It was a positive attitude and faith in God that gave Rio Rancho resident Nancy James the strength to beat breast cancer.
“That and good doctors,” James said. “I had very good doctors.”
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“I took (the doctors) pretty seriously when they said I need to take care of myself,” James said. “I go to Jazzercise four or five times a week and take care of my health in general. I’m 70 years old and I have an aunt who’s 101 now. I want to be in good shape if I live that long.”
James was 56 when she received her diagnosis and her experience, along with her husband Tom’s own battle with prostate cancer, has made her a believer in preventive medicine.
“It pays to go get your tests. If the doctors tell you to do something, it’s not just them blowing in the wind,” James said. “The most important thing to do is get a mammogram and do your self-examinations. I caught mine in a self-examination in between mammograms.”
James also credits her own positive attitude with her ability to conquer the disease that will affect an estimated 182,460 women in 2008.
“I tried to be so brave at the doctor’s office. I told the doctor ‘I don’t accept this, I’m going to live to be 100’ and the physician in Durango said he knew within 30 minutes (of the diagnosis) that I was going to be OK,” James said. “He said that 50 percent of getting over something is attitude. I just tried to get on with my life and keep it as normal as possible.”
Always healthy even before her diagnosis, James (a golfer, skier and former softball player) said that 14-year battle and triumph over cancer has been an eye-opening experience.
“It wakes you up to life. You realize what’s important in life and everyday you know what you’re thankful for,” she said. “Nobody in my family had had it … it’s not related to what you’ve done before.”
In the past year, James has been able to cut her regular checkups down to once a year and because of faith, attitude and early detection, her chances of beating the disease for good are that much stronger.
“You’re never out of the woods, the doctors say. But with attitude, faith in God and good doctors, you have a good shot.”
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