Tamara Dayton has always been a bit of a “health nut.” She watched her diet, exercised regularly, and followed all the recommended guidelines for doctors visits and exams. In February, 2020 one of these routine mammograms came back abnormally.

“I was told I needed to come back for further imaging. At that point, the worst part was just the inconvenience. I was a medical social worker at Lane at the time, and hated to take the time off work. At that second imaging appointment, I knew something was wrong when they told me that the doctor was going to come talk to me. He said “Ms. Dayton, you need a biopsy.”

Even then, Tamara wasn’t too worried. She made an appointment with a Breast Cancer surgeon at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. By now, it was March 2020. She had her biopsy on a Friday, and the world shut down for Covid the following Monday. “Everything changed at that point. I didn’t know if I’d even be able to go back in for my follow up,” she explains. She was able to make the appointment where she was told that it wasn’t cancer…yet.

Dr. Everet Bonner said “Ms. Dayton you do not have breast cancer, but you have two cells that can develop into cancer. We need to keep a close eye on it.” That meant follow up testing every 6 months. By her first follow up in October, it was cancer.

Immediately, Tamara knew who she needed to talk to: Dr. Michael Castine. “I’m a medical person, I communicated with my doctors and looked at the kinds of high risk cells that I had all over my breasts. Dr. Castine said “Tamara, I recommend bilateral mastectomy. They’re going to whittle away at you. I just recommend you do both.”

“I worked with Dr. Castine for years as a Lane employee and had great respect for him and knew he was the best oncologist. He has a great bedside manner. There was never a question that he’d be my oncologist. I trusted him,” says Tamara. Still, she knew that the surgery would be grueling. 

“I had a DIEP Flap surgery performed at Woman’s. They took tissue from my abdomen to perform the reconstruction after my mastectomy. It was a huge surgery, and a huge recovery. Unfortunately, 6 weeks after the surgery the non-cancer side reconstruction failed so I ended up with 7 reconstructions in 18 months. But I did not have to have chemo or radiation.”

During this entire time, Tamara had a peace that came over her when she was first diagnosed. “The Lord said ‘I have a message, and you are the messenger.’ I hung on to that,” she says. Shortly after her diagnosis, her church, First Baptist of Zachary, preached a sermon on Philipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Tamara’s church family and actual family grabbed onto that scripture and started the “Team T” support network. Her husband, sons, and extended family all had bracelets made with that scripture that they still wear to this day. That support network helped Tamara stay committed to sharing her message throughout the entirety of her cancer journey. 

Last year, she was invited to be a model for Woman’s Hospital Bust Breast Cancer Campaign. Walking the catwalk in a custom designed bra and skirt was a moment of triumph against the condition that had put her through so much pain. “It changed me. There's no way to go through and not be changed. It showed me what really matters. The little things are so insignificant. It helped me learn to focus on the things most important.” 

Tamara has this message for anyone recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer: “Don’t go it alone. We are a sisterhood. Reach out. Let people know what you need. Let people help you.”