Center in Portland. But the story doesn’t end with me. Kathy’s 32 year old daughter, Michelle, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Michelle comes to Vancouver every year to walk the survivor lap with me and stay up 24 hours to see all the luminaries lighted around the track. We think back to what we have been through and yes, “We cry and pray as we walk the night.”

My name is Colene M. Davison, and I am a survivor!