Honorary Survivor: ‘I make the most of every day’
Stephanie Syler is a big advocate of women getting their mammograms when recommended.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, cancer that was detected by a routine screening and it very well may have saved her life.
“I went in for my annual mammogram as I’d been doing five years prior. They called me back in for a follow-up and told me they’d seen something suspicious. They did a biopsy and it turned out to be cancer,” Syler said.
With no family history of breast cancer, the diagnosis was a shock.
“I think the best way to describe it is it was like having the rug pulled out from under me,” she said. “My husband and I don’t have family here. … We didn’t know where to turn, who to call and it was extremely scary. I think I was in denial for a long time. Even though I was going through the motions and going to the appointments, I kept thinking it was a nightmare I needed to wake up from.”
Syler’s doctors performed a lumpectomy to remove the cancer and took out 16 lymph nodes, which all turned out to be clear of cancer. Once she recovered from the surgery, she had almost eight weeks of radiation.
Now 48, she has a good prognosis and only has to be screened for breast cancer once a year.
“I do live with that fear of it returning, but I just have to trust that God has this. I have to get scans, do self-exams and stay aware of my body and if I notice anything different, just tell my doctor. It doesn’t go away, though. Every year when I go for scans, I have to hold my breath,” she said.
During that terrifying time, Syler found comfort with others who’d also fought breast cancer.
“I called the (Susan G.) Komen office and they were very warm. They sent me to a support group, which helped tremendously. They gave us a lot of information that was helpful and I’m grateful for that,” she said. “The girls at the support group were great to help me realize I was going to get through it. It’s not the end of the world and I’m going to be OK. They made me say it aloud. It’s a priceless experience. I wouldn’t trade those ladies for anything. They’ve been like family to me.”
Syler has been chosen at the Honorary Survivor for this year’s Race for the Cure, scheduled to take place Saturday at Front Street Festival Plaza in Downtown Texarkana.
“I was quite shocked and I’m very honored,” she said. “I do think education is so important. It seems ladies are getting diagnosed earlier and earlier. If my story can help encourage young ladies to do self-exams and when they’re 40 to get their mammograms and stay on top of knowing your body, then I’m glad to tell my story,” she said.
Syler first got involved with Komen Race for the Cure almost two decades ago.
“I started supporting the Komen race in 2000 when I was 30 years old. I had a couple of people who meant a lot to me that I was trying to honor and walk in memory of,” she said.
Because of the education about breast cancer provided by Komen, Syler began to realize the importance of being proactive about her own breast health.
“It started to click with me I needed to be aware,” she said. “Raising awareness for my friends it kind of sunk in to me that it was important to do self-exams and get screened. You can’t start too early doing self-exams,” she said.
She hopes that is something race participants are able to take away from this year’s event.
Throughout her experience with cancer, Syler said she learned a very important life lesson.
“I make the most of every day. I try to find something positive in everything. If there is something we want to do, do it. Tomorrow is not promised,” she said.