Patrice Bennett says she adores her granddaughter, Chloe, age eight. So it’s a good thing Patrice did Buddy Check and found her aggressive breast cancer in time.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — “This is my grandma, Patrice Bennett, and she fought cancer,” Chloe says. She gets wound up talking about hearing the victory bells when her grandma finished radiation treatment.
Chloe says she and her grandma love to shop together.
Patrice just beams when she’s around Chloe, who’s eight years old. Patrice is grateful she’s still alive for her family.
She was faithful to Buddy Check, our project with Baptist MD Anderson to help women catch breast cancer early.
“It felt like a walnut,” Patrice says, as she describes finding a lump in her breast. Turns out she had an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Patrice acted quickly after she found her lump. She went for an appointment with her gynecologist, ironically, she says, which was on Buddy Check Day, the 12th.
Her medical team at Baptist / MD Anderson says Patrice was smart to get it checked out right away. Patrice was diagnosed with stage three triple negative breast cancer.
Dr. Dayra Avila Lima at Baptist oncology says Patrice’s breast cancer had spread into her lymph nodes. But, she says, “We can go for a cure. Thankfully, that was what happened at the end” in the case of Patrice. Her prognosis is solid.
The doctor says to Patrice, “You did an excellent job, Patrice. Your success is thanks to you.”
Patrice says her family helped her pull through, and she has a strong faith. They sing together and pray.
And Patrice’s husband is grateful, too. “She’s the love of my life. We’ve been married for 39 years,” he says.
Do you have a Buddy Check kit explaining how to do self exams? The kits include a waterproof shower card to help remind you to check when you’re showering. We will mail you a kit for free.
If Buddy Check helped you, First Coast News anchor Jeannie Blaylock would love to chat with you. You can text her at 904-361-8289.
