Kaydia McKoy finds ‘Courage in Bloom’

At age 30, Kaydia McKoy never imagined that the lump she felt during a shower was a possible sign of breast cancer. Initially, she dismissed it as a symptom of premenstrual syndrome and did not seek medical advice, a decision she later regretted. For several months, McKoy returned to her regular routine until her husband expressed his concerns about the lump shortly after her 31st birthday. Despite her young age, the doctor took her family’s history of cancer into serious consideration and recommended a mammogram. Once diagnosed, she went on the fight of her life.

McKoy recalled her heart skipping a beat upon hearing the results of the mammogram. She underwent a surgical biopsy, just to be sure. “I could never forget two days before those surgeries, my daughter, Savannah, who was four at the time, started playing the Fight Song. She asked if I was going to die. I myself was uncertain, but I had to muster up the courage for her,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

With her worst fears now confirmed, she quickly fell into a state of depression. “I immediately stopped eating,” she recalled, adding, “because I was afraid. I was afraid to eat; I was afraid of food; I felt like my body had betrayed me.”

The mental, emotional, financial and physical stress quickly crept in at a time when the world was in lockdown, business was slow, and she had no insurance.

Diagnosed with stage-two oestrogen breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes, McKoy had to see three different doctors all in one day, for an all-in-one-procedure, which was not an easy feat for the new patient. “I cried that day and Dr Arscott said to me, ‘let this be the last day you cry because cancer feeds off of stress’. I then asked him for some pills to get me to relax and he said that I had to find that inner strength and I did,” she shared.

Because the cancer, she explained, was driven by oestrogen, which is produced by the ovaries, her gynaecologist strongly recommended that she undergo a total hysterectomy to address her ovarian cyst.

While her husband wished for another child, the sole focus was to eliminate this life-threatening illness from her body by any means necessary to live a cancer-free life. She consulted a breast surgeon for the mastectomy, which involves the removal of all the breast tissues and lymph nodes, and the third doctor, a cosmetic surgeon, was tasked with the reconstruction.

Additionally, she underwent three portacath surgeries to address port issues caused by her flat veins. She also endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by 25 rounds of radiation therapy, marking the completion of her treatments.

Overwhelmed by this life-changing discovery, she felt as though she was dying inside. “It was too much to bear. I cried out to God. I asked Him to give me strength and He did. I found my inner strength and that was it there and then.”

Today, McKoy is in survivorship mode with no known spread present. She is taking a maintenance pill called Anastrozole, and has eight more years to go. To commemorate her courageous journey, she is sharing her survival story in her new book, titled Courage in Bloom. A Daughter’s Love, A Mother’s Victory: Conquering Breast Cancer Together.

“Overcoming breast cancer together with my daughter adds depth to my story and highlights the sacred bond we have while we were on this life-changing journey. It presents the idea of bravery and inner strength blossoming despite challenging circumstances and hope for those fighting the disease. But it is also a message of love, support and triumph in the face of adversity,” she said.

On the cover is a beautiful picture of McKoy, rocking her bald-head in style. Another photo shows the proud mother seated with her daughter. “It was important for my daughter to be present on the cover with me because she was my tower of strength during the difficult time. She would always embrace my bald head and kiss me. I had to fight for her because she was rooting for Mommy.”

Further inspiration came from her support system. “People seemed interested in how I transitioned from being a breast cancer fighter into a survivor and advocate for our women. Whenever I share my story, both men and women would cry. It’s a powerful narrative, one filled with pain, sadness and fear, as well as courage, strength, resilience, hope and the will to survive.” It took less than a month to [put] her thoughts to paper and she published her book in the United States.

McKoy hopes, more than anything, to spread more breast cancer awareness through her book. “We can’t choose what life throws at us. It is a daily reminder that early detection is the key and that there is hope.” She encourages other women walking this journey to never let fear and doubt into your space, “Take full responsibility for your life, block out all negativity,” and fight like there is tomorrow.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com