Joyce Mayfield began breast cancer treatment in January. At that time, Blessing Health surgeon Emmanuel Bessay offered her some advice.
“Now Joyce, understand that this is going to be a marathon,” the 58-year-old recalled him saying. “I said, no. I’m going to sprint through this one. I have stuff to do.” Joyce has been true to her word thanks to a strong faith, will, and care team.
No time for mammograms
Something always seemed to get in the way of Joyce getting her annual screening mammogram.
“Women will take care of everything and everyone, except themselves,” the grandmother of four said. “Taking care of ourselves is always put on the back burner. That was my issue. I’ll fit it in whenever I can get it in.”
Joyce found the time when her primary care provider, Blessing Health nurse practitioner Amber Curry, APRN-FNP, strongly recommended that she fit a mammogram into her schedule soon during a late 2022 visit.
Fast forward to January 2023. After a screening and follow-up mammogram and a biopsy, Joyce was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
“I am not moved by emotion,” she said. “Give me the facts. We’ll figure out what to do and we’ll move on from there. I have confidence that no matter what I am faced with, God knew it before I did. His plan for me is greater than my plan for me. I was never worried or afraid.”
Joyce underwent six chemotherapy treatments over 18 weeks to reduce the size of the cancerous masses before surgery, and began immunotherapy. Cancer immunotherapy stimulates the immune system, improving its natural ability to fight the disease. Then, on August 3, Joyce underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
“It wasn’t fun, but I told my body we’re going to get through this. I have a life to live. I have grandkids that I am going to see get married. I am not going to allow this to take me under,” Joyce said with conviction. “Challenges will only overtake us if we let them.”
Even when she lost all of her hair two days after beginning chemotherapy, Joyce remained strong.
“I became part of the Wig Nation – that’s what I called it. It’s not a big deal. It’s part of the process.”
Medical team and faith deliver for Joyce
“I trusted in the wisdom of God and the wisdom of my medical team,” she said. “I felt so comfortable in them taking care of me. They treated me with the utmost respect and compassion. I could tell it was genuine.”
In addition to Dr. Bessay and nurse practitioner Curry, Joyce’s Blessing Health providers included medical oncologist Kellie Flippin and team, radiation oncologist Mark Khil and team, and patient navigator Jessica Nuebel; the Blessing Breast Center team, and the Blessing Hospital surgery and inpatient nursing staffs.
While she felt each member of her team provided exceptional care, her connection with patient navigator Jessica ran deep. Jessica is a breast cancer survivor.
“She shared with me her experiences,” Joyce said. “I got to see where I was going through her.”
Outside the hospital, Joyce found support from her sister Koretta Sykes, and three close friends; and talks with her pastor, Bishop E.L. Warren, PhD, of the Cathedral of Worship in Quincy.
“He was concerned with my emotional well-being as well as my spiritual well-being,” she said.
The finish line is in sight
The final stage of Joyce’s treatment is six weeks of radiation therapy that ends in late October - to reduce the risk any cancer cells survived - and continuing immunotherapy for the foreseeable future.
“I encourage women – especially women of color - to look within and take care of themselves. Get regular mammograms before it is too late,” Joyce shares as a result of her experience.
As she looks forward, Joyce will complete a book she is writing about human temperament as it relates to mental health, based on knowledge and experience from her career in the behavioral field, and researching the possibility of returning to school to earn her doctorate degree in theology.
Look out. Joyce Mayfield is off and running again.
For more information on Blessing Health’s cancer services, go to blessinghealth.org.