A Veteran’s knockout fight against cancer

For Joy Smith, the news came like a crashing wave. The haunting phrase, "You have cancer," was for her a journey filled with vulnerability, but also bravery: the Army Combat Medic Veteran and Ralph H. Johnson VA health care professional would go on to survive breast cancer not once, but twice.

Smith's second cancer diagnosis was about survival and ultimately, love. Her fellow VA colleagues quickly became her lifeline, with friends and strangers alike offering her support that went beyond anything she had expected.

"I was in the hospital, barely holding it together when a nurse I'd never met sat with me, took my hand and wouldn't let go. She called my family, helped me walk out to meet them and, even now, years later, she sends me a message every morning to remind me that I'm not alone," Smith shared.

"You must keep going, for all of us."

Smith faced it head-on. Only this time, the battle would push her to the limits. A surgery that was supposed to last five hours stretched into nearly 18 with complications. Her daughter who had just returned from serving in the Navy,sat in a waiting room, praying for her mother to survive.

"When I finally woke up, I couldn't even look at myself. The therapy was gruesome and I wanted to give up. But then a coworker came in, looked at me and said, 'These treatments are saving your life. You must keep going, for all of us.' And I did," Smith recalled.

Her colleagues and fellow Veterans became her anchor, creating a family she never knew she needed. They dressed in pink every Wednesday, filled the chemo clinic with laughter and sat with her, shift after shift. "These are people I barely knew before my diagnosis. Some would slip away from their rounds just to sit with me for a few minutes. They didn't let me go through a single treatment alone. They held me up when I didn't have the strength to stand," Smith said.

Smith's doctor, Dr. Mark Lockett, remembers her as an engaged and relentless advocate for herself and others. "She made it her mission to know every detail about her treatments. It was as if she was fighting for something greater than just herself." And she was. Every day, Smith saw her patients as reflections of her own battle and she drew strength from helping them fight theirs.

"I want every Veteran to know how important it is to get screened."

Through her pain, she has found a new purpose, a fierce drive to protect and inspire others facing similar battles. "I want every Veteran, every person, to know how important it is to get screened. I almost didn't make it through the second time. I want to spare others from that fear if I can," Smith said.

Lockett emphasized the importance of vigilance in breast cancer screening, noting that while VA has made significant strides in cancer care, early detection remains crucial: "The survival rates are high for early-stage breast cancer discovery."

Smith carries with her the scars and memories, each a reminder of the people who kept her alive. Her voice catches as she recalls the moments of kindness, the courage of her daughter by her side and the nurses who held her hand through some of her darkest hours. "There were times I didn't think I'd see tomorrow. And now, every day feels like a gift," she said.

Today, as the Geriatrics and Extended Care Home Health coordinator for the Ralph H. Johnson VA, she uses her experience to help others, transforming her own hardships into a beacon of hope.

To the Veterans and coworkers starting their own cancer battles, she has a message: "You don't have to do this alone. There's a whole community here ready to fight with you, to hold you up. Lean on them. I learned that strength isn't about pretending to be invincible, it's about allowing others to carry you when you can't.

"I'm here today because of the power of love and connection. Together, we can face anything. Together, we can survive."

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