Cindy McGraw

                My next Overcoming the Odds article is on a woman in the Metro Jackson area that shared with me her story of Overcoming Breast Cancer and a long lineage of cancer in her own family.  Her name is Cindy McGraw. I met her at one of the many fitness centers I have worked out at in the past 15 years. Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and underwent a radical mastectomy with reconstruction and chemotherapy.  She survived.  However, this is only part of the story.  Cancer evidently runs in Cindy’s family.  According to Cindy, her paternal grandmother died at age 47 from ovarian cancer.  Her father’s oldest sister died of ovarian cancer while her father’s younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29. 

Cindy McGraw says, “My aunt was the longest survivor at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!  After surviving breast cancer for 45 years, she was diagnosed with metasized breast cancer at age 75 and then died in 2008.  She was 78 years old.”  Cindy’s Aunt had children that were affected by cancer as well.  “My aunt had four daughters and 2 have died from ovarian or breast cancer and 1 daughter is a 2 time breast cancer survivor,” Cindy Says.  It didn’t stop there.  Evidently, her aunt’s middle daughter, Angie, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in her mid-30s and diagnosed again in her 50’s.  Nonetheless, Angie survived.  Angie’s oldest sister, Nell, however, was not so lucky.  After a series of treatments, Nell succumbed to breast cancer at age 52.  A year before her death, Nell lost her husband to a rare blood cancer. 

                Cindy also had another first cousin that was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, survived that, and then was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 62.  Another one of Cindy’s aunts was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 70 and later with lung cancer at age 78.  So far, she is surviving both bouts with cancer.

                Due to the abundance of cancer in their family members, Cindy’s family began the process of genetic testing.  After discovering staggering results, they decided to take measures to prevent the onset of both breast and ovarian cancer.  As a result of the genetic testing, those who had not been diagnosed with cancer have had prophylactic mastectomies and/or hysterectomies as preventive measures for breast and ovarian cancer.  “So far, there have been no further cancer diagnoses in my family,” Cindy says.

                Cindy McGraw still has annual visits to her oncologist but is proud to be a cancer survivor.  “I have tried to give back by the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery Program which is a wonderful kind of mentoring service provided to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients,” Cindy says.  In addition, Cindy volunteers with the Komen group for their Race for the Cure and Golf for the Cure. 

                Cindy McGraw Overcame the Odds of Breast Cancer.  In addition, she has Overcome the Odds of a long lineage of cancer in her own family.  She continues to seek the right answers so that members of her family and people in general don’t have to suffer.  As a cancer survivor, Cindy stresses how important early detection really is.  “Cancer is a very scary experience but early detection is definitely the key,” she says.  “If you think something is wrong, go to the doctor.  We know our bodies best and people have to be aggressive and assertive with these kinds of health issues.”  As severe as cancer can become, early detection is an extremely important factor.

I believe that Cindy’s story is one of Overcoming the Odds to the highest degree.  In continuing to advance what is known about cancer, she is helping others Overcome the Odds as well.