The minute the doctor uttered the word "unfortunately", Erica Morris said she knew her diagnosis was positive for breast cancer, but she said the only thoughts that came to her centered around her son (Johnathan Robert Thomas) and who would raise him; whether they would raise him the way she would; and if they would be good to him, expose him, love him, kiss him, and tell him they loved him.

She said she knows her mother would do all those things, but admits that is her job.

“I want to see him graduate from elementary [school], high school, college, get married and have children, so whatever I need to do to be here for it all, I am doing it – no matter what comes with it – depression, anger, despair, lowered self-esteem, not ever having a relationship or getting married. For my son, I was willing to risk it all.”

Morris, 47, who was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, was given three options – a lumpectomy, during which they would remove the lump; or to remove the breast in which the lump was found – but with both options, there was a chance of the cancer returning. The third option given she said was to do a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and possibly radiation for the chances of it coming back at almost zero.

Morris opted to remove both breasts.

“I chose the latter [because] I wanted it done and over with. I also made that choice because I was informed that I had very dense breasts with a lot of calcifications, that would make it difficult to read results in the future.”

Before making her final decision, Morris said she sought a second opinion and the recommendation was the same.

Morris learnt she had breast cancer after her son accidentally grazed her and left her in excruciating pain.

“My son was lying on my lap trying to get comfortable and he grazed my nipple. I thought he had taken my nipple off. I checked inside my bra to make sure it was still there. The pain was excruciating.”

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