Interview with Volunteer

In 2001, at the age of 45, Connie McNeal went for her annual mammogram which led to a diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer. McNeal was not a stranger to cancer. Her father, her mother, a sister, and her grandmother all had two types of cancer. McNeal’s doctors recommended a lumpectomy, but after much research McNeal chose to have a radical modified mastectomy.

McNeal became an advocate for herself throughout her care by learning about her various options, but she also has had an impact on many other women because she chose to be part of a clinical trial. Even after her oncologist told her that she fit the criteria for the trail participants, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to participate. Then her doctor said, “It will benefit people in the future, and it won’t be harmful.” McNeal is glad that she made the decision to join the clinical trial. She found that the medical staff went out of their way to make it convenient for her, and she enjoyed knowing that she was making a difference. She says, “It is a wonderful feeling to be of help. Maybe this will benefit my daughter or her generation. The goal is working towards the future for a cure. I’m glad to be a part of that.”

Throughout her diagnosis and treatment, McNeal was a thorough researcher, and she quickly learned that African Americans are under-represented in clinical studies. She says, “Medicine is geared to the people who are studied.”

McNeal has become an advocate in other ways. As the President of the Sisters Network® Inc, Flint Affiliate Chapter she is committed to the organization’s goal of increasing local and national attention about the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. Chapters across the country are organized by breast cancer survivors who are committed to establishing much needed community breast health services.

Like many breast cancer survivors, McNeal’s grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer after her recovery from breast cancer. Now that she is fifty, McNeal has had and will continue getting colonoscopies for the rest of her life. She knows that early detection of cancer can make a difference.

As far as mammograms, McNeal says that they’re no fun, but they save lives. She knows.