Teretha // Gallbladder Cancer

Age: 53 years old

From: Texas

What treatments did you undergo during your journey? Chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy.

What were your signs/symptoms leading up to your diagnosis? Sudden weight loss, yellowing of the eyes (Jaundice, painless), severe bouts of itching (inner thighs), severe nausea without throwing up (only at night after bedtime), and pinching pain on the upper right side of torso (directly under the ribcage).

How did cancer alter your lifestyle? It hijacked my life and completely took over. It even overshadowed the fact that I was becoming an abandoned wife in the same year after 28 years of marriage. This cancer sucked up everything. I was diagnosed one month after my 50th birthday in 2021. Then the very next month on October 17th, in the ER, I received the news that I had cancer. I was numb. I had dropped a significant amount of weight in a months time between September and October. That was scary. I actually looked very unhealthy. It shocked me. It scared me to see my body looking so unrecognizable. I realized that my body was dying. I was told that if I didn’t start chemo immediately, that I had about only six months to one year to live. I knew that my life was changing forever, on every level, in every aspect, in every way. And I was on my own.

Any advice for those coming behind you? Keep going. Breathe deeply. Talk to and encourage yourself every single time you need to. Speak LIFE to your body.

Do you have a funny cancer story? After I started my first round of chemo, I lost all of my bodily hair. My granddaughter, Nova, was sitting with me and she just starts to rub on my head and said “I love You, MiMi…Mrs. Potato-Head!” The way that statement lit me up, warmed my heart, and brought to me the biggest laughter of my life. This was and will always be one of the greatest of the most precious and priceless moments of my life. 

Favorite quote, scripture or song? “All is well. All will be well.”

How did you hear about Brighter? How has it made a difference? Helen Bowels connected with me via my instagram page as I was sharing part of my cancer journey. She then invited me to the very first Social Survivors night. It’s made a difference to me because it gave me a reason to get up and get out and to connect with others. It shows me that I am not alone, even if what I’m dealing with specifically is rare, I’m still not alone on this journey. I just love my new Brighter Buddies, as I call them. I’m ever grateful for Helen, each Brighter Magazine staff member, and all the sponsors for making such an amazing impact in our lives that’s so special, inspiring and much needed.