A Memory that Lives On
Breast cancer is one of those diagnoses that can lead families down a journey filled with questions, heartache and an appreciation for the little moments that can turn into memories. Even after the disease has ran its course, the memories can live on. For one local family, the memory of their loved one - Gladys Shorte - lives on.
The word cancer leaves a mark that one does not easily forget. At the age of 88, Shorte noticed a lump in her breast, but it wasn't until she was 91 that she was diagnosed with Positive Metastatic Breast Carcinoma. This particular type of cancer results in a positive for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. This protein can lead to growth of cancer cells in the human body.
“She knew she had a lump when she was 88 and didn't get it checked out. She was officially diagnosed in May 2021 when she was 91. She had HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Carcinoma,” Kori Shumpert stated.
After Shorte received the breast cancer diagnosis, she had three years of moments with her family. The lump, or tumor, was located on the upper outside part of the breast.
“Essentially, the tumor had ruptured through her breast tissue and began eating her breast from the inside and outside. That went on for the last three years of her life,” Shumpert said.“it was from a particular type of hormone estrogen is what it is and the estrogen built up into her lymph nodes and her breasts.
Breast cancer can have many effects on people and can initiate body changes including the loss of your hair.
“When you get breast cancer it causes the three B's which are brain, breast, and bones. She had spots on her skeletal x-rays; there were several spots where you could tell that there were tumors growing on the outside of the brain,” she said.
The diagnosis of breast cancer extends past the one who receives the diagnosis. Shorte was experiencing several changes in the process, including body shape changes and hair loss. Some of those changes limited the energy she had and the independence level for day to day activities. A family member was granted power of attorney privileges.
“We had to establish a power of attorney, which was me, to help take care of her.it was like she was my kid after that. I took her to all of her doctor's appointments and I took care of all of her bills. I payed all of her bills, and I took care of everything that needed to be done around the house,” she said.
Her family, stepped up and provided the support for her in daily needs and provided transportation to and from doctor visits.
“Well, it affected my life greatly at the time because I already had five kids, and they were in high school. They're in elementary, and then they all have their own disabilities so there's a lot of my plate on a normal basis and then when you throw a grown elderly woman that it that put a lot of strain on me personally and to our family to some extent because they were all missing me whenever I wasn't home,” she said.
From the time Shorte received the diagnosis of breast cancer, she fought with all of her mental, physical and emotional strength. During her fight, her family was able to create memories that will live on through her relatives. Her battle with cancer may be over, but her life story will continue to live on.