LaKisha Cargill refuses to let breast cancer steal her flavor for life

By Chanda Temple

LaKisha Cargill was 28 years old when she learned she had Stage II, ER+, HER- and ductal carcinoma in situ. The year was 2006.

She underwent chemo and then had lumpectomies to remove the tumor in 2007 in her left breast. She thought she was in the clear of Stage II breast cancer.

But nearly a decade later, cancer returned. This time, it was Stage IV.

Today, LaKisha is a thriver as she lives with cancer every day, balancing treatments and checkups with work, travel and writing in Birmingham.

“Live your life to the fullest,” she said.

LaKisha Cargill found a lump in her breast in August 2006 but couldn't get in to get a mammogram until that November. At first, doctors told her she was too young to have breast cancer, but scheduled her for a mammogram anyway. While she waited for weeks, she didn't get discouraged. She maintained her trust in the Lord. "Since I sensed it was cancer, I didn’t let it stop me from living my life,'' she said. "I continued working, planned a trip to Las Vegas in October, and waited for my appointment." (Photo provided by LaKisha Cargill)
LaKisha Cargill found a lump in her breast in August 2006 but couldn’t get in to get a mammogram until that November. At first, doctors told her she was too young to have breast cancer, but scheduled her for a mammogram anyway. While she waited for weeks, she didn’t get discouraged. She maintained her trust in the Lord. “Since I sensed it was cancer, I didn’t let it stop me from living my life,” she said. “I continued working, planned a trip to Las Vegas in October, and waited for my appointment.” (Photo provided by LaKisha Cargill)

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How Nataly Swann Keeps fighting for Joy After Breast Cancer

By Chanda Temple

In fighting breast cancer, Nataly Swann lost her eyelashes, her eyebrows and a few fingernails.

She also lost her happiness.

For someone who was once carefree, cancer left Nataly heavy with worry about herself and if she’d ever see her family in her homeland of Russia again. Tears flowed, hitting the hard, rough reality she couldn’t change. But as every tear fell, Nataly’s footing eventually softened, making way for a whole new harvest.

How did she reap her happiness again?

“Oh, it’s a journey,” she admits. “I’m still adjusting to it.’’

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At 19 years old, Jordan Collins received a diagnosis that changed everything

By Chanda Temple

Jordan Collins was a sophomore at the University of Alabama in October 2024, when her world seemed to stop.

There, standing in the shower, she felt a lump. She was only 19.

The next morning, she went to a women’s health clinic and underwent additional testing. On Nov. 19, 2024, she was told she had Stage 0 breast cancer.

Immediately, her mind began to race. Could it had been something she ate? Something she drank? Her environment? Could it have even been her family genes since several of her aunts had had breast cancer?

Then, she leaned on her faith to ease her fears. And right there, ‘”Jordan, the Warrior ” was born.

“I said, ‘This is my fight, and I will fight it.’ ”

Birmingham native and Ramsay High School graduate Jordan Collins was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 19. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Birmingham native and Ramsay High School graduate Jordan Collins wore this fuchsia dress to deliver her breast cancer speech today at Birmingham City Hall to show “life after breast cancer looks amazing.’ (Photo by Chanda Temple)

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Birmingham native Jasmine “Jazz” McKenzie continues to win over judges on NBC’s “The Voice”

By Chanda Temple

Moments before Birmingham native Jasmine “Jazz” McKenzie stepped on stage, capturing the votes and hearts of the judges and audience from NBC’s “The Voice” on Monday, Oct. 13, she remembered six little words.

“What’s for you won’t miss you.”

It’s a saying a fellow “The Voice” contestant shared with other contestants this season, and it’s something Jazz has been saying to herself since starting the process on Season 28. On Monday, Sept. 22, she appeared in “The Blind Auditions” premiere, singing her rendition of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” 

Jasmine “Jazz” McKenzie’s Sept. 22 appearance on “The Voice.” (Photo Source: NBC)

That evening, Jazz received a “four-chair turn,” earning the attention and interest of all four celebrity coaches. While each coach wanted her, she selected singer/coach Michael Buble. 

Then, on Monday, Oct. 13, Jazz appeared again for her next competition in what’s known as “The Battles.” She faced off with team mate, Trinity, as they did a duet to Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity.” 

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A Birmingham breast cancer patient shares her story over a missed mammogram and her promise of hope

By Chanda Temple

When Monique Martin’s father died in May 2024, she was engulfed in grief. And as a result, the lymph nodes under her arms and in her neck, began to swell.

She thought stress had brought on the brief swelling. So, she ignored it.

Then, in August 2024, the swelling returned and it gradually got worse. In October 2024, she felt a lump in her left breast. Officials scheduled her for a mammogram in November 2024.

“I got the mammogram, went on the patient portal and read the results before they even called me,” she said. It said, “Indicative of breast cancer.” She wasn’t totally surprised because her mother is a breast cancer survivor. But she was scared.

“I was kind of kicking myself because I was like, ‘Maybe if I had gotten on this when I first noticed my lymph nodes were swollen, the prognosis would have been a little bit better,’ ” she said.

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The one pizza from Newk’s that helped Marshelle Harris taste life again

By Chanda Temple

During her chemo treatments for breast cancer, many things tasted like air to Marshelle Harris. 

Everything, that is, except for Newk’s Margherita Pizza when she swapped out its red pizza sauce for the Newk’s white barbecue sauce. She also asked that a little cilantro be added to the pizza’s existing offerings of grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil. 

Marshell Harris has a special request whenever she orders the Margherita pizza from Newk's. She replaces the red sauce with the eatery's white barbecue sauce. The taste is amazing! (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Marshell Harris’ s special twist to the Margherita pizza from Newk’s involves trading the red sauce for the eatery’s white barbecue sauce. The taste is transformative! (Photo by Chanda Temple)

The combo was a game changer, as the white BBQ sauce burst through with the most robust flavors on the warm, soft pizza slices.  

“I always tell people about it, and when they get it, they say, ‘Girl, you were not lying! ‘ ” she said. 

Breast cancer coach and advocate Marshelle Harris said that it's OK to get a second or third opinion after getting a diagnosis, and to connect with people who've walked this road before because there's so much to learn and know.(Photo provided by Marshalle Harris)
Breast cancer coach and advocate Marshelle Harris encourages breast cancer patients to get a second or third opinion after getting a diagnosis. She also suggests that patients connect with people who’ve walked this road before because there’s so much to learn and know. (Photo provided by Marshalle Harris)

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A breast cancer diagnosis couldn’t stop Madeline Patterson’s story of love and resilience

By Chanda Temple

Twenty-four hours before her first date with a man who would one day become her fiancé, Madeline Patterson’s phone rang.

It wasn’t him.

Instead, her UAB doctor was calling to tell her that her biopsy confirmed she had breast cancer and she needed to come in the next day. She had to call her date and cancel.

“I said, ‘Hey, this is crazy. I got some really bad news today. This is what is going on,’ ” she recalled. “He was really supportive.”

It was Nov.16, 2022.

Breast cancer survivor Madeline Patterson (Photo provided by Madeline Patterson)
Breast cancer survivor Madeline Patterson (Photo provided by Madeline Patterson)

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Eva Johnson doesn’t let breast cancer hold her back

By Chanda Temple

What a week Eva Johnson has had.

On Tuesday, the City of Birmingham presented her with a proclamation for the work she’s been doing in the community to help breast cancer survivors. Then, Mayor Randall Woodfin personally congratulated her.

On Thursday, 10 years after being declared cancer-free, she finally got the chance to ring the bell like other cancer survivors.

And this morning, she led her annual breast cancer walk, the Eva B. Johnson Warrior Walk, in East Lake Park to help raise money for breast cancer research and to support area organizations that help women facing breast cancer. With 75 attendees, including some she didn’t even know, the walk had the biggest crowd she’s ever had in the five years she’s been hosting it.

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After beating breast cancer, Janice Wilson found her second act on stage

By Chanda Temple

It’s a Thursday evening, and Janice Wilson is going over lines for a play.

She’s read scripts for smaller projects and even enrolled in acting classes in the past. But this right here is different.

“This is bigger because people are paying to come to this one. And I got a contract,’’ she said of her role in “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” which was presented at the Homewood Theatre in late September.

“The reason I’m challenging myself with this play is because my mother died of Alzheimer’s, and I’m trying to do things to keep my mind sharp.”

At 82, this retired principal from Birmingham’s Bush Middle School does a lot to stay active. She acts with the Red Mountain Seasoned Performers, volunteers with middle school students through the City of Birmingham’s Common Ground program, visits nursing homes, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has even played aqua volleyball. (She only stopped the aqua volleyball in 2024 because she was busy doing something else.)

But one of her more victorious roles has been being a breast cancer survivor.

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Doniell Milliner faced breast cancer with a comb, a camera and unshakeable faith

By Chanda Temple

The comb went through Doniell Milliner’s hair, like knife through butter, seemingly slicing strands at every stroke.

But Doniell wasn’t sad as she showed the large ball of hair to her Facebook followers. In fact, she smiled in what she saw as a moment of victory.

“That means that healing is taking plaaaccccceee!” she said in a sing-songy voice. “Amen.”

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