October is an emotional month for Lois Mays of Derma. A month historically known for Halloween has in more recent years become draped in pink as part of the national breast cancer awareness campaign.
Breast cancer survivor Lois Mays, center, with her family, front, from left, her sister Helen Heard, granddaughter Taylor Bowles, Mays, granddaughter Peyton Herrod, granddaughter Kriestan Zinn, daughter Marquita Mays Herrod, niece Kimberly Posley; back, sister-in-law Pam Penson and daughter Renee Bowles.
“I get a little teary-eyed because I see that people care,” Mays said of seeing pink everywhere. “That means a lot.”
It was in October of 2013 when Mays went for her usual mammogram appointment in Houston that she received the “devastating” word. She had cancer.
“I cried,” Mays said upon hearing the news. “My sister-in-law (Pamela Penson) was with me and she said ‘No, you’re not going to die.’ I said I’m not ready for that right now. I got myself together and just started thinking how I was going to beat this.”
The following ultrasound and a second opinion sought in Tupelo confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
“I went for my biopsy and they called me and told me my left breast was benign, but my right breast had cancer and it’s malignant,” Mays said. “I had an invasive cancer, so they had to take my right breast off. It was devastating, but I had a lot of faith in God that everything was going to be OK.”
Maintaining a positive outlook was critical for Mays.
“I kept telling myself it’s going to be OK. I’m not the first one. Many people have gone through this and I’ve seen a lot who are worse off than I am.”
“Just because you have cancer it doesn’t mean death,” Mays said. “When you’re told you have cancer, you have to remember that.”
Among the greatest challenges of the fight early on was breaking the news to her husband, Henry Louis Mays, and their two daughters and three grandchildren.
“My baby daughter told me, ‘Mama, I don’t want you to die. I told her I’m not going to die. I’m not.”
“I told them don’t worry about Mama. I’m going to be OK,” Mays said. “As long as I believe in the Lord and have faith, everything is going to be OK. They saw me being strong and that made them stronger.”
Lois Mays is thankful to be at her desk at Play and Learn in Derma every day after surviving breast cancer. She encourages all women to get a mammogram regularly.
Throughout her treatments, Mays said her family played an important role in her recovery.
“My family was extremely supportive,” she said. “My sister Helen Heard came home from Pensacola and stayed with me and went to all my treatments with me.”
Mays also is thankful for the support she received from the community. She regularly praises Calhoun Cares, the organization founded by the late Priscilla Melton of Bruce that provides assistance to cancer victims, for the support it showed her during her treatments.
“They were very nice to me,” Mays said. “I had to go every week for chemo and they would give me those vouchers. That helped out tremendously.”
Mays, 63, is now cancer free and claims she’s a better person for the experience.
“I’m more compassionate and understanding of others, because I’ve been through this,” Mays said. “Now, I understand what people are going through when they have cancer. I know the hurt that comes with it and some don’t have the family support that I had.”
Mays continues to operate her daycare, Play and Learn, which she’s owned for 20 years and regularly participates in events promoting breast cancer awareness and especially the importance of women getting mammograms annually.
“I tell everyone to get your mammogram,” she said. “They caught mine early because of it and it made a big difference. That’s important.”
