Featured Fighter – Paula McCoy Williams

June 26, 2013
By: Paula McCoy Williams

BASIC INFO:

Name: Paula McCoy Williams
Age: 44
Hometown: Born in Halifax but lived in Quebec from the age of 5
Occupation: Freelance writer
Diagnosis: Stage 2 breast cancer
If you were a professional boxer or wrestler, what would your name be? The feisty Irish gal

HER FRIGHT:

When I was first diagnosed I was really afraid that I was receiving a death sentence. All I knew about cancer was that people died from it. I had never known of anyone that had survived it. I thought it was going to be all over for me. I was so wrong about that. I was also afraid that my life would just go downhill. I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t have a boyfriend at the time either, and I thought that I’d never meet anyone, as no one would want someone who had been through cancer.

HER FIGHT:

I went through hell with my treatments. I had a lumpectomy and six lymph nodes removed. 3 of the 6 were positive for cancer. I had 16 rounds of chemo, and lost my hair not too long after my first treatment. I had a setback after the surgery, as there was no drain put in. 2 weeks after the operation I started bleeding old blood from the breast incision area. I had to have some of it drained surgically, and then I had to go to the local clinic every day to have the bandages changed and the area cleaned. I also had to be watched to make sure I didn’t get an infection. I did actually end up with one and had to go to the hospital to have it drained and to be put on antibiotics. It took from July until September for the blood to stop coming out. I started chemo on Sept 11, 2007, and I didn’t tolerate it well. It had to be on a slow drip and I was allergic to the drugs; it made my muscles twitch. I had to have Benadryl and magnesium to counteract that. I lost a lot of weight, as I could barely eat. After that I had 5 weeks of radiation. I got burnt badly and the skin under my breast tore so I had to have a special bandage and cream. I felt miserable. My asthma also got worse during radiation.

FIGHTING HER FRIGHT:

I have to admit, I had bad anxiety and depression when I was diagnosed. I thought I was going to fall into a black hole. I was lucky my surgeon referred me to an oncology psychologist and psychiatrist. They were a real godsend. I also came into contact with Young Adult Cancer Canada, and through them and through retreats with other young adults I was able to see that I was not alone. They were a blessing during my battle. The other blessing was the Hope & Cope Wellness Centre and the young adult program. I could see that cancer wasn’t a death sentence.