‘It’s not a death sentence’: 29-year-old teacher and mother of 5 on living with breast cancer
Imani Odom, a 29-year-old infant teacher at Foundations Early Learning Center and mother of five in the Triad, is sharing her journey with stage 3 breast cancer to raise awareness and inspire others to take control of their health as she prepares for her next surgery.
“It was like shock, complete and total shock, because I was only 28 years old,” Odom said.
After nearly two years of feeling a hard lump in her left breast, Odom decided to seek medical advice.
“I called my doctor, and I told them, ‘Hey, I need a mammogram,’ and they were like, ‘What, why, you’re so young, you don’t need a mammogram,’ and I was like, ‘No, I promise you I need somebody to look at it,'” she said.
Initially believing the lump was a clogged milk duct after having a baby the previous year, Odom was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
“Once I found out, they told me immediately I have to figure out a plan; we have to come up with a treatment plan,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Odom has continued to live her life and care for her children.
“I look at it as it’s not a death sentence,” she said. “You can sit around and cry about it, or you can continue to get the treatment and continue to live your life.”
Odom has faced significant challenges, including losing her hair, experiencing burns from radiation, and undergoing a double mastectomy. However, she maintained her daily routine, even attending her hip-hop workout class and working every day.
“Even through all of that, I continued to work. I worked every day. My daycare babies are what keep me going too; I love them,” she said.
She also scheduled her radiation treatments during her lunch breaks.
“I would go to break every day at 12:00, and my radiation was at 12:15,” she said.
Odom’s oldest son has been a source of support throughout her journey.
“I go in there and ask every single night if she needs anything before I go back to my room, and I tell her just to call my phone when she needs anything,” he said.
Her younger children are still trying to understand the situation.
“They just know that there was a period when I didn’t have hair and then it grew back and that I have a lot of doctor’s appointments,” Odom said.
As she prepares for her reconstruction surgery next Tuesday, Odom is encouraging others to prioritize their health.
“Get a second opinion, and if you have to, get a third opinion, but advocate for yourself and stay aware,” she said.
To support Odom along her journey, click here.
