Tulsa Woman Who First Ignored Her Breast Cancer, Now Winning Her Battle

It's estimated nearly 250,000 women and men will hear the diagnosis of breast cancer this year in this country.

And while more than 40,000 will die from the disease, early detection is the key.

I want you to meet a young woman who tried to ignore the signs, but ultimately is winning the battle as she gets ready to Race For The Cure.

The Pink Rose Boutique in the Greenwood District will soon celebrate its first anniversary. The shop is a dream come true for 29-year-old Candice Nyan, to own her own business and sell stylish and feminine clothing. 

But the same month she opened the store, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. 

"The tumor was in my breast and it still is. It's just smaller. It was 14 cm and had spread to my liver, chest, my lungs and so he said ok, this breast cancer is aggressive and it's spreading so let's treat it aggressively," said Candice Nyan.

Chemotherapy started immediately and within the month, she lost her hair but she never lost her faith.

"God has given me peace through all of this. Just peace in knowing that he's a healer, you know and he'll take care of everything," said Candice Nyan.

Candice had noticed the lump last summer but tried not to think about it.

"And I ignored the lump. I thought it was hormones. I was in denial. I didn't want to believe that's what it was. I thought about breast cancer. I thought, Oh no! I made myself believe it but the lump continued to grow," said Candice Nyan.

She's now taking a break from treatment, waiting on the next recommendation from her doctor and she's now using her experience to encourage others.

"The sooner you go to the doctor to get help the better off you are because I know I didn't start at stage 4. It just got worse because I was afraid. I was scared to find out that it was something that would be detrimental to my life," said Candice Nyan.

But Candice looks to the future and realizes she has an amazing story to tell and a place where she can meet women and share with them on a deeper level.

"With the boutique, like I had planned for this to be something else but it's funny how God thinks way bigger than us and now I've been able to allow Pink Rose to be a platform to build that awareness," said Candice Nyan.

Candice will join hundreds of others for this year's Komen Race for the Cure coming in September 24th at OneOk Field.     There's the timed and untimed 5K, a fun run and walk and of course the survivor parade.   You can form your own team or join mine.  For more information, visit my page on NewsOn6.com.