HER | Pamela Betts: 'Early detection is key, I wasted valuable time'

Doctors found that Pamela Betts had three tumors stacked on top of one another. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Doctors found that Pamela Betts had three tumors stacked on top of one another. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

I woke up one morning four years ago with pain around my nipple, an aching that at times was a sharp kind of pain in my right breast. I got up and did a self-exam. My breast was sore to touch. I didn't feel any abnormalities.

This went on for a few days and the pain was lessening, so I went about my normal activities without saying anything to anyone. In a week or two I totally dismissed it.

During this time, my sister, Patricia, had stage 4 cancer and was being treated in Houston at MD Anderson. She had a tumor on her right lung, 5 brain tumors and a large tumor on her left adrenal gland. I was busy going back and forth to the clinics with her and I completely blocked my right breast out of my mind.

In the back of my mind I was thinking that years ago I had a noncancerous tumor in my right breast and had it removed, then 5 years after that I had a cyst all in that right breast so I thought it was nothing.

Patricia died in 2016.

It was in early 2017 that the nagging pain came back in my right breast. I am not sure what I thought, but it wasn't until 2018 that I made an appointment t to see a doctor. I had a mammogram and ultrasound.

photo

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Dan Farmer, a longtime health and physical education teacher and coach, is seen Thursday in Greenland. Farmer is retiring after 39 years in Winslow and Greenland.

Sharice, my other sister, went to the doctor with me. When Dr. Schmidt said I had 3 tumors stacked on top of one another, Sharice started crying and I don't think she heard another word after that. These tumors were encapsulated. I think I was numb and in shock. When I heard the word cancer, I heard a death sentence.

Dr. Schmidt and I discussed the surgery, a mastectomy. I explained about how my mother and sister had cancer in the last few years. We agreed on a double mastectomy. After all, I thought, "Who needs boobs?"

I had to call my husband because I required a biopsy and I needed him to take off work. He was shocked because I had not told anyone about my problem.

I had a dream: I dreamed my dead mother and sister came to my home and stood in the hall asking me to come out and go with them. When I refused, they left. I took this as a sign that I was going to live.

We scheduled the surgery date. We had a Muldrow Mitchell Family Reunion the last of May, so I told family members about the cancerous tumors in my right breast and asked for their prayers. Until then, I kept my cancer quiet because I didn't want anyone to think my fate will be like Pat's. I waited until the last minute to tell everyone.

Pat had only been dead for 2 years. I had a lot of conversations with my pastor, Edward Moss. I had an upbeat spirit, no stress. I prayed to God to give me the strength to accept His will. My mind always came back to my dream. I thank God I was never depressed or worried about the cancer.

The day came for my surgery and my brother Matthew was able to be there the morning of the surgery. My kids really didn't have time to take off, but my son Mark sneaked away to come visit me. I had plenty of family there to support me. My pastor and his wife were there. It was all good.

After the double, I weighed 5 pounds less, meaning my boobs weighed about that much. Now I tell my story to anyone who will listen. Plus I encouraged all women to do daily breast self-exams and get yearly mammograms. I tell them to do the breast exams in the mornings because after I found my lump, I couldn't sleep at all that night as I waited for morning to call my doctor. Early detection is the key to a longer life. I wasted valuable time.

Things turned out great for me, but it could have went the other way. I am thankful.

Be on top of any abnormalities. I had a precancer tumor removed from my nose earlier this year.

Remember early detection is the key to a longer life. I am cancer-free at the moment, and I thank God.

Upcoming Events