Tough Chick? Eight Years Later?

“His Strength is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Eight years ago, I encountered a breast cancer diagnosis.

At the time, I received this little pink critter…

“One Tough Chick.”

And, Man, back then, did I try to become tough. Strong.

(Excerpt from “Cancerventures; Tales From a Diagnosed Woman”)

“D Day:”  

“So, after waiting through this long weekend, July 11th came.  I was on the loveseat; my husband was in the recliner nearby. Braced for impact. Shortly after 9 o’clock, the phone rang; I put it on the speakerphone so he could hear. 

“Hi, Sheryle, it’s Joy. So, we have your biopsy results back and unfortunately, there is the presence of cancer…” 

My husband grabbed my hand. 

She then started getting into the findings, medical jargon all its own language… 

“Invasive Mammary Carcinoma, Nottingham grade 3 of 3, at least 1.1 cm in greatest dimension.  Focal Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.”

This was real. 

I scheduled a consultation with the surgeon for that Thursday. I thanked her for the phone call and hung up.  

And then, I operated in states of being numb, scared, and fraught with crying jags. 

This diagnosis news, indeed, on 7-11 was my 9-11. 

Explosion. Disaster. Life-changing event.  

Ta-Ta-Ta- Tina!  

And then, my mind focused on a famous nickname for breasts: “Tatas.” I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This obsession eventually led to Tina Turner.  

Diagnosis day, my mind kept obsessing about the word. Tatas would not fall out of my head. I felt disempowered, looking for any image of female encouragement. Enter Tina Turner. 

A lot of times, people have a stuttering reaction to Tina's performance by stating, ‘Ta- Ta- Ta-  Tina Turner!!!!’ And then they scream and fan out.  

But if you know Tina's story, you know there is a nemesis to the late, great Ta-Ta-Ta-Tina: Ike Turner, her abusive husband. Part of Tina's triumph is reinventing and freeing herself from that abusive dynamic. Ike was a cancer. He was taking up toxic space. He had to go. And that transcended the breasts-do-they-stay-or-do-they-go issues. I am Tina, not my breasts.  

This was how my mind worked on July 11th, 2017. And it stuck. 

I had a special place in my heart for Tina’s sci-fi character, Aunt Entity in the 1980s film, “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” Her character was fully decked out in a chainmail dress that, still, to this day, I wouldn’t mind adding to my wardrobe.  

I’m serious. Dress it up with pearls; dress it down with a jean jacket. 

Anyway, I immediately had those Aunt Entity images seared into my brain and Tina, in one way or another, would be a kind of cancer alter ego for me. I decided. 

Now, let’s fight Ike.”

It’s been eight years since I “fought Ike.”

It’s been eight years of me being “One Tough Chick.”

It’s been “Crazy 8’s.”

Cancer can do that. And you can be a Believer, and this health issue can still do that.

And His Grace is greater than any “Tough Chick” mandate we self-impose.

Cancer can pressure us to present tough, unstoppable, formidable, and strong.

And the entire time?

Well, we often feel like the weakest baby animal.

Not strong. Not tough. Not inspiring.

But/And…

HE is in us. HE is strengthening, perfecting, living/defying imperfect life.

HE is.

Today is an 8-year marker for me.

 

Do you have a diagnosis milestone?

Did you just find out some scary news?

Are in you years into “survivorship?”

How tough do you feel you need to be?

 

HE will be strong for you, no matter how weak you show UP right now.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

ABBA Father-

We come to You, in The Name of Your Son, Yahshua. You know the diagnosis. You know the health challenge.

You know how “tough” we are.

And You know the cry of our weakness. You know how it’s often invisible, embarrassing, painful, and lonely.

You know.

Therefore, remind and show us that, yes, indeed,

You ARE making YOUR STRENGTH PERFECT in OUR weakness.

Live in and heal us, while You love us. Thank You that it is constant.

We accept Your Son, living, dying for us, paying every penalty, including any diagnosis.

Thank You for loving each of us in this way.

Help and heal each of us to love You back in ways that bring You Love and Glory.

We receive it, in Yahshua’s Name,

Amen.

Copyright © 2025 by Sheryle Cruse