Mary Parham’s Story | Breast cancer survivor stresses importance of routine mammogram
The Susan G. Komen Central Arkansas More than Pink Walk is this weekend, Saturday, October 26. Along with helping fund breast cancer research and patient care, it will also celebrate breast cancer survivors. Mary Parham is one of those. Parham – a mother, grandmother and great grandmother – was diagnosed with stage three evasive breast cancer in April 2018.
“I was just packing and getting ready to go on vacation when I had a routine mammogram and do it every year for 15 years, and all of the sudden this one didn’t turn out right,” Parham said.
Following surgery, she started chemo at the CARTI Cancer Center of Little Rock. Dr. Diane Wilder is her medical oncologist.
“It’s as if no matter what she was hit with she took it and she became more and more joyful and spread that onto us,” Wilder said. “She was a light in our midst.”
A light even in the darkest of days. Parham’s husband died from coronary heart disease in June, just days after their 37th wedding anniversary.
“In the middle of all this he changed his address,” she said.
“How did I go on to continue my journey? One day at a time.”
With help from family, friends, and a strong faith in God, she completed chemo and entered remission in the weeks that followed.
“She is moving on, living, loving, giving and being a light and direction to us on how to handle hard things,” Dr. Wilder said.
Parham is now on a mission to spread hope, help others through their fight, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
“If I had gone on vacation and said ‘I’ve had a mammogram every year and I’m not going to worry about it this time,’ I would’ve been a year out.
And this story could’ve ended much differently.
“I feel like a butterfly,” Parham said. “I’ve gone through the cocoon I’ve gone through the metamorphosis and now I’m a beautiful butterfly I’ve gone through that hard time to that tough time and now I can fly I have my wings and I can fly and I can also encourage other women and talk to other women.”
Mary received financial assistance from Komen Arkansas during her cancer battle.
