Every October, communities across the country recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a time dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging early detection, and supporting those affected by the disease. At Sierra Vista High School, the month is personal, as one of our own staff members, Melissa Ferrer, is a breast cancer survivor. October is not only a month to celebrate the strength of those affected, but it also marks three years of Ferrer being cancer free.
In 2022, Ferrer’s journey was first highlighted in a feature where she shared her diagnosis of Stage 1B Triple Negative Breast Cancer in May 2021, just months after a clear mammogram. Shocked by the diagnosis, Ferrer underwent five months of chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy, with her family and friends providing support. Despite the difficult journey, Ferrer emerged with a stronger faith and a renewed outlook on life. Now, three years later, this update celebrates her milestone of being cancer-free.
Even after her recovery, Ferrer continues to have regular check-ups to monitor her health. “Last year was every three months, but now they moved me to six months, which is really good,” she explains. “So, I go in for a regular chest x-ray, I go in for bloodwork to check tumor markers, and if there’s anything that comes up that’s concerning to them then I’ll go in for a few different other scans..” Ferrer shares that she often feels anxious before her scans—a feeling known in the survivor community as “scan-xiety.”
Since her recovery, Ferrer enjoys participating in local events to raise awareness, including the Make a Stride Walk, in which she actively encouraged Vista students and staff to join her in support, “…just recently I did the Make a Stride Walk. I invited the whole school to come out and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we did that two weeks ago. We did a 5k. And it was such a great turnout. It was free, there were no registration costs, it was just to come out and support anyone who’s going through it, anyone affected by it, just come out and support us.” With her local efforts, Ferrer also supports organizations such as the American Cancer Society. “I really like their events because they really highlight breast cancer but they also focus in on all the other different types of cancers. But the main thing is that I know where the money is going.”
Ferrer explains how her experience helped her connect with students and families who are going through the same thing, “As a teacher it was cool to bring that experience into the classroom, because it really helped me build a better rapport with students, especially students going through it or have a parent that passed away from something like that so, I’ve really gotten closer to my students and also to their families by sharing my experiences.”
Ferrer’s message to those who are struggling with cancer is “to fight and to never give up. Find a support system. Know your plan of action. And again, don’t give up, I have some friends going through it right now and the main thing is get your plan of treatment, be consistent with that, make your appointments but number one, get the support system. Don’t google, don’t google everything because it’s really bad and it’s never specific to your type of situation, so I always say stay away from google, focus on what your physicians tell you and what your oncologist tells you. Just engulf yourself in your family and always find things that you enjoy to do, to still do, you can still do those things. Life isn’t over, so just keep trying and keep fighting.”
American Cancer Society has information on all kinds of cancers and treatments, along with methods of coping and living as a survivor.
