Leaning on God for Strength

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“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That’s my motto. Along with that, being positive, staying positive, that made my days go up,” said Cassie Nelson as she fights her second battle with breast cancer. Nelson grew up in Clarendon County and graduated from Scott’s Branch Middle/High School in 1978. After earning an associate’s degree at Williamsburg Tech in Kingstree, Nelson returned to Clarendon One district and worked as a part time substitute teacher. When an offer arrived from Aircap Industries, Nelson left the school system and went to work in the business sector. However, the job was not to last, as Aircap closed in 1991. By 1992, Nelson was again employed with the Clarendon One school district, this time as an office administrator. Since that time, Nelson has been an administrative assistant, a cheerleading coach, the athletic secretary working with the basketball and football teams, a full-time bus driver, an ISS supervisor, the assistant bus transportation supervisor and a bookkeeper and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She was even an in-classroom special needs assistant for two years. Nelson had her first experience with breast cancer in 2006. She found the lump during a self-exam in November 2006. However, at that time, she was regularly traveling to New Jersey to help her mother with her ailing father, and she put off taking care of her own medical needs. Her father lost his own battle with cancer the day before Thanksgiving. After bringing her father back to Clarendon County to bury and getting her mother settled here, Nelson turned her attention to her own needs. She set appointments in January 2007. After a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, there was no doubt the lump was cancer, and Nelson had a lumpectomy, a surgery which removed only the cancerous lump, in February. Continued treatment included 33 radiation treatments. “I was very blessed that time,” said Nelson. “Because of good caregivers and family and friends, that made my recovery so much better. And talking to other cancer survivors, that was a great help.” Nelson asserts that hearing the stories shared by others fighting the battle or who have already won the battle with cancer gives newer patients courage and knowledge about what to expect. It takes some of the fear and uncertainty out of the process. “A lot of people helped me along the way, and that made my transition easier,” said Nelson. After her radiation treatments were completed, Nelson was able to return to work and to a normal life. However, this was not to last. In November 2017, Nelson found another lump. As she had received radiation treatments a decade before, Nelson was no longer eligible for radiation. This meant more drastic measures needed to be taken surgically. When only the lump is removed, the chances of a recurrence of the cancer is high unless radiation treatments are given. With that option no longer viable, a mastectomy was the only choice that made sense. Nelson left work on medical leave on March 29 to have her left breast removed, choosing not to undergo reconstruction surgery. After her surgery, she received four chemotherapy treatments, with her last one completed on July 10. “I’m not a person who is used to sitting around. It was extremely hard for me to just sit here and wait on people to do things for me,” said Nelson, who stated the treatments were difficult and caused severe side effects. During her chemotherapy treatments, Nelson’s bones began to ache badly enough she lost the ability to drive. As her treatments this time around were all in Charleston at MUSC, this meant a lot of trips she could no longer take on her own. “My significant other took me to most of my appointments, and all of my children, and I had friends and church members who stepped in,” said Nelson. “I have to give hats off to my Clarendon One family, too. I have a really good support group, and that means a lot.” When Nelson’s hair began to fall out, Nelson made another strong decision. She shaved it all off and chose not to wear wigs, hoping to inspire others to do the same. Since that time, several other ladies have followed her example. Nelson also praised the prompt way her medical team responded to any and all requests and the professional and kind attitudes they all displayed. “When I went to Sumter for my radiation , everybody there was just so kind and compassionate and caring. Down in Charleston at MUSC, likewise. They were so patient and caring and compassionate, always trying to make you smile. They were just awesome,” said Nelson. Prior to the last chemotherapy treatment, further complications arose. The day before she was to have the last treatment, Nelson awakened with her left arm and hand badly swollen. Her doctor confirmed it was lymphedema, a condition with no cure. Lymphedema is a swelling in one arm or leg, although it can be in both arms or both legs. It is most commonly caused by the removal or damage to lymph nodes as part of cancer treatment. Nelson began therapy for the lymphedema on August 8 and has learned techniques she can now use at home. Her hand swelling has gone down quite a bit, and her arm continues to improve. She will wear a compressed sleeve and glove on her left arm and hand for the rest of her life, but Nelson keeps a good attitude. She is finally driving again, and her doctors feel she has done remarkably well. “That’s a blessing,” said Nelson. “It’s been a journey. I still have to travel a while yet. But all those who travel the journey with me make my life easier.”