One of the lucky ones
Malvern survivor grateful for community support during breast-cancer journey
When Becky Sebren of Malvern was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she said she thought it was a death sentence. Now that she is cancer-free, however, she said she considers herself to be one of the lucky ones, not only because her treatments went smoothly, but also because of the support she found during that trying time. Sebren, now retired, worked as an administrative assistant at a cardiovascular-surgery clinic when she was diagnosed with cancer. She said she put off getting a mammogram until her co-workers insisted that she schedule an appointment after her 50th birthday in December 2003.That January, she had her first mammogram, which showed that she had Stage 4 breast cancer. “I should have known better, but when you hear the word ‘cancer,’ … I think that you’re going to die,” she said.“I thought cancer was something that when you have cancer, you’re going to die from cancer, so my first thoughts were,‘Oh my gosh, I’m only 50 years old, and I’m going to die.’” However, during a consultation with her surgeon, Dr. James Hagans of Baptist Health in Little Rock, she learned that her cancer could be treated. She had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, and surgeons also removed some of her lymph nodes. In addition, Sebren underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. She said she felt fortunate not to have many side effects, such as nausea. In fact, she never missed a day of work because of the treatments, she added. “I felt like I was well enough to get in to the office,” she said. “Even if I was just able to sit back there and do paperwork, I thought I’d feel better being there at work instead of just sitting at home by myself.” She added that she was surprised to learn how many of the patients at her clinic have been touched by the disease. “When they found out I had breast cancer, they would come in and tell me their stories if they had had cancer or had relatives that had cancer,” she said. “Some days I’d go in and have little gifts on my desk. My patients would call in and ask how I was doing.” Her family and church were equally supportive, she said, adding that she received an abundance of cards from well-wishers. “Someone would come by every day and ask me how I was feeling, ask me if I needed anything,” she said. “Everyone was so nice, and that’s inspiring when you’re going through something like this, but you are uplifted in every direction.” By that December, she had finished her treatments, although she continued to take Arimidex for five years. “It was a year I wouldn’t wish on anybody, but after it was all said and done, and through the process of doing it, I met new people. I heard from people I hadn’t heard from in a long time. I got little gifts I never would have gotten. Prayers went up for me that never would have happened,” she said. “It was a long year, but pretty well an inspiring year, and that could be because I wasn’t so sick the whole time to where I’d get discouraged.” She added that although she still does not consider herself to be a very social person, she learned to be more compassionate and empathetic through her cancer journey. “I feel like it inspired me to try to help other people. If I hear their story and can help in any way, I will do that, whereas before, maybe I wouldn’t pay attention or listen,” she said. “I think when something has hit you personality and you have been affected yourself, then you’re more willing and able to listen to other people when it happens to them.” Three years after Sebren found out she had breast cancer, her daughter Laura Higdon, who was living in Texas at the time, was diagnosed with the disease. “I could not believe it,” Sebren said, adding that her daughter fought a tougher battle when she faced complications from her mastectomy and terrible side effects from her treatments. She even lost her job because she had to take so much time off work. Both women are cancer-free now, Sebren added, and they now live next door to each other. Sebren’s younger daughter, who is in her 30s, is already scheduling regular mammograms because of her family’s experiences with breast cancer. “I waited until I was 50 years old to get a mammogram,” Sebren said. “People shouldn’t do that.” Although she has been in the clear for more than 10 years, she said she continues to have mammograms and oncology appointments. “After having breast cancer, that’s just a scary thing,” she said. “I need that little bit of encouragement, even if I’m not having any symptoms. Once you’ve had breast cancer, that’s just something that, when you go to those scans afterward … it’s just in the back of your mind that it could come back.” For the moment, however, she said she is living life to the fullest and grateful that she won her battle with breast cancer. “I am blessed and grateful for the time God has given me following my cancer diagnosis,” she said. “I am thankful for each new day and try to live as if it could be my last day because in truth, it actually could be.”