Evelina Johnson Buendia was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in 2017 at the age of 34, a mere year after giving birth to her son. A lump and discharge in her nipple made her realize something could be wrong with her breasts.  

“During a wellness checkup, I mentioned a concern to my doctor. Because I was younger than the usual screening age, he told me that if my insurance wouldn’t cover a mammogram, I should contact Every Woman’s Life. They covered the screening, and through that mammogram, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma,” said Johnson Buendia.

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IDC is the most common type of breast cancer, making up 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/invasive-ductal-carcinoma). It was also reported that “the majority of women diagnosed with IDC are 55 years old or older, though it can happen at any age.”

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. reported that breast surgery cancer types such as a partial mastectomy (removal of breast-conserving surgery that removes only the cancerous tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue surrounding it); a mastectomy (the surgical removal of the breast); radiation (use of high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells and may be used after lumpectomy surgery); chemotherapy (use of a combination of drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth); or hormonal therapy (use of drugs to block or lower the levels of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone in the body which can help slow or stop the growth of some breast cancers) are treatment options for invasive ductal carcinoma. 

Johnson Buendia’s treatment plan included chemotherapy, radiation, a right breast mastectomy, and hormone therapy through both pills and injections. She used her faith in God as a weapon to encourage herself and to constantly speak healing.

Johnson Buendia added, “I would repeat, ‘I am healed,’ over and over again, even as they wheeled me into the operating room. The “Word” reminds us to speak those things that are not as though they were, and declaring God’s promises became a source of strength and hope throughout my journey.”  

When Johnson Buendia was diagnosed with breast cancer, she shared an apartment with her sister. Their mother also lived with them for a while.  The family rallied around Johnson Buendia and her son, serving as valuable helpers. They assisted her with her son during her unexpected medical emergency. 

“Because of that, I never had to worry about taking care of my baby; my family stepped in to care for him. In addition, my other sister and my dad provided support, and we also had a support worker, Mrs. Barbara, from a home-visiting program called Healthy Families, who would come weekly to ensure he was meeting his milestones. In every detail, God worked it out.”

Johnson Buendia, a business owner who was running her graphic design business, rested when she needed to without it affecting her salary. However, writing has always been therapeutic for the cancer survivor. At the time, to guard her mind from negativity, Johnson Buendia did not want to post anything on Facebook. She found another way to explore her emotions while navigating through a challenging experience.

“When I came across mylifeline.org [an online cancer support platform], I felt led to start journaling my journey. Writing became the way the Lord comforted me along the way. Sometimes I would post three or four times a day just to release the heaviness I was feeling. Now, in this season, I primarily use social media to share my journey, but my original blog posts can still be found on (https://www.mylifeline.org/EvelinaJB/updates/messages),” Johnson Buendia explained. “As more and more people told me how encouraging my words were to them, it was planted in my heart to publish my story to inspire and uplift others.”

Writing “Healed: From Cancer to Surviva” was never Johnson Buendia’s intention, but the author stated that it was God’s intention. The book was published in 2023.

“My hope is that readers will be encouraged to know that no matter the situation, no matter the storm, with faith and trust in God, we Can-Cer-vive it! I also want people to have an idea of what a cancer survivor goes through. Everyone’s journey is not the same, but I feel that if they have an idea of what a cancer patient goes through, they will also want to be there for their family, friend or loved one,” the author, mother, speaker and businesswoman added.

The supporter of breast cancer initiatives reminds women that even if they do not have health insurance, they should check for available resources to get a free mammogram. The author’s book can be purchased from Amazon:https://a.co/d/hqJTmxP. Follow Johnson Buendia on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/evelina.johnsonand https://www.instagram.com/evelina_jb.