Breast cancer survivor tells story, supports others

By MEGAN SWEENEY
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: October 8, 2008

STAFFORD — A couple of afternoons a month, Stafford resident Tywanna Gills can be seen visiting women recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

She’ll bring a packet with her. Inside the packet are lists of resources for these women. The resources include information from where to find free wigs, to free makeup, to assistance in finding bras after mastectomies. Gills also shares her stories with these women.

Eight years ago, you see, Tywanna Gills was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In June 2000, Gills found a lump in her right breast. She went to her family doctor, who recommended a specialist. Two weeks later, the lump had been confirmed as malignant — and almost Stage Four.

During Stage Four, a patient’s likelihood of survival is greatly reduced because the cancer has often metastasized, or spread to other organs or throughout the body.

As the doctor made that statement, Gills said, “I had a vision that my deceased grandmother came and said, ‘Re [a nickname], you are going to be all right.’”

Dr. Mark Mason of Potomac Hospital recommended a mastectomy to remove all traces of the 5 centimeter-long lump, Gills said.

Gills arranged for a mastectomy two weeks after that, and her family started flying in. As she went in for surgery, her mother, aunts, friends and nieces were all around, supporting her.

The surgery was successful and she was able to start chemotherapy almost immediately.

“It could have been either a death trap or a brand new life. It depends on how you deal with it, and on the woman that you are. The woman that God made you,” Gills said. “This was a new beginning in life for me. The things I used to take for granted — to look around, take a breath, my children, friends and family — are important.”

She had to endure the nausea, fatigue and hair loss. Somehow, however, Gills was able to find ways to look up in the midst of her troubles.

Her sons, Edriques, then 15, and Leemario, then 7, were able to help feed her and brighten her outlook on the days she couldn’t get out of bed. And after a few hours in July’s sultry heat, she decided to make a new fashion statement. Gills set down her wig and walked into the grocery store as a bald woman — and received compliments on her look. The bald look stayed, and the wig began collecting dust.

After six months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation treatments, two reconstructive surgeries and numerous check-ups, Gills is a radiant breast cancer survivor.

“I had God’s grace with me,” she stated calmly. “It was God that saved my life.

Gills said she had extraordinary doctors.

“They let me know that I was never alone. The nurses, too, were awesome. They really cared about how you were doing,” she said.

One nurse even called Gills at home after each chemotherapy session.

Gills now volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program and participates in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk every year.

“I feel safe. I have been healed,” she said.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Breast Cancer Society and several other groups are working to fund breast cancer research, to educate people about breast cancer, and to assist those living with breast cancer.

Megan Sweeney is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at .