Student witnesses mother’s battle with breast cancer
Photo Credit: Contributed by Rachel Bascom
Rachel Bascom, biology senior, poses with her mom Cyndi Bickel. Cyndi was diagnosed with breast cancer May 09’ and went through chemotherapy.
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Brooke Curry, Staff Writer
October 21, 2011
Filed under Features, Top Stories
Two years ago, a student’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through extensive chemotherapy.
Rachel Bascom, biology senior, said, “I was 19, during May ‘09, when we found out my mom had breast cancer and in the beginning of June she had surgery.”
“She had a lump in her right breast that started out the size of an earring and then got to the size of a golf ball. As it grew rapidly, we knew something was wrong,” Bascom said.
The family and the doctors believe Bickel, 54-years-old, is in remission. Due to the high cost of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans they are waiting until next year for another one. PET scans are used to help reveal the presence and severity of cancers
Cyndi Bickel, Bascom’s mom, said, “It was really hard on my children because they were worried and I was worried for them, but it was amazing how we pulled together with courage and strength to get through it.”
Bascom said, “We didn’t really know what to expect or how to feel. We didn’t know going into it whether she’d survive or not. It was really hard but we just thought we’d get through it together and take whatever path we needed to take.”
They said use of family time and the birth of Bickel’s grandchild, Hayden, now 18-months- old, created a bond between the family members that could not be broken.
“My sister had a baby in April, so it was a scary time and although my mom thought it was bad timing at first, she decided it was a blessing in disguise. Hayden has made my mom so happy,” Bascom said.
Hayden brought a connection to the family, which gave Bickel something to smile about.
Bickel said, “My family bonded more over this experience and became much closer. We appreciate our health more in general now, and my family has been very supportive.”
Bascom said, watching Bickel go through chemotherapy was hard on family and friends.
Bascom said, “She had a really tough year going through chemo and having a double mastectomy. The chemo made her really sick, fragile and weak. Then we found out she had gallstones. She then had to get her gall bladder out and that just added to her problems.”
Bickel then broke her ankle running after her dog. At this point, Bascom said it was tough for the family to continue with optimism knowing how fragile Bickel was.
Bascom said, “It was hard watching this because not only were her emotions up and down, it was tough for me and my family to stay as strong as possible and tell her to hope for good days.”
When Bickel’s hair started falling out, her family was there to pick her up again with wigs, kind words and support.
Bascom said, “She has two wigs and she loves them. She liked wearing the wigs when her hair fell out, but I’m sure she loves wearing them more now because she actually has hair.
She said it was funny because her mother’s hair grew back completely different after chemo.
Bascom not only has words of advice for her mother, family and friends, but also for anyone who will take someone else’s experience and learn from it.
“I just want people to know, if you sense anything is wrong, definitely get it checked out and don’t wait,” Bascom said. “My mom even waited a while to get her lump checked out and although it made her nauseous, she didn’t want to face reality. This situation has made me much more aware.”
Bascom said, the entire experience has made the family more cautious and willing to learn important facts regarding health.
Bascom said, “I read up on it and have knowledge about it because it’s important to know the facts about situations like this. Especially with my mom going through it, I needed to know more of the terminology or I would’ve been confused.”
Bickel says her family is always there for love and support, and although they didn’t know the outcome at first, they said they are hopeful and strong.
Bascom said, “Although, you may not know the outcome of a situation, it’s important to have a great support system. My mom is never alone in this process and we always hope for better days.”
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