The American Cancer Society projects that more than 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States in 2025. That is about 5,600 new cases each day.
Tuesday, February 4 is recognized as World Cancer Day, a day to raise awareness and encourage prevention. A Giles County woman is using her story of survival to honor her later mother, and inspire other women to get their mammogram.
Erin Hachwi was just 19 when she and her then 17-year-old brother, Bryan Moretz, lost their mother to breast cancer. She keeps a photo of the three of them on her mantel. “We were just teenagers,” Erin said. “She at this time was going through her treatment. It was her birthday.”
“It was hard. Of course. When she was diagnosed, she had stage four breast cancer and she fought hard. The prognosis for her was a year, and she made it four years. She had to do a lot of treatments. Chemo. Radiation,” Erin said.
Nearly 20 years after her mother’s passing, Erin, a mother of two, was shocked to receive the same diagnosis. Erin told us she was hoping to find a way to publicly remember her mom, but the news of her own diagnosis shifted her thoughts and worries to how it would impact her own children. She didn’t want her son and daughter to go through what she and her brother went through.
“I was scared about what would happen. What would life be like? Would I be able to take care of my children? I didn’t want them to lose their mom at a young age,” she said.
Determined to honor her mother’s legacy, Erin immediately decided to fight.
“She was someone that was so strong to have went through what she did,” Erin said about her mom.
Despite having no symptoms, a mammogram suggested by her primary care doctor caught the cancer early. Erin said her PC suggested it based on her family history of breast cancer. Erin never expected it would save her life.
Dr. Jolene Henshaw, a surgeon at LewisGale said early detection is critical to a good outcome. She said the lower the stage of cancer at diagnosis, the higher the survival rate.
“A mammogram is the best thing we have to find breast cancer,” Dr. Henshaw said.
Erin chose to undergo a double mastectomy, a decision she said she easily made based on her family’s experiences.
“You think about your body image. I’m sure for other people it may have a more difficult decision for them, but having seen what my mother went through, my grandmother, my aunt having a lumpectomy. I know the best thing for myself was to have a double mastectomy,” Erin explained.
“The best thing is survival. Long term survival to live a normal healthy life. So we love those early cancers, risk reducing mastectomy,” Dr. Henshaw said. While Erin has another surgery to complete, she doesn’t have to undergo chemotherapy. Despite what she has been through, she considers herself lucky.
Erin hopes her story will inspire others and is choosing to honor her mother’s legacy by sharing her own story of survival she credits in part to early detection.
“Prioritize yourself. You cannot take care of anyone else if you are not well. So the best thing you can do for your kids, is to have that mammogram,” Dr. Henshaw said. “The earlier we find a cancer, not only do we find it and treat it, but the earlier we treat it, hopefully the less treatment you’ll need.”
“I just hope that I can share my story to help others see the importance of early detection. I hope I can inspire people and encourage them to talk to their doctors, have their mammograms done. Take the time to care for themselves.”
Erin Hachwi’s journey is a testament to resilience and the power of early detection. By sharing her story, she honors her mother’s fight and lives as a survivor. “I think, I am fairly certain she would be very proud,” Erin reflects, embodying the spirit of hope and determination for others facing similar battles.
In honor of World Cancer Day, WSLS is inviting you to share your story too through our Pin it.
Submit your photos and story here.
We want to recognize survivors and those still fighting while remembering those we have lost.
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