Rose Criner: ‘The word ‘cancer’ doesn’t mean give up’
My name is Rose Criner. I am the mother of two: a son, Sgt. Randell Green Sr., and a daughter, Nephterie Brown.
I am also the grandmother of four and I have one great-granddaughter.
I am a breast cancer survivor. My story began in June 2000. I was getting ready for work as usual. I always did a monthly exam and I felt a lump in my left breast. I did feel it there the previous month and the nurse in me took over.
A local physician ordered a mammogram on me and the results showed that it was a tumor. I was then scheduled for a biopsy to confirm if it was cancerous. The biopsy confirmed cancer and the tumor was removed.
The news wasn’t anything that any woman wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.”
Those words to a woman means a major change to your body.
Now, you are faced with the choices of a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.
Faith intervened for me. The cancer was encapsulated in the tumor, which meant the cancer hadn’t spread through my body.
They could perform a procedure called a wedge by removing extra tissue and lymph nodes. I knew that was a sign from God that everything will be OK.
Because of the age I was, the cancer had to be treated aggressively. Now come the treatments—first, chemotherapy.
My job allowed me to continue to work and I thank them for that. Believing in God and continuing to work helped keep me strong.
I remember telling another cancer patient that the main step in your survival is to say, “I’m going to make it for me.”
My fight began inside of me. Although I had a family who loved and cared about me, this was my fight. When a person is told by a doctor that they have cancer whether it’s breast, colon or lung, the worst thoughts go through their mind. That’s where you learn to live and truly know that you are a survivor every day.
I give credit to God first for me being a survivor of 18 years. I also give credit to all the physicians, nurses and medical staff who cared for me. I thank all my family, friends and church family for their support. A support system is very important also.
My final words to someone out there who is dealing with any form of cancer, breast or others— the word “cancer” doesn’t mean give up.
It means to fight to survive— because you are a survivor.