God is Greater Than the Highs and the Lows:
One Woman’s Story of Survival Brings Her Closer to Christ
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
“That will never happen to me.” This is a common phrase we are guilty of either saying or thinking at one time or another in our lives. It can be anything from “I will never lose my job,” “I will never catch Covid” to “I will never get breast cancer because I have no family history of it. “
While knowing your family’s history is always important, we have to realize that we ourselves are not automatically shielded from something such as breast cancer just because no one else in our family has ever been diagnosed. This was the case with one local woman, Stacy Logan Brock. With no prior history of breast cancer within her family, the thought of developing breast cancer would have never really crossed her mind. Brock was going about her life like any other person. It wasn’t until one random day after work that Brock’s world was shaken, her faith tested, and her body felt as if she had been betrayed.
“I had come home from work and went into the laundry room to take off my work clothes and that’s when I felt a lump. It was right on the left side. I of course yelled for my husband (Michael Brock) who is a family doctor to come and check me out. Of course, he went ‘all doctor’ on me and did an examination. That’s when he looked at me and said, “Yeah, that looks suspicious.”
The next morning Brock called the doctor, and she was quickly scheduled for a mammogram and ultrasound. It didn’t take too long for Brock to hear back about her test results… the verdict… Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), also called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. It accounts for about 75% of all breast cancers that are diagnosed. This type of breast cancer is described as a cancer that happens when abnormal cells begin growing in the lining of the milk ducts and then invade the breast tissue beyond the walls of the duct. Once this occurs, the spread of the cancerous cells is more likely. Cancerous cells can find their way into the lymph nodes or bloodstream and then are capable of traveling to the various organs of the body, which leads to metastatic breast cancer.
Brock’s case had been caught early thanks to her awareness of her own body. Early detection can save lives, so it’s always important to know your body and be keenly aware of any unusual or unexpected changes. Brock’s husband, Dr. Michael Brock, shared, “Women need to pay attention to their bodies. Don’t blow things off. Don’t put things off. Don’t take the mindset that it’s never going to happen to me because you have to pay attention to your body.”
Brock was able to undergo a lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation. She has now been cancer-free since April of 2022. “I’ve been cancer-free for about a year and a half. My family all got tattoos for me.” Brock also got her own tattoo, which is very special to her. “It’s God is greater than the highs and the lows with a breast cancer awareness ribbon made into it,” stated Brock.
“One thing that I tell everybody, and I know that not very many people can say this… but it (being diagnosed and getting treatment) was such a blessing to me. I met people I would have otherwise never met had I not been diagnosed. My faith became so much stronger than it ever was. I just had such a peace knowing that God had me… God had this. I cried the day I got the news, and I cried the day I rang the bell. I just knew that God had me in His hands, and I just needed to put my trust in Him,” Brock explained.
Brock did exactly that… she put her trust in the Lord and found strength and peace that surpassed all understanding throughout her breast cancer journey. From the moment she first found that lump to the moment she got to ring that bell, Brock understood that alone she could do nothing but with Christ at her side, all things were possible.
That day finally came for Brock, and she was able to ring that coveted bell signifying an end… an end to a long hard-fought battle that she won! “When I finally got to ring that bell… it was just so overwhelming. It was such a great feeling. After I rang the bell, we went out to dinner with my family to celebrate. We have made it our mission to be involved with any breast cancer fundraiser that we can,” shared Brock. The one thing that Brock would like for anyone who is facing that same journey is, “You have to stay positive and always have faith and know that God has got you. He will be there with you every step of the way.” Remember, if God brings you to it, just have a little faith and He will see you through it.