Unshakable Spirit One Woman’s Fight Against Breast Cancer

Unshakable Spirit

 One Woman’s Fight Against Breast Cancer

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Change can come in many forms. We learn at an early age that while some things are permanent, others never stay the same. The truth is that even what we know to be permanent is slowly changing all the time. Buildings around us deteriorate, either to be repaired or to fall apart many years later. What someone may see now could look very different in the future. Like the buildings, people experience change. Experiences can alter the way we perceive life, family, and even memories. It may be helpful to remember that wherever change occurs, something new begins.

For over 22 years, a brave Winnie Scott of Ashland, Kentucky, and an alumnus of the 1984 graduating class of Paul G. Blazer High School, has confronted breast cancer head-on. Diagnosed in 2002, Winnie, a surviving widow, was then faced with the choice of whether to give up or fight. Being the mother of her then 12-year-old daughter, she collected herself and moved forward with treatment to keep her family together and healthy. Family and friends were a driving factor in Winnie’s success as she persevered into the scary world that had been presented to her with no warning. In response to the change that had forced its way into Winnie’s life, she made changes of her own. Taking control of her life over breast cancer, she began exercising and eating healthier. Winnie is now over a generation in as a survivor of breast cancer and helps others along their journey when the chance arises.

When asked what empowered her, Winnie responded, “My empowerment comes from taking control over my life. Although there are many that lose this battle, it does not mean they were not strong. It means we know how dangerous this battle is. It means after all I have been through, before and after breast cancer, beating it makes me feel like there is nothing I can’t do, nothing I cannot achieve. I never sweat the small stuff.” With Winnie’s battle, she has survived what many have not. On average, the survival rate of breast cancer is 91% during a 5-year battle. Rates of survival based on stages of cancer diminish greatly with each stage, as it is an aggressive form of cancer, and early diagnosis with treatment is crucial for survival. Winnie’s message to everyone and those who are struggling with breast cancer is, “Do not take life for granted.”

Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35, Winnie Scott has spent 24 of her 59 years on this earth working, supporting her family, and fighting a mostly invisible illness. Having pushed herself to survive with the support of her family and friends, she now focuses on family, and specifically her grandchildren. With insight into what a diagnosis with breast cancer means, Winnie hopes one day a cure will be discovered, preventing others from suffering or worse. As new practices, studies, and innovations are developed, hopefully someday Winnie will see her dream come true.