Photo courtesy: Erma Fryson Facebook
Erma Fryson will forever remember 2007.
“[It’s] a year I will never forget,” the breast cancer survivor said. “It was the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors develop in the breast.
After being sent home by the hospital, Fryson knew something was wrong and decided to get a second opinion.
“Women’s Image ran some tests and discovered that I had cancer on the right breast,” Fryson said. “I was scared; laying on the table seeing all the needles going into my breast while they ran more tests was painful. I knew from that moment on I had to fight, not only for my sake but for my family as well.”
She had to fight for the sake of her husband, three kids and four grandchildren. She made up her mind that cancer would not beat her.
Going through the treatment and recovery was difficult, she said, especially for her daughter Sherry Fryson, who had witnessed what her mother was going through while pregnant.
“It was tough,” Sherry said. “I had mixed emotions because you know the first thing that comes to mind when you hear cancer. I had to try to stay strong for her, but it was hard. I was crying and praying to God every night.”
Although Fryson didn’t have to go through chemotherapy or radiation, she was given an ultimatum: get her breast removed or let them attempt to remove the cancer, but it wasn’t guaranteed that she would live.
With the support of her family, without hesitation, she chose to get her right breast removed.
Many women who have a mastectomy to treat or prevent breast cancer usually have the option of having the shape of the removed breast rebuilt. After sleepless nights she decided to get breast reconstruction.
Fryson continues to share the goodness of the Lord and all that he has done for her by hosting a survivors program every year since beating cancer in 2008. The program is held in nearby Gretna at Trust God Ministries.
“God chose me so that I would have a testimony to help someone else,” she said. “My grandson minster Charlie Fryson III is my speaker every year. Ever since starting the program, he is the person God laid on my heart to speak.”
Every day isn’t the best for her, but she believes she is already healed.
“Isaiah 53:6 says ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,’” she said.