Guided by faith, empowered by choice in her breast cancer journey

Before breast cancer, a life of travel and service

Before her diagnosis, Warkoneta was a world traveler, driven by a deep desire to experience different cultures and help others. She visited Africa, where she was amazed by the beauty of Victoria Falls, and Bermuda, where she soaked in the culture of the island. But her heart always led her back to Haiti, where she did mission work with her church group.

Her last trip before her diagnosis was to Japan. She went with the Friendship Force, a group that encourages cultural exchange through home stays. “You really understand a place when you live with its people,” she says. For Warkoneta, travel was never just about sightseeing — it was about connecting with others, helping them, and learning about them.

Sharing decision-making with her healthcare team

At first, Warkoneta believed she would need a mastectomy. But when her doctor explained that a lumpectomy was an option, she felt empowered. She wanted to save her breast. “It was my decision,” she says. “I wasn’t just told what would happen to me. I had a choice.”

Doctors removed the tumor via a lumpectomy, along with three lymph nodes in surgery. All three lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. Soon after, she faced one of the most difficult parts of her treatment: radiation therapy.

“The pain was unbearable,” she remembers. “I burned right away.” After 16 sessions, she suffered second- and third-degree burns.

Her doctor had ordered an Oncotype DX test, a test that looks at cancer-related genes in the tumor to predict how likely the cancer is to come back and whether chemotherapy might help. The results had suggested chemotherapy would be beneficial, but Warkoneta declined.

“Radiation had taken so much out of me. I couldn’t face more pain.” She knew that chemo would lower her risk, she also knew it wasn’t a guarantee.

Her doctor respected her choice but wanted to be cautious. She ordered an additional test, a PET scan, to make sure the cancer had not spread. A scan showed something unusual in her abdomen. Warkoneta then underwent a colonoscopy and more tests. In the end, doctors found no evidence of cancer.

“You might say it disappeared, or maybe it was a mistake on the scan,” she says. “But I give credit to the prayers of those who lifted me up.”

Her doctor started Warkoneta on hormone therapy, which would block estrogen, the fuel for her hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. This treatment would be part of her ongoing care plan, helping reduce the risk of recurrence.

Adjusting to life after treatment

Though her body healed from surgery and radiation, Warkoneta’s post-treatment reality was far from easy. She developed a condition called cording, a painful side effect of lymph node removal that made movement difficult. Fatigue became her constant companion, changing how she lived her daily life. Warkoneta now had to adapt to a slower pace

“Before cancer, I could go nonstop from morning to night,” she says. “Now, if I go to the grocery store, that’s all I can do for the day.”

The hardest loss was giving up travel. Even short flights caused severe swelling in her arms and legs. After a particularly difficult trip, her doctor told her she could no longer fly. “It changed my life completely,” she says. “Something I loved so deeply was taken away.”

Finding new ways to connect

Instead of focusing on what she had lost, Warkoneta found new ways to find joy and build community. Recently, she hosted a tea party at her home. She invited friends to bring snacks while she provided the tea. “It took me three weeks to prepare,” she says, “but it was worth it.” One guest even brought a guitar and played music, turning the evening into something even more special.

“That night was a blessing,” Warkoneta says. “It reminded me that even when things change, joy is still possible.”

She also found comfort in breast cancer support groups. “Family and friends mean well, but they don’t always know how to help,” she explains. “Being in a group of women who truly understand makes a difference.” Through Living Beyond Breast Cancer, she accessed financial help, practical tips, and stories of hope.

Embracing her faith

Warkoneta’s name means “great warrior,” and she embraces it fully. “I keep climbing,” she says. “Life keeps changing, but I keep moving forward.”

For her, faith is the foundation of her strength. “I have never been angry at God,” she says. “Even my family asked why I don’t curse him. But why would I? He loves me.”

To those newly diagnosed, she offers a simple but profound message: “There is hope. Life might change, but you still have hope.”

As she continues navigating life after cancer, Warkoneta is passionate about advocating for others. She encourages people to trust their instincts, seek second opinions, and find doctors who truly listen, just as hers did.

Years after that Christmas in 2020 when Warkoneta had knelt in prayer, she sees how those prayers were answered – in the strength she showed through treatment, and in the inner wisdom she used to make decisions that felt right for her. Now, she’s passionate about sharing her story and helping others do the same. “Trust your instincts, and find doctors who truly listen,” she says. “I had a doctor who really listened to me,” she says. “That’s the kind of doctor everyone deserves.”

*Editor’s note: Warkoneta’s story includes a moment that many people can relate to – getting test results and turning to the internet for answers. It’s completely understandable to want answers right away. But we recommend going over your test results with your doctor or care team, who can explain what everything means and help you understand your options. You don’t have to figure it out on your own, and you deserve support you can trust.