October is a month to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, celebrate those who have survived it and bring to light the importance of getting checked.
Nong Thornton appreciates the moments she has with her kids now more than ever.
That includes spending time with her little girl, who was only in her belly when she noticed the lump.
“At first, I wasn’t really concerned about it because I didn’t have a family history of cancer,” Nong Thornton said.
Thornton had it checked out and doctors said it was OK, but her midwife wasn’t so sure.
This mother of four, including a newborn, went on with her busy life.
That same midwife, though, sent Thornton a certified letter five months later urging her to get a second opinion.
“The next day I was told I had breast cancer,” Thornton said.
It was Stage 3 cancer, which required a bilateral mastectomy and intense rounds of chemotherapy.
The midwife’s intervention saved Thornton’s life.
“I was 36, and I hadn’t had any health issues, so I didn’t even think twice about it,” Thornton said.
Now she thinks about it all the time because of the smiling faces of her children. And she’s trying to get other women to think about it too.
“Just go get a checkup," she said. "I mean, it could save your life. It saved mine.”
It’s a life full of special moments each and every day with the four kids, who could have grown up without a mother.
“I look at her and she’s 2 now," Thornton said, referring to her little girl. "Just the thought of the things I would have missed. Every day, this has been a gift.”
Thornton still goes to the doctor on a regular basis for blood work and checkups. But so far she’s doing very well.
She went through all of her treatment at Wellspring Oncology in Pinellas Park.