Bold & Breastless By Shondia McFadden-Sabari

The Certain Ones Magazine salutes all those who faced/facing any form of sickness or ailments.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   We want to point out that it very important to keep abreast of your annual physical tests. Early detection is best detection and can save your life. Meet breast cancer survivor Shondia McFadden-Sabari. Early detection helped in saving her life.

I had a bilateral mastectomy on February 11, 2011. I decided not to have reconstructive surgery and I don’t wear breast forms. Diagnosed at the age of 36, I am so blessed to be a survivor! I’m thankful that I’m confident and bold enough to show other women, that if they have a Mastectomy, its okay to do reconstructive surgery or wear prosthesis, but its also okay if they decide not to. Life, is all that really matters! Shortly, after my husband returned home from his second deployment, I was diagnosed with breast cancer December 23, 2010. However, I have no complaints because GOD knew what he was doing, as well as the plans he has for me and my life! He allowed my husband to make it back home safely, so that he could be with me when I got the news and started on my journey! I had no lumps, no discomfort, no discharge, nothing to make me think, I had breast cancer.

It was like a still small voice that suggested I needed a   mammogram. Like, I wasn’t hearing strange voices and I didn’t see any shadows. But, I know now that it was the Holy Spirit, that led me to get that mammogram. I got it, the very next day. Well, to my surprise almost two weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, in both breasts! In my right breast, I had stage 0. I also had two different types of cancer in my right breast, DCIS and LCIS. In my left breast, I only had DCIS. But, I had an area that was a stage 0 and another area that was a stage 1A, that was near a blood vessel! I’m sooo thankful, GOD allowed me to survive breast cancer! I’m eager, to share my testimony with the world! Early detection is so important! I was scared, when I was told I had breast cancer! But, I never questioned GOD, I was never depressed or angry and I never will be! I’m just so thankful, I passed the test, that allowed me to have this awesome testimony. I’m on a mission, to inspire people that have been affected by cancer. One thing is for sure, knowing I had cancer didn’t affect my self-esteem and I didn’t suffer, but it sure did scare the hell out of me! Sometimes, I look at pictures of myself when I had breasts and jokingly, I say to those twins, what did I do? You two tried to kill me and I took good care of both of you, for 36 years! Well, I don’t even miss them and my husband is still happy and in love with me! I think maybe they’re somewhere in a lab, being studied! Perhaps, floating in a river! Either way, they’re gone and the cancer is gone! I’m so thankful, that I didn’t have to do chemotherapy or radiation. Also, my margins are clear and so is my mind. Additionally, my onco type dx score was a 7. In the bible, 7 means completion! Therefore, I will thank GOD everyday, for completely healing my body and for allowing me, to be healthy and cancer free! Thank you, for taking the time to read my testimony. Please, share it!

Shondia McFadden-Sabari lives in Atlanta, with her husband and their two children. Shondia is the Executive Director of BOLDANDBREASTLESS, Inc. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Eva and Levan McFadden in Timmonsville, South Carolina. Shondia has traveled all over the world with her husband, who is a Major, in the Army. Shondia earned a bachelors of science degree in 1997, in Child and Family Development, from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned a masters degree in 1998, in Human Resources Development, from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. A former elementary school teacher, Shondia was diagnosed with breast cancer December 23, 2010 and had a bilateral mastectomy, February 11, 2011.

http://boldandbreastless.com