ST. MATTHEWS -- St. Matthews resident Ginger Hill has been fighting for her life since October 2000 when she discovered a lump in her breast. Her physician, Dr. Terrell Stone, ordered a mammogram, which confirmed Hill's suspicions. She had breast cancer. Thus began a difficult personal journey for Hill that continues today.

"I had all these thoughts racing through my mind, but the hardest thing for me was how to tell my family," Hill said. "At the time, I was a single parent with two children, one still living at home. I was thinking long term about what would happen to my children. I just didn't know what to say or how to say it. A friend told me to just sit them down and tell them. It was the hardest thing I had ever done."

But once that conversation was over, Hill said she felt "like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was emotional and there were tears, but I was relieved that part was over."

A history of cancer existed on both sides of her family, she said.

"My father died from colon and prostate cancer, and in 2001, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. She also had a sister and brother who had cancer," Hill said. "I was 49 years old when I was first diagnosed."

She said on Nov. 8, 2000, Dr. James Givens performed a lumpectomy with removal of lymph nodes followed by a mastectomy of her right breast. Chemotherapy began in December 2000, and radiation followed.

"My oncologist at that time was Rosemary Lambert-Falls with S.C. Oncology Associates. After the mastectomy, she ordered whole body bone scans, CT scans and an MRI of the brain," Hill said. "The side effects I experienced were nausea and vomiting from the chemo, and radiation made me tired and weak.

"There were many days I asked, 'Why me, Lord?' I had times that I was angry at the situation, but I had become more in touch with God, and my faith was still strong. I really believe that keeping a positive attitude has helped me keep going."

Hill opted for reconstructive surgery, and in 2002, Dr. Brett Carlin did a Tram Flap (transverse rectus abdominal muscle), which relies on harvesting excess skin from the abdomen. A small amount of skin, fat and muscle from the abdomen is moved up to the breast area, and the tissue is molded to the shape of a natural breast. Blood vessels are reattached so the tissue can grow. A few months later, a nipple-areola complex restoration was done, Hill said.

After all the surgeries and treatments were completed, Hill said she went dancing to celebrate with some friends.

"My family and friends had been so supportive during this time. I also had the support of the American Cancer Society and Cancer Care. They helped with expenses during the treatments," she said.

Hill's cancer was in remission for eight years, but in November 2008, she started experiencing a lot of pain in her hips and lower back. She had a bone biopsy done, and it showed breast cancer with bone metastatic disease. She needed monthly IV bone infusions.

Hill said her current oncologist, Dr. Fred J. Kudrik of S.C. Oncology Associates, told her that without chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, the risk of recurrence was more than 60 percent. Chemo and hormonal therapy reduced that risk to about 30 percent, Hill said.

She said Kudrik told her that with bone-only metastatic disease, the cases he has followed have been stable for six to seven years.

Hill has since learned that a good friend of hers also has cancer. They talk often, and she tries to mentor to him as well as letting him know he is not alone.

"All I truly know is that no one but the man upstairs knows how much time I have or anyone has. I appreciate life and do not take it for granted," Hill said. "I will continue with whatever treatments are recommended because I want to live my life to the fullest.

"There is still a lot of work that needs to be done."

T&D Correspondent Jan Jordan can be reached by e-mail at Jor8J@aol.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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