By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

When Yvonne Mitchell of Maplesville was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2017, she decided to share her cancer journey in hopes of helping someone else.

Mitchell had found a lump in her breast one weekend while lying on the sofa.

She had had a mammogram a few months before and had been clear.

“This just happened real fast,” Mitchell said. “That is why it is so important for women to always do a self-examination.”

Mitchell went to see her OB-GYN on Monday.

“She was very aggressive, and I appreciate that,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell was glad the doctor sent her straight to a surgeon rather than waiting to see if there were any changes.

“Within that next week I had the lump removed, and sure enough it was cancer,” Mitchell said.

“Then a few weeks after that, I had a lumpectomy because the cancer cells had moved to my lymph nodes, and that was kind of tough … I couldn’t really do anything with my arm.”

She completed 15 rounds of chemotherapy and eight weeks of radiation treatments. She left her job in order to focus on her treatments and getting better.

“I’ve tried to figure out in my mind which is worse, the chemotherapy or the radiation, but they are both rough,” Mitchell said.

While receiving treatment, Mitchell created a Facebook page, “Breast Cancer Picked the Wrong Chick” to highlight and chronicle her journey. Mitchell said soon after her diagnosis, she felt that God wanted her to tell her story.

Those who saw the page began messaging her that it was inspiring to them in the challenges they faced.

“This is what I wanted people to know — God is bigger than cancer or any other thing that you have to go through,” Mitchell said.

She trusted that the treatments were going to work, and God was going to see her to remission. She was declared in remission on Sept. 10, 2018.

“Cancer is a bad thing, but it has really opened a lot of doors for me,” Mitchell said. “I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people.”

Mitchell has begun speaking to women’s groups about educating themselves about breast cancer.

“I was able to do a national radio talk show and that was really the beginning of it that really got the story out there,” Mitchell said.

A friend of hers had set up the opportunity.

“Even though it was helping other people,” Mitchell said. “It really helped me to come out of my shell because I knew God wanted me to do something with it … God doesn’t just put us here to be here for us,” Mitchell said. “We have got to be here for others, so whatever I can do I’m here.”

She has scheduled days to speak to groups throughout the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Don’t be afraid,” Mitchell said. “If something feels different, get it checked out.”

She said her family was very supportive during the treatment and the experience brought them closer together.

Mitchell said her husband was there for every chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

She continues to see her doctors for follow up visits and will be on medication for the next five years.

“It has some side effects, but you do what you have to do to survive,” Mitchell said.

She said keeping her immune system strong was a key to getting well.

Mitchell has joined the Relay For Life of Chilton County as a way of supporting the fight against cancer.