Melita Daugherty (above left) never knew much about her family’s medical history. Her mom died when Melita was a baby, and her dad died when she was 13.

“As a teenager, I didn’t ask older relatives about my family’s health. I heard cancer mentioned occasionally, but nothing specific,” says Melita, a specialty products account manager.

The lack of family history pushed Melita to begin recommended cancer screenings as soon as she could.

Those screenings included mammograms. They pointed to her having dense breast tissue, which was something her doctor also discussed with her.

But in 2017, between her annual breast screenings, a change concerned her.

No time to waste

Melita felt a lump in her left breast during a breast self-exam. She didn’t hesitate to call her doctor.

“I didn’t want to wait until my next mammogram,” she says.

Melita’s instincts were right. Tests revealed a tumor at the back of her chest.

She started chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery. Because of the type of tumor, she also had treatments to increase her white blood cell count.

The early treatments were hard. Following surgery, she had radiation and steroid treatments.

“It wasn’t pleasant,” she says. “But I kept thinking about getting cancer out of my body.”

Melita’s chemotherapy led to blood clots which require long-term medication.

A positive change in perspective

After going back to work and resuming many of the activities she enjoyed, Melita still thought about the “what ifs” of her condition.

It helped her to participate in a program that lets cancer patients talk to someone who acts as an advocate. And she often thought of what her doctor said to her before her biopsy: “Even if it’s cancer, that doesn’t mean it’s a death sentence.”

Over the years, the “what if” moments have become less frequent. She channels much of that energy now into reminding friends and co-workers to get breast cancer screenings. She also encourages others who are going through tests or treatment to stay positive.

“I tell people I plan to grow old so that my kids will have to take care of me the way I took care of them,” Melita says. “I wake up every day now and thank God I’m alive.”

Another story of survival

As a young adult, Jackie Doss had a broader understanding of breast cancer than most of her peers. Her mom was a breast cancer survivor, and that family history made an impact.

“My sisters and I always have reminded each other to get our mammograms,” says Jackie, a manager of provider networks and contracting.

Throughout her life, she’s gotten those screenings on schedule.

Because she has dense breast tissue, she’s also done breast self-exams and pays close attention to what her body tells her.

In the fall of 2017, that vigilance made her take notice of discomfort under her arm.

Facing what she didn’t expect  

Jackie felt an achiness that seemed similar to what could happen with the flu. But feeling it in only one area concerned her.

“I didn’t make the connection that it was near lymph nodes,” she says.

Then she felt a lump in her breast and knew she needed to get things checked.

Jackie’s doctor scheduled tests. A biopsy quickly followed which showed breast cancer, which was also in a lymph node under Jackie’s arm.

She began chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. During surgery to remove the tumor, 10 lymph nodes were removed as a precaution.

Jackie experienced lymphedema caused by accumulation of fluid that’s usually drained through lymph nodes. It caused swelling and discomfort in her arm and her chest.

“That was hard on top of the surgery,” Jackie remembers. “It felt like the whole world was pressing in on me.”

She underwent more chemotherapy to treat her cancer. That was followed by radiation treatments.

Encouragement on the path to healing 

“Treatment can be a lonely process,” Jackie says. “My mom and I talked a lot. That encouraged me since she was a breast cancer survivor.”

She occasionally has flare-ups of lymphedema. But a strong family support system has helped over the last eight years, and her faith has guided her.

“What I’ve gone through will always be a part of me,” she says. “But whatever comes my way, God will see me through. Our bodies carry us through life. We need to listen to them and get the screenings that protect them.”

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.