AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. While older women are more likely to be diagnosed, diagnoses for young women in their thirties are on the rise. Further, they are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage because routine screening isn’t recommended in that age group. For thirty-one-year old Amsterdam resident, Kaylia Blowers, this was never a battle she envisioned herself fighting.
“I was thirty at the time that I found my lump, and I was not doing regular self-breast exams because I did not think that there would be cancer” Blowers explained. “When I first got the malignancy news, I was very emotional and scared. I thought I was going to wake up from a bad dream. ‘Why me? How?’ I had a lot of questions that I could not immediately get answered.”
Blowers is a loving wife and mother of three young children. She never thought she would receive a breast cancer diagnosis so young, and now she’s urging other young women to get screened.
“No matter what age you’re at, do self-breast exams, get screened for all types of cancer, go to your OBGYN yearly, see your primary every six months to a year, and do all of the things that they tell you to do” said Blowers. “Cancer can consume you mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. It’s devastating not being able to necessarily keep up anymore with the kids and all of our family outings, the extra curricular activities. Treatment, really, truly takes a huge toll on the body. It’s tougher than I could have ever imagined. I thought being young, I would maybe bounce back quicker.”
In the face of this difficult diagnosis, Kaylia’s commitment remains with her family. Her children still attend dance lessons, playdates, and school.
“It’s been amazing to witness Kaylia’s strength and her resilience and the need to push forward not only for herself” said Kaylia’s aunt, Cindy Becker. “To see Kayla still putting family first and her children first, given what she’s battling, has been an inspiration to me.”
Becker said Kaylia’s strength and compassion through her recovery are not new to her.
“Even as a child if there was a little girl sitting by herself, Kaylia was going over to that little girl and saying, hey, let’s come and play” Becker explained. “She just embodies love and community. She really goes above and beyond to help even a stranger.”
Kaylia feels that one of the most important things she can do as she bravely fights her diagnosis, is be there for her children and her husband, Mikey.
“I’ve raised them, I’ve nursed them, I’ve never skipped a beat until now” Blowers explained. “I just remind them every day, we’re still going to school, we’re still going to dance. We’re going to focus on ourselves, dance, and our friends, while I focus on getting better.”
Her loved ones are now arranging a benefit to help Kaylia and her family as they confront costly procedures during an already stressful situation.
“Everybody’s deserving of help, you know, but the person who in today’s society still is willing to help, that person really deserves everybody’s help” Becker stated. “Kaylia is that type of person. There’s going to be days as Kaylia progresses in her treatment where she’s going to fight to even get out of bed. We’re hoping that Mikey can have the freedom to take the day off of work without worrying about what bill they’re going to have to cut. We just don’t want to have to jeopardize anything that’s going to take away from the children, the normalcy that they’ve always had. While Kaylia can just focus on getting better in her treatment. Let us, as her support system, try to focus on getting some help through the financial aspects of it all.”
They’re asking for support, and advice, from the community as they navigate this difficult time.
“What we’re asking is for people in the community, stores, corporations, anybody, if there’s anything that they’d be willing to donate for raffles or fifty fifty or anything along those lines, we’re definitely open to help and ideas” Becker noted. “Even if it’s not a lot, if everybody gives back just a little, then that becomes a lot. And in a situation like this, it takes a community.”
Kaylia currently faces chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and HER2 injections. Despite it all, she remains determined.
“I cried for two weeks, and then you stand up straight and you tell yourself this is the reality of the situation and we’re just going to do what they say to do and fight through it and get through it” Kaylia asserted. “There is no other option.”
Becker wants to help Kaylia raise awareness for breast cancer in young women.
“You think you’re invincible at 28, 29, 30, 31, you really, truly think you’re invincible” said Becker. “We don’t even start testing for breast cancer at that age. Had not she ran her spongy over it, it could have very well went undetected until it went from stage two, to stage three, or three to stage four. With your age factor, it could fall on deaf ears, so just advocate for yourself.”
Kaylia’s family is asking for support as they help her navigate treatment. Anyone looking to help them with the benefit can reach out to Melissa Hoyt at (518)-774-6872. They have also arranged a GoFundMe for monetary donations to support Kaylia and her family as she fights this battle.
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