COLUMBIA, S.C. — Terkessa Whitfield has not been shy about sharing her battle with breast cancer over the last two years.
She's recorded videos of losing her nails, shaving her head, and the horrible side effects of the treatments that were prescribed to save her life.
At 45 years old, after a mammogram and biopsy, doctors diagnosed Whitfield with two types of cancer in her right breast. The date was May 28, 2021, and she learned she would need a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy for the rest of her life.
Whitfield also lives with lupus, which meant that there were complications with everything from reconstructive surgery to the port doctors were using to administer her chemotherapy. Prior to her diagnosis, Whitfield was employed as a nurse. She said she considers all of healthcare providers at Lexington Medical Center to be "angels," describing her treatment as "warm and welcoming."
Whitfield said her adult children have been her greatest source of support throughout this process. She said that even on the most difficult days, she finds goodness and a silver lining in the fact that she woke up and got the opportunity to fight another day.
Healthcare providers all agree that the key to saving your life when it comes to breast cancer is early detection. Talk to your doctor about the right time to begin your annual mammogram and don't forget to call your Buddy to remind them to perform their monthly self-breast exam.