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Life After Diagnosis: Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story

Jamie Richir, a Chautauqua County native, shared her story of breast cancer survival in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pictured from left are Richir; her grandaughter, Zoie Centi; and her daughter, Marcella Centi. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

“The hardest part was getting the phone call saying, ‘I’m sorry, Mrs. Richir, it’s cancer,'” said Jamie Richir, a life-long resident of Chautauqua County.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Richir shared her story about her diagnosis, what treatment was like and what life is like since being declared cancer-free.

Two years ago in August, Richir found out she had an aggressive form of stage three breast cancer. She said doctors generally prefer to see cancer to have a rate of two or three. Her cancer, however, had a growth rate of 25.

At first, they found two lumps in her breast, but Richir said they went from being tiny to the size of an orange under her arm in a short span of time.

“It was scary stuff,” she said.

When she first heard the diagnosis, Richir said she had to take time away and cry. Slowly, she began to accept it.

Between doctors appointments, testing and chemotherapy treatments, Richir said the schedule of being sick was anything but restful. She had seven surgeries, 36 rounds of radiation and five months of chemo.

During the chemo treatments, she remembered watching the dripping solution go through the lines.

“I thought of each drop as a little warrior,” Richir said with a smile.

Even now, after a year of being cancer-free, Richir said there are still doctor appointments. However, after her next appointment, she said she will only have to go back to the doctor every six months.

“I’m coming up on two years (since) having the cancer removed,” Richir said. “(The doctor) said everything looks good.”

A year ago, she went in to her oncologist, she got the report that she was cancer-free.

“He said, ‘Today, I think we celebrate a miracle,'” Richir said.

Despite a cheery outlook now, she said it was a difficult cancer to fight. One thing she looked for during the darkest moments was for those around her to tell her everything would be all right. She said the cancer treatments were hard, and at times she was incredibly weak. She had to rely on others to help her through tasks and needs that she normally handled herself. She said her energy would deplete and she just couldn’t go on any more, leading her to see that she needed the people around her.

“It’s very humbling,” she said. “But you also see how wonderful people are. You get to see the good in people.”

See The Sunday Post-Journal for the full story.

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