Selected dates take on special meanings for those who live through them. For example, most people remember where they were, and what they were doing, on Sept. 11, 2001. But personal dates also get stored in one’s memory. For long-time Katy resident Sandra Ross, July 22, 2017, is such a date.

“I went to Memorial Hermann Mammogram Department Imaging to have my routine mammogram,” Ross, who is retired from the insurance business, said. “I have been out shopping all day and I said, whoops, I’ve got to remember. I’ve got to go have my mammogram done.”

Ross said breast cancer did not run in her family. She also understood the importance of getting an annual mammogram. She went, not expecting any problems.

Turns out, bad news was in store for Ross and her family. It came about a day or two later. Her gynecologist called. The mammogram didn’t look right, she told Ross. In fact, it looked abnormal.

“So, she was suggested that I go have a diagnostic mammogram and she was going to send in order for them to do a biopsy,” Ross said.

Overcoming bad news

The test results came back, and Ross learned she had breast cancer.

“I was lost for words,” Ross said. “She (Ross’s doctor) knew I got very, very quiet on the phone. All I could think about was my children and my grandchildren. Finally, I picked up the pieces and I asked her, ‘Where do we go from here?’”

Because Ross had been getting regular mammograms and there was nothing in her 2016 exam, she knew the cancer had been caught early. They identified and discussed options for moving forward.

“We narrowed down the doctors list,” Ross said. “I told my primary care physician, and he gave me some names and I noted down some of those same names were on the list I have for my gynecologist.”

Ultimately, Dr. Jessica Suarez Colen, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was selected.

“I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, which is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer,” Ross said. “My treatment plan was chemotherapy.”

The chemotherapy worked. In October, Ross had another MRI done, and her oncologist said the tumors shrunk at least 75 to 80%. She continued the chemotherapy, but she also stayed active.

“All through my chemo I’ve worked, kept a normal life because that is so important,” Ross said. She said her physicians told her to let them take on the cancer, and she should focus on having a normal life as much as possible.

“If you’re working, continue to work” Ross said the doctors told her. “Any other activities you’re doing, continue to do those. Continue to go out.”

She was able to do so, she said, thanks to her family’s support, starting with her husband Walter, and friends such as Barbara Jackson and Paulette Mouton.

Attitude also helped.

“Attitude is at least, I would say, 75-85% of your healing,” Ross said.

On Feb. 13, 2018, Ross had a bilevel mastectomy. But a breast reconstruction specialist was reconstructing her breasts at the same time.

“I’ll never forget that day I had surgery,” Ross said. “Being from New Orleans, it was Mardi Gras day.”

The anesthesiologist asked Ross if she wanted a margarita or a daiquiri. He was obviously referring to her regular anesthesia drugs, but he tried to make light of it, which Ross found funny.

“I didn’t have alcohol, but he was just saying, ‘It’s Mardi Gras. I know you will be having a good time.’ So that made me laugh,” Ross said. “While on the table, they had music playing and that helped keep me calm, knowing that I would be in surgery for at least 7-8 hours for what I was having done. The good thing about this is, after it was over and I had the MRI, it was determined that they had gotten all the cancer, way less than 1%. It was all gone, and I did not need any radiation or take any more chemo drugs. I just needed to go and see my oncologist for the first five years every six months. I count that as a blessing.”

Helping others

Today, Ross said, she is feeling wonderful. She rang the bell when she became cancer-free. She says she is partying like a rock star.

“I want to say I was partying like a rock star all through my treatment because I never stopped,” Ross said. “I just kept going as much as I could. Trying not to let that bother me and having support of family and friends to cheer you want and not having the negativity.”

Today, Ross is helping who are facing the situation she had to face. She is active with a cancer support group, Angels Surviving Cancer, a nonprofit group, where she is on the board of directors.

“I found out about the been through my friend Barbara Jackson,” Ross said. “She knew the Executive Director, Janice Workcuff, and she connected me with Janice. Towards the end of my journey, she started to talk to me and talk about all the support that Angels Surviving Cancer can provide me with. Being there, being prayerful, attending meetings to be around such positive women have gone through breast cancer, or breast cancer survivors. And I’m talking ladies that are 10, 15, 20, 25, 30-year breast cancer survivors. Yes, that’s important because that lets you know yes, you can’t get through it.”

For more information about Angels Surviving Cancer, visit the website angelssurvivingcancer.org.