Better Than Before

From March to July of 2011, Kathryn Rucker endured an internal battle like none other. That battle is named chemotherapy; a tool meant to heal but had her in an indescribable physical and mental state. 

The 31 year old went through six treatments to be deemed breast cancer free. Kathryn didn’t have a doubt that she wouldn’t hear those words, but she didn’t react like she envisioned. 

“It was anticlimactic,” Kathryn said. “I wasn’t as happy as I thought I should be.”

She was shell shocked because she couldn’t believe that she experienced the fight of her life. Although she was relieved, the young wife and mother was scared of the unknown and the cancer possibly returning.  

“I had a lot of questions after the fact,” Kathryn said. “I think that while I was going through treatment, I was on autopilot.”

Fear and stress went away one day at a time as Kathryn took time to process what she fought through. She finally reached a point after a few months where she decided not to have a victim’s mentality and to live again. 

“My whole mindset changed, and I became the person that wanted to make new memories, experience new things, enjoy life to the fullest and be present for moments,” Kathryn said. 

Before having breast cancer, Kathryn took life for granted and went through the motions. Cancer taught her how to be more thankful, grateful and open to meaningful experiences. 

“It made my life better on the flip side,” Kathryn said. 

The now eight year breast cancer survivor is not only embracing life more, she’s also giving back through the Charge Up Campaign where she’s the executive director. The organization’s website states, “Charge Up Campaign is a nonprofit survivorship campaign that supports, educates, empowers, and celebrates men, women and youth who have fought against health, social, and economic concerns.”

“Working with Charge Up inspires me as someone who’s a survivor to get out there and make a difference,” Kathryn said. 

Kathryn has met people who are 15 year survivors, two-time cancer survivors and survivors of multiple types of cancers through the organization. She and the organization host awareness events every month along with special programs for breast cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. 

“It’s a sisterhood, and we try to help people get through those valley times,” Kathryn said. 

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the organization partnered with celebrity photographer Antoine Dwyane Jones for an event called Baby Dolls For A Cause where women dressed up and had a photoshoot in a life-size doll box. They also partnered with actress Vanessa Bell Calloway and the Calloway Endowment Fund to host a “BET Her Fights: Breast Cancer” celebrity viewing party. 

October has also brought new opportunities for Kathryn including runway modeling. She was selected to participate in the seventh annual 50 Shades of Pink Fashion Show hosted by Dr. Jackie Walters of Bravo’s hit series “Married to Medicine” and the 50 Shades of Pink Foundation. 

If Kathryn could talk to her 31-year-old self going through breast cancer, she would tell herself to plug into organizations like the Charge Up Campaign and to surround herself with other individuals going through breast cancer. 

“You get so much from people who have gone through it,” Kathryn said. 

It’s still a mind game to stay positive and believe that cancer won’t return, but Kathryn stays strong by knowing that medicine continues to advance and that many people have fought breast cancer many times and continue to win. She also remains mindful of her body by attending check ups, getting routine mammograms and following her doctor’s orders. 

“I believe that I am healed until the end of my life,” Kathryn said. 

She stands on the fact that God carried her and her family through a journey that could have broken them. His strength helped her everyday. 

“I’m resilient, I’m a warrior and I’m a survivor.”