October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has a special significance for my family & myself, having both my sisters diagnosed with breast cancer and having lost my oldest sister Mariah, to metastatic breast cancer triple negative.

Metastatic Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is rare form of canceraccounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers and is more aggressive than other forms. It’s more likely to have spread beyond your breast at the time it’s found. These tumors are aggressive, but they can be treated effectively when detected early with the combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. As of date, there are no noted cases of remission from Metastatic Breast Cancer triple negative and most patients will die within the first 5 years of treatment. What makes triple-negative breast cancer different? There are many different types of breast cancer. The term triple-negative breast cancer refers to the fact that the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors and also don’t make too much of the protein called HER2. This makes it’s difficult to treat because there are no known proteins for cancer drugs to target.

My sister, Mariah was officially diagnosed with breast cancer on Jan 7, 2019, however her cancer was discovered during her annual mammogram in March 2018. By the time Riah was diagnosed her cancer had spread and she was given a 18 months life expectancy if not treated quickly and aggressively. After much prayer and discussion and upon receiving a scholarship from Moffit Cancer Center, Big Riah began treatment in April 2019. This treatment would include high dosage chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy. The treatment ravished her body. She lost her hair, her appetite, the muscle mass in her body and the chemo literally burned the inside and outside of her body, but she pressed on with determination to fight with all her might to be healthy enough to go to Jamaica for Mahdi (Her Son) and Melissa’s wedding Sept 19, 2019, she did just that and even went to Buffalo in Nov 2019 for Auntie Cynthia retirement party and dance ALL Night after having a double mastectomy (both breast removed) in Oct 1, 2019.

After returning home from Buffalo Riah had a follow up visit at Moffit on Nov 12. During that visit, Riah received some devastating news. Riah was told she still had breast cancer and a spot was found on her chest wall. The recommended treatment was 6 treatments of high dosage radiation and radiation pills. The treatment was started in December 2019. This treatment ravished her body, it made her very sick and weak most of the time unable to get out of bed. It also caused aggressive nausea and sever headaches which she could not seen to shake. After being in pain for weeks on January 14, 2020, Riah returned to Moffit only to be told the cancer has spread to her brain and she was now terminal. The prognosis was, with treatment she could possibly live 1 year, without treatment she had weeks. Riah choose to fight!! In attempt to dissolve the 5 lesions in her brain…..high dosage, targeted radiation was used along with chemo to try to stop the cancer from spreading, which was now in her spine. After the first treatment, Riah was in constant pain and her condition continued to decline. (Side Note: Whenever Riah was in the hospital we made sure that someone was with her at all times, 24 hours a day…we never left her side) After receiving the treatment, Riah DEMANDED that we all leave the hospital. When we returned the next morning, Riah informed us that she had spent the night praying and has decided to stop all treatments, choosing Quality of Life over Quantity of Life for the time she had remaining. She took this opportunity to say everything she needed to say, imparted wisdom to her family, having one on one time with each family member, loving on us, giving us specific instructions and cussing some of us out…but all in Love! On Valentine’s Day Feb 14, 2020 we brought Riah home on hospice. Although her condition rapidly declined, Riah was determined to be here for our Mom’s birthday February 22 and staying to true to herself, Riah did exactly what she said. Riah peacefully transitioned in the early morning on February 23, 2020.

Riah fought as hard as she could to be here with us and when that was not possible, she left us with such grace and dignity allowing us to see God’s strength in her weakness.

Affectionately called Mom, My Love, Grandma, Big Riah and Auntie Riah ‘is’ the oldest child, the glue that held her siblings, her children and her family together and as my Big Sister she kept me Protected. She opened her heart & her home to ALL of us & our children. She has Always been a strong person and sometimes it hard to see the people we love in pain but I Saw You Riah!! I saw your Strength, how you struggled daily to get out of bed. I saw your Pain, when you were not being able to do what you used to do. I saw your Tears when you looked in the mirror & saw how your appearance had changed. I saw your Determination to fight with Everything in you. I saw your Love for others and how you loved All of Us and took care of Mom (even when you were sick). I saw your Humanity, how your shared kind words and a smile with others, while in pain yourself. I saw your Courage, how your encouraged and inspired us even at the end. That is My Big Sister, Annis Mariah Blassingame Starling.