My journey…my destination

The American Cancer Society, through Relay For Life, provides many survivors the opportunity to share their stories and their battle against cancer. Stories like the one shared below encourages those currently fighting cancer and all of us to fight the ultimate battle of finding a cure for cancer!

My journey with cancer began in late 1999 when my mother called me home to share the awful news. She was just diagnosed with breast cancer. This is first time our immediate family had been given that kind of news and it sucked the wind right out of our sails. It must be understood that my mother was the backbone of our family. Though my father has always been a wonderful and sensitive man, my mom runs the show. She is the planner, the organizer, the recycler, etc. How could someone so indestructible be so weakened?

She began her fight one day at a time and survived her rounds of treatment like a champ. My father was at her side through every turn and supported her through it all.

As a survivor, my mom joined a support group and became actively involved in her local Relay for Life events. My parents soon became chairpersons of the planning committee and have been active ever since.

My second encounter with cancer was after meeting my husband to be, James. His mother too, is a survivor of both breast cancer and of bone cancer. James and I have much in common and this fact was one similarity we both could do without.

Once we put down roots in Austin, Texas in the winter of 2006, I decided it was time to take action. Too many important people in my life were being affected by this dreaded disease and I wanted to be a part of the cure. James and I joined the Central Austin, Relay for Life and as they say, never looked back. We began as team members the first year, then I was a co-captain the next, then together we joined the planning committee, and now are involved as co-chairs of two committees on two area Relays- Central Austin and Cedar Park Leander.

Then my life changed. I was in a car accident late December 2010 and was taken to the hospital for x-rays of my back. They sent me for a CT of my spine. As the machine began its processes, I noticed that it scanned my neck and head area instead of my back area. I joked with the tech that he scanned the wrong area. He agreed and redid the scan. I was wheeled back to the waiting area. The doctor came in and said that he had good news and bad news. The good news was that my back was fine. The bad news was that I had a huge tumor on my thyroid. I had no idea what that could mean. He kindly explained that it could be as simple as a goiter or as dangerous as cancer and that I should not waste any time in getting it checked out.

I quickly found an endocrinologist and had an ultrasound and biopsies taken. The tumor was believed to be the size of one’s thumb muscle. At this size, regardless of whether the biopsy showed cancer, I should have it removed. I was sent to my life-saving surgeon. Surgery was scheduled for February 1st. No time to waste. The plan was that they would remove the tumor and test it in the operating room for cancer cells. Though nothing was detected on the test; my surgeon felt that the tissue didn’t look right. The edges of the tumor were dark and he sent it for further testing. In addition, the size of the tumor was actually that of a small orange!

They closed me up and sent me home to wait for the results. One week passed and then I got the dreaded news, “You have cancer.” Now was my time to fight. I had to go in for a second surgery to remove the remainder of my thyroid and thank goodness they did as there were spots of cancer found on that half as well.

I call my surgeon a life-saver because due to his persistence, my cancer was found and removed. Though it took two surgeries and a dose of radioactive iodine to rid my body of the invader, as of July 2011, I have been declared cancer-free...

My journey continues and my family and I help fight the fight to irradiate cancer. My destination will be reached when we live in a world where no one has to hear those words, “you have cancer.”

Custom Totes now available from Julia Takishita

Julia Takishita has these custom totes available for only $25. Please contact her (jtakishita@hotmail.com) if interested. Available in 3 colors. All profits are contributed to the Central Austin Relay for Life!