At 49 years old, Rhonda McKissack is battling two types of breast cancer.

Following a cruise, McKissack said she noticed a rough and numb patch of skin on her right breast while in the shower. She said she did not immediately think it was cancer, since it was not a lump. “I did not know if it was some type of fungal infection from the cruise or eczema, but I decided to watch it over the next two weeks,” McKissack said.

When the spot did not show signs of improvement, McKissack visited the doctor. She was immediately referred for a mammogram and ultrasound the next day. McKissack then underwent biopsies that led to her diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer in her right breast. She said the diagnosis thankfully came early since she didn’t wait too long. “Some women would have just waited,” she said.

McKissack next had to undergo six chemotherapy treatments without radiation, and she learned the cancer was a type men or women can get and is caused by proteins.

Shortly after, McKissack also learned she has breast cancer in her left breast as well.

She will continue her chemotherapy and will undergo a double mastectomy shortly after the treatment is complete. “I have a peace about it,” she said. “You go through all these emotions. I was shocked. You automatically go to the worst scenario, but we feel that I caught it early.”

McKissack said the diagnosis of two different types of breast cancer has been overwhelming. “I have just been go, go, go. Every two to three weeks I have a scan done,” she said.

Now halfway through chemotherapy treatments, McKissack said following the mastectomy, she will continue hormone treatments to prevent the cancer from returning. She said she is grateful to have gone to the doctor so quickly after discovering the abnormal spot. “I really want people to get checked. Neither one of these were lumps. They noticed the structure on the left breast was suspicious, but there was not a lump,” McKissack said.

Prior to being diagnosed with the breast cancers, McKissack said she had missed several mammograms because of other health issues. “The big thing is to let people know to get checked out,” McKissack said.

McKissack said her faith in God has helped her to get through this time. “He has shown me that He’s got this. If it wasn’t for Him, I would be a basket case,” she said.

Family and friends have also been supportive. “My mother and my husband go to pretty much every treatment,” McKissack said. “It makes things so much easier.”

McKissack has also qualified for gene testing because of her age and types of cancer. The blood test will show how likely she is to develop other types of cancer. “Once my results come in, and if they find that I do have the mutant gene or possible unknown gene, then my family members will be tested,” McKissack said.

At the moment, McKissack said she is taking the treatments one day at a time. She said the treatments leave her feeling weak and she has lost most of her taste. She has also lost her hair. “The important thing is to find people like family and friends who support you. Take it a day at a time, just day by day, and put your trust in God,” McKissack said.

“Cancer can happen to anyone,” she added. “I would have never thought I would go through this.”