Excerpt from the Dayton Business Journal
Wright State University Provost Susan Edwards says it was the university's community support, as well as her family, that has been "life sustaining" during her breast cancer journey.
The native of Australia started her post at Wright State in July 2018. A welcome reception that September introduced her to the university's students, faculty and staff. And shortly after, in November, Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Given her visible role as provost, as well as executive vice president for academic affairs, Edwards said she sent an email to the community to share publicly about having breast cancer and undergoing treatment.
The support in the year to follow has been "overwhelming," she said.
"And it never waned, and still to this day (the support) has never waned," Edwards said. "The alumni, faculty, students; I was truly held up by them."
Self breast checks
Edwards, who has had breast cysts in the past, said during her move to Ohio she had noticed an uncomfortable lump in her breast. She put it out of her mind — believing it was just the stress that comes with a move.
"A couple months went by," she said. "I made an appointment with my physician at the time and she said, 'This is not good.' It was kind of a whirlwind from that time."
Edwards' diagnosis and treatment has included biopsies, chemotherapy, targeted drug treatments, a mastectomy and continued receptor treatments.
"A lot of people do find themselves a lump which is why self check is so important," she said.
Her final receptor treatment will be Nov. 22 — almost a year to date from her diagnosis.
