Lesia Hedgepeth

Lesia Hedgepeth never imagined that breast cancer would become a part of her story. As she approached her 60th birthday, the mother of three shared her story with MadameNoire, describing the emotional roller coaster of being diagnosed in her early thirties, leaning on the support system that helped her through, and thriving cancer-free for over 25 years.

Source: James Johnson Jr. / other

‘You immediately think it’s a death sentence.’

It was difficult to accept the diagnosis at first. When Lesia noticed the lump, “I reasoned it away,” she told MadameNoire. “A couple of days passed — I might have even waited weeks — and it was still there. So I made an appointment and went to the doctor.”

The biopsy came back positive for breast cancer. “You immediately think it’s a death sentence,” she said. “My kids were little. I was in my thirties thinking, ‘I’m too young to be having this conversation!’” The Kansas mom to three young children — two, four and five years old at the time — was suddenly faced with the weight of her diagnosis.

“One, I really wasn’t accepting the diagnosis, and two, it was getting surreal where I had to make decisions as far as radiation, chemo, did I want both mastectomies or just one? I’m like, I have no clue,” she said. “The decisions that I had to make just kept coming.”

“The doctor said, ‘Listen, we caught it in time, it’ll be okay. It’s not a death sentence.’ And I had to hear that.” She underwent surgery to remove the mass, then started chemotherapy to target the cancer cells in her body.

Coping with the harsh effects of chemo was a major challenge.

Lesia did six rounds of chemotherapy. “I think I went every three to four weeks. Because as soon as I felt like myself again, it was time to go back,” she recalled.

She experienced debilitating exhaustion from her chemo treatments, each session draining every ounce of energy she had. “Chemo wiped me out,” she said. “After every session, I just couldn’t do anything.” The constant fatigue weighed heavily on Lesia. “I’m not one to just lay down, I’m always doing something.”

Her kids supported her through and through.

Lesia reflected on the moment she started losing her hair, a common yet devastating side effect of chemotherapy. She felt heartbroken as her crown slowly faded, but her children found a beautiful way to flip the narrative. “We had a haircutting party,” she said. “It was just awesome because they were all going to cut their hair.”

She stopped them before the whole family put the clippers to their hair, but the power of their gesture made a lasting impression. “Once they cut my hair, I was completely bald,” Lesia said. “I felt my hair and thought, ‘You know what? This is okay.’ And after that I just had fun with my wigs — I had blonde, I had braids, I just embraced it and had a good time with it.”

Source: James Johnson Jr. / other

Lesia was carried through by the incredible support of her loved ones.

“My support system was awesome and it was extremely important to feel that I wasn’t alone,” she said.

As Lesia coped with the intense side effects of chemo, her family’s support was everything during her time of need. “My little one went to live with my mom and my sister because I had no energy and I was nauseous all the time,” she said. Her husband was her rock, assisting with every step of her daily routine when she didn’t have the energy — from helping her eat despite a loss of appetite, to administering medication at home.

From her husband and kids, to her mother and sister, and the people in her community — Lesia never forgot about their kindness. “My son was big in sports, so all the parents got together and got gift cards for the family to take care of dinner so I wouldn’t have to worry about that. I mean, they were always checking up on me,” she said.

‘Cancer is rude, disrespectful and disruptive.’

Lesia reflected on the moment her doctor made it official: she was cancer-free. “When he officially released me, it was kind of hard to be able to breathe like: I’m actually okay?”

Since turning the page on this chapter of life, Lesia has been thriving on the other side of her breast cancer diagnosis. “It was such a relief to finally get my energy back,” she said. “My mom and my husband always say, ‘You never sit still!’ I think it’s because I remember when I couldn’t.”

“Cancer is cancer — it’s rude, disrespectful and disruptive. It disrupted my life and I try to live now, where I have been given a second chance, to not waste it,” she added. “I appreciate not being sick, not having a diagnosis, not relying on somebody.”

Early intervention was crucial, though treatment is available at any stage.

Detecting breast cancer sooner rather than later made all the difference in Lesia’s story. However, treatment options are available at any stage. Metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage 4 breast cancer, is treatable with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted drugs.

Lesia is enjoying life and protecting her peace.

This chapter has been full of love, quality time with her loved ones and travel adventures. “We’re getting to the age of retirement where hopefully I can travel and enjoy different cultures,” she said. “I just love seeing people in their environment. I would get up and travel every weekend if I could.”

Looking back on more than 25 years cancer-free, Lesia prioritizes her peace above all else. Right now she’s looking forward to retirement, seeing the world, and spending time with her beautiful grandbaby.

“Being on the other side, I appreciate just having energy, health and life,” she said. “And I try not to stress. I try not to let small things become big, because I understand how one phone call changes everything.”