LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A Louisville woman who nearly gave up on chemotherapy treatments found the strength to keep fighting after receiving news she never expected.
In February 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tracy Bandy noticed a lump in her right breast. Doctors initially advised people not to visit medical offices unless it was an emergency, so she waited. But as the lump continued to grow, Bandy scheduled an appointment and underwent a mammogram and biopsy. The diagnosis: breast cancer.
"I just broke down," Bandy said. "I cried like a baby because I kept thinking, 'I can't have cancer. Who’s going to take care of the horses?'"
Her husband, John, was by her side throughout the ordeal. "On our 27th wedding anniversary, I started my first round of chemotherapy," Bandy said. The weekly treatments lasted five months, but halfway through, the side effects became overwhelming, and Bandy considered stopping.
"I was tired, and I just didn’t want to do it anymore," she said.
But that changed when Bandy’s daughter shared some unexpected news — she was pregnant with Bandy’s first grandchild.
"I had to keep fighting. I had to be here for my daughter and the baby," Bandy said.
Her granddaughter was later named Evangeline, meaning "God's messenger." Bandy saw her as a message to keep going.
Pictured: in this image provided by family members, breast cancer survivor Tracy Bandy holds her granddaughter Evangeline, who became the inspiration for her to continue painful chemotherapy treatments when she considered stopping them. (Family photo)
Bandy endured a grueling course of chemotherapy known as "red devil chemo," followed by surgery and six weeks of daily radiation treatments. She described losing her hair and feeling as if she were dying. Despite the toll on her body, her scans have come back clear, although the cancer did spread to her liver.Â
Pictured: in this image provided by family members, Tracy Bandy rings a bell signaling that she was free from cancer after undergoing five months of grueling "red devil chemotherapy" treatment for breast cancer. (Family photo)
Now Bandy is focused on raising awareness for breast cancer and supporting organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation through events like the More Than Pink Walk.
"They help women with rides to treatment and offer financial assistance," she said. "The resources they provide are so important."
Although the journey was difficult, Bandy said she is grateful for the additional time with her family and loved ones.
"Every day I wake up is a gift," she said.
For more information on breast cancer resources, visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
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