By Amanda Smiles, Public Relations, West Tennessee Healthcare
Paris, Tenn.–By today’s standards, Melissa Wells-Lemonds is barely considered middle-aged. She works full-time in the IT Department at West Tennessee Healthcare – Henry County Hospital (WTH-HCH), manages a busy household, cherishes her family, and leads a vibrant, active life.
But five years ago, that life came to a sudden halt.
During a routine shower, Melissa discovered a lump in her breast. At first, she wasn’t alarmed. “I had cysts before, so I convinced myself that’s probably all it was this time,” she recalls. However, at her mother’s urging, Melissa sought medical attention, a decision that may have saved her life.
Prior to finding the lump, Melissa hadn’t been feeling like herself. She struggled with depression, which even close friends noticed. She believed her IUD might be contributing to her emotional challenges and had it removed. With her mental health improving, Melissa felt she was on the right track, so much so that she postponed her annual mammogram scheduled for January. She discovered the lump in October. She was just 44 years old.
Her nurse practitioner promptly scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound, and within the same week, Melissa met with Dr. Russell Boyd. She underwent additional testing at the St. Thomas Breast Health Center, where a treatment plan was developed. It was at this point that Melissa’s emotional journey truly began, marked by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Melissa underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy. One bright spot in the diWicult process was that all of her treatments were administered close to home in Paris, Tennessee. This allowed her to return home quickly after sessions to rest and recover. She was furloughed from work due to the pandemic, and although challenging, working from home helped her maintain some normalcy.
“The pandemic limited my visitors, which was tough,” Melissa admits. “Because I couldn’t have people with me, social media, especially Facebook, became my lifeline. It was how I stayed connected with loved ones.”
Throughout her journey, support played a crucial role. “You have to accept help,” Melissa emphasizes. “You can’t do this alone. People want to help, and your support system gives you the strength to keep going. I wouldn’t have survived without it.” Her mother and son were constant sources of support, and her granddaughter served as her biggest motivation. Her colleagues brought meals, and her supervisor was compassionate and flexible with her work schedule during treatment.
Following chemotherapy, Melissa moved forward with surgery to remove the tumors. “There was a point where I had to hit pause,” she says. “My mouth was so sore I couldn’t eat, my hair was gone, and I felt emotionally broken. I want others to know…it’s okay to stop for a moment if you need to.” That break delayed her surgery by a week, but it was necessary for her physical and emotional health.
Melissa chose to undergo breast reconstruction, which was completed during the same surgery. The moment she heard the words, “You are cancer-free,” brought a profound sense of relief. “It wasn’t just a medical update, it was hope. It was the beginning of a new chapter.”
Motivated by her experience, Melissa wrote a book titled Conquering Breast Cancer – You Got This! Her goal was to oWer others a guide through the emotional and physical trials of a breast cancer journey. “There are so many challenges, and I wanted to create a resource to help others feel supported,” she says. For Melissa, the phrase “You Got This!” is more than a slogan, it’s a powerful aWirmation of courage and resilience.
Even five years post-diagnosis, Melissa continues adjusting to her “new normal.” She takes a daily estrogen-reducing chemo pill, which she’ll likely continue for five more years. The medication brings side eWects such as hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, sleep issues, and fluid retention. But she pushes forward, supported by her husband, Will, a Radiology Technologist in the Imaging Department at WTH-HCH.
“If I could go back and tell my past self-one thing, it would be this: You are going to be scared, and that’s okay. This journey will challenge you in ways you can’t imagine, but you are strong enough to get through it. And most importantly…you are not alone.”
Melissa’s book, Conquering Breast Cancer – You Got This!, is available for purchase on Amazon and at the Pink Petal Gift Shop at West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital. She will be holding book signings at the hospital gift shops of WTH-Jackson and WTH-Henry County during the month of October.