“I never doubted I’d beat it. I knew that God would come through for me. And as my family likes to say, ‘Cancer picked the wrong woman this time.’” - Shelia Wright

Shelia Wright and her sister looked at the red sore spot on her inner thigh and knew something was seriously wrong. A few days later that self-prognosis was confirmed with three short words: “You have cancer.”

Tests indicated that Sheila had lymphoma. She immediately had surgery, followed by chemotherapy, where she lost every bit of hair on her body, then radiation and finally occupational therapy.

“It’s not a fun journey,” she said, looking back on it. “But I never doubted I’d beat it. I knew that God would come through for me. And as my family likes to say, ‘Cancer picked the wrong woman this time.’ ”

Shelia is a tough cookie who used that to her advantage in her fight against cancer.

“I’m a survivor. I’m also lucky to have the support of my family. My wife was with me every step of the way. She held me when I cried. She and my family – my children, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and grandchildren – were so supportive as was my employer Sonic Drive-In and boss. I don’t know what I’d do without them,” she said.

Shelia said cancer isn’t the death sentence that many people believe it to be and those who hear those three words – you have cancer – shouldn’t ever give up or stop fighting.

“Medicine has come a long way with cures for cancer and new technology and treatments. But early detection is the key. I tell my family all the time now, “Don’t wait. Go to the doctor. Do the things you’re supposed to do. Get the check-ups you’re supposed to get. Because early detection saves lives,” she said and she’s living proof.

Shelia credits the Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Center and everyone involved with her care with helping her beat cancer. She’s still being closely monitored, but she’s cancer-free.

“The Kelsey-Seybold nurses are phenomenal. Dr. Tri Vu, my oncologist, is probably the best doctor I’ve ever met in my life. He truly cares. You hear people say doctors don’t spend enough time with their patients. This is not true of Dr. Vu. He would not leave me until I’d tell him I had to go. That’s how important I was to him and everyone at the Cancer Center. They’re a big part of me making it through this journey and I can’t thank them or recommend them enough.”