Cancer survivor telling story with new book

A Madison County woman is telling her harrowing story of surviving breast cancer in her new book published in September.

“I learned not to waste my moments,” author Nicole Wilson said. “If there is something I want to do and I feel up to it, I am going to do it.”

Wilson has lived in Madison County for 20 years with her husband Lionel. They now live in Gluckstadt and they have two daughters, Shalyn and Kristyn.

In her book “Epiphany: Don’t Waste Your Cancer, Wilson tells the story of surviving cancer, wrestles with big topics like “good people don’t deserve cancer” and talks honestly about her experience and the lessons it taught her.

“I hope this book can reach anyone facing an uncertain diagnosis,” Wilson said. “I want to tell them don't give up and don't waste the moment.”

Wilson said she first faced cancer in 2020 when she was doing some training out of town in Dallas. She said she went to the doctor for a routine checkup and was soon diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I remember going in for a checkup the year before and everything was fine and then here comes cancer,” Wilson said.

By December she had undergone double mastectomy surgery in New Orleans and was informed the doctors found another cancerous spot that was more aggressive.

“It was not the breast cancer that really scared me it was the loss of my independence,” Wilson said. “The ability to drive myself around and walk. I am a mother and we try to fix things but cancer takes a lot out of you.”

By February 2021, she was preparing to undergo chemotherapy when she went to the doctor with abdomen pain and they found cancer in her lymph nodes.

“Two weeks later I couldn't walk,” Wilson said.

On Her birthday, Feb. 27, 2021, she was rushed to the hospital wheelchair-bound and running a 105 fever.

“My body was shutting down,” she said.

Wilson would spend 10 days in the hospital before being released to get back into the routine of regular doctor visits and chemotherapy treatments.

She said she finished chemo in June of 2021.

During a lengthy recovery process, she modified her diet and made an effort to make regular trips to the gym.

By September of 2022, she was back in the workforce at GA Carmichael Family Health in Canton where she works today as their Intigrative Behavioral Health Coordinator.

At this job, she found she had a story to tell. Shortly after she started, an offhand comment to a coworker about surviving cancer landed her a speaking gig at a televised Breast Cancer Awareness Month event in October 2022 sponsored and organized in part by her employer.

Wilson said she received so much support after her talk that she thought she could reach a larger audience by writing a book.

“After I saw how people responded I had to take some time to think and pray,” Wilson said.

She soon had a writing coach and plan. In 90 days she had a workable manuscript.

“The book just wrote itself,” Wilson said.

“Epiphany: Don’t Waste Your Cancer” is available on Amazon.