The Pink Sistah

Patricia Fox

Shortly after 26th birthday I would learn I would be a breast cancer survivor.

Let’s backpedal a little. Hi, my name is Patricia Fox and I want to share with you who I was before breast cancer. Before my diagnosis I was an insurance sales producer. Prior to that I was a personal banker at Chase Bank. However, insurance kind of fell into my lap after my career with the bank had ended. My intention was to return to college to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. So as my father advised, I carefully selected careers that complimented my degree. My career at State Farm initially felt phenomenal because it was high paying with other rewards. I had my own place, the latest Nissan for my first car and did return to college.

Leading to my diagnosis there were some unforeseen trials from poor decision making. I had abruptly quit my job, broke my lease and moved to Florida to live with my estranged mother that we may build a relationship. That ended very bitterly and broken hearted I drove back to NJ with only half a tan of gas, $97 to my name and clothes in my trunk. I returned to nothing and a disgruntled father who was bitter I left in the first place. But God! My employer promised to hold my employee ID for a year should I return. And just like that I had my career back, the same address and life seemed back to normal. But it wasn’t. I was alone and devastated. Iyanla Vanzant said “before you enter a new experience, everything that needs healing rushes to the surface.. You have to pause”. While I looked like and wanted to fool even myself that everything was okay, it was not.

Black Friday, November 22, 2013 I got a needle biopsy after discovering a lump in my right breast while in the shower. December 5th, the doctor carefully shared with

me that I would be a breast cancer survivor. I laughed, went home, had wine and braced myself to share this news with my job. December 16th, I met with my surgical oncologist and February 12th I had a lumpectomy. To follow, I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy. 4 adriamycin cytaxon and 12 rounds of taxol. During chemotherapy, I remember when the treatments changed from one to the next. Immediately I knew because I was flustered with angst and emotion. At this time, I was face to face with myself and no distractions - no job to get dressed up to go to, no strangers to impress with how put together I seemed, no hair, no makeup, no eyebrows. Just my shell and a spirit dying to live. To save myself, I went to therapy. Therapy forced me to feel and talk about it all. Good things, bad things, painful things, relationships, religion, fears, future plans - everything. It was what I needed before the new wind of changes to come in my life. After chemotherapy, I had 37 radiation treatments. Those days were rough. I would wake up 5a to get to radiation by 7a to then commute by bus and foot to be to work by 9a. But I did what I had to do! I was also prescribed tamoxifen for 5 years. After a couple months, I stopped taking it because I felt it deteriorated my quality of life.

Returning to my insurance job was difficult. I loathed the job and some of the characters I worked with. I wanted to be expressive, artistic, inspiring and the job was stifling. Suddenly I was coming into my own. One day, while at my desk with no intention to quit, I typed my letter of resignation. The transition was not that easy, however, I again, lost everything and relocated to Philadelphia. There I hit the ground running. Now I am a certified makeup artist, I network with survivors and hospitals to provide services for patients and am always finding a way to inspire everyone I come into contact with. Even on my most trying days, kindness toward others can be medicinal for me.

My words to those surviving is this: “THIS IS TEMPORARY”. Cancer is not forever. So, have a plan for when you conquer cancer. While home from work, I made a vision board. The vision board gave me something to look forward to while battling. Beating cancer was on the board among some other goals and I achieved them all. I also want to share with you all to keep your faith - whatever it is you believe in. Faith, is extremely personal and, in my opinion, a large part of one’s strength. I know for me, all the trials leading to, through and after cancer, could have had the worst ending, but God. Lastly, I want to share that you love and honor yourself. This means releasing any and all toxicity in your heart, mind and life. As I shared, I went to therapy and learned ways to control anxiety, and release. Cancer is not just a diagnosis, but in my opinion an introspective journey that forces you to retreat and release. For me, and my hope for you is that you gain clarity about who you are and what you want from life, to begin the healing of whatever caused the dis-ease to reveal itself in such a forceful way and for peace within and around you. You have come so far in life, and best is yet to come.

Feel free to visit me on social media, IG @thepinksistah or visit my website, www.thepinksistah.com. Love and light.

#lump #radiation #thepinksistah #loveandlight #inspiration #motivation #noeyebrow #nohair