Battling, and winning, against breast cancer

In February 2010, at age 50, Teresa Whatley heard news that every woman dreads. Irregularities were found on her annual mammogram results, and she was asked to come back for more tests, which revealed that she had malignant micro calcifications in one breast.

Because the cancer had worked its way into the tissue surrounding it, Whatley was told by her doctors that she needed surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

"Of course, I was scared," she said, "I cried nonstop for two weeks after I found out. But I finally decided I needed to straighten up. I talked to my Sunday school teacher at church, and she asked me what the worst thing that could happen was. When I realized that the worst could happen was death, and that's not the worst thing that can happen to you -- I decided I could handle this. I was ready to go with the doctor's plan -- I didn't want to leave my son alone."

Whatley and her son, Chad, have been each other's family since her husband of ten years died while Chad was just a baby. Chad was in college at Arkansas State University and became Teresa's caregiver on the weekends -- even nursing her after her lumpectomy surgery, which she had during his spring break.

Chemotherapy was a challenge for Whatley, bringing on constantly increasing fatigue throughout her course of treatment, but she never missed work. She timed the treatments so that she could use each weekend to recover, and be back at work on Monday. Whatley is the Administrative Assistant to the president and CEO of Southern Bancorp.

The toughest emotional part of the process was when side effects of the chemo started to kick in. Whatley watched her fingernails turn blue, her toenails fall off, and her hair start to come out in clumps.

"I decided just to shave it," she said, "I didn't want to watch it just slowly come out, and I didn't want to be out somewhere in town or at work when it did, so on Mother's Day, I just shaved it off."

Whatley's best friend went with her to pick out a wig, and she said "We both just sat in the car and cried after I bought it, because all my hair was gone, but my friend told me she didn't care if I had no hair -- we were just so glad I was still alive."

Six weeks after the chemo ended, Whatley began radiation treatments, which left her with severe burns on her skin. Clothes hurt when she put them on, and even after the burns healed, she was left with scars.

Treatments were finished by September 2010, and Whatley said she could never have survived without the support of her friends, family and God.

" I could really feel the fact that people were praying for me," she said, "because everything stayed so calm throughout the whole ordeal. I had peace. It was hard to have no energy, but that is all starting to come back now. I have definitely learned some lessons through this. Being a single parent, I have always tried to control everything about mine and my son's lives, and I learned that I can't always do that -- I have to just let God be in control. He guided me and the doctors who treated me, and I was able to stay positive."

She is now doing well, recovering more strength daily, and is reaching out to others who are facing a cancer diagnosis.

"I tell them, you just have to listen to your doctors, follow instructions, don't be afraid, and have everyone you know pray for you. Do what you have to do to get by, and realize that dying isn't something to fear. Once you can get over that, you can face anything," she said.

Whatley also shares with fellow cancer survivors her favorite bible verse, Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."