Delphyne Lomax Taylor's breast cancer diagnosis changed more than her own life. The conversations it sparked encouraged her sister to get a mammogram, which also revealed breast cancer.
In 2013, Delphyne, of Stockbridge, was rebuilding her life following a divorce and had become involved with the Center for Black Women's Wellness, participating in community health programs and monthly walks.
At the time, she didn't have insurance, but she knew she was due for a mammogram and was grateful to learn that free screening was available through the center.
"I felt healthy and had no symptoms," she said. "Like many women, I viewed the appointment as simply part of maintaining my health."
Instead, the screening detected an abnormality that led to additional testing, a biopsy and a breast cancer diagnosis. As she navigated the shock of the news, Delphyne encouraged her sister, who couldn't remember her last mammogram, to get screened as well.
"She had been putting it off, just rescheduling — just busy," Delphyne said. "Well, she called me one day, and she was like, 'Are you sitting down?'"
"She said, 'Girl, I got my results back,'" Delphyne recalled. Her sister had breast cancer — not the same type as Delphyne's, but it was also caught early enough to successfully treat.
The experience reinforced an important lesson for Delphyne: open family conversations about health matter, and regular screening can make a critical difference.
"Cancer can impact multiple generations and branches of a family, and open conversations about health can truly save lives," she said.
After Delphyne's initial diagnosis, additional imaging revealed more extensive disease than originally suspected. In February 2014, she underwent a skin-sparing mastectomy. Pathology results later confirmed Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease.
Over the following months, Delphyne underwent chemotherapy under the care of now-retired Dr. Celia Mamby, of Georgia Cancer Specialists, a Northside Hospital Cancer Institute affiliate. That was followed by radiation therapy with Northside’s Dr. James Benton. She underwent 30 radiation sessions, finishing just before Thanksgiving in 2014.
The treatments were physically and emotionally demanding, and some days the fatigue, discomfort and uncertainty were overwhelming. Through it all, she relied on the support of her care team, family, friends and her faith.
"Their love carried me through some of the darkest days of my life," she said.
Having her sister by her side experiencing many of the same challenges only strengthened their already-close relationship, and their late mother was with them every step of the way.
"After that journey, me, my mom and my sister went to the Bahamas for a week and just celebrated us getting done with our treatments," Delphyne said.
More than a decade later, Delphyne remains cancer-free under the care of Dr. Kathleen Laveaux at Georgia Cancer Specialists and enjoys traveling, shopping and spending time with family and friends. She is an outspoken advocate for having open dialogue about health among families and increased awareness and access to community cancer screenings.
For Delphyne, a free mammogram performed in a mobile unit parked outside a community organization detected her cancer at a stage when treatment could be most effective.
"I hope my story encourages others to take charge of their health and have important conversations with their families," she said. "Know your family history. Have those conversations with your loved ones. Early detection can make all the difference."
LEARN MORE ABOUT BREAST CANCER CARE AT NORTHSIDE.
Pictured above: Delphyne Lomax Taylor (center) with her sister, Lisa Sales (left), and her late mother, Gloria Turner (right).
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
