Carol Davis' Story Volume 4

We continue to shine a light on the incredible women whose stories remind us that hope can thrive even in the most difficult of circumstances. At Timeless Nebraska Media, we believe that every fighter’s journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and love, and this week, we bring you another powerful story.

Her Journey

When I first heard the words“You don’t really have breast cancer… but you do,” my world tilted in a way I never expected. It was September 2, 2014 — the day I was diagnosed with DCIS, Stage 0 breast cancer. The phrase “Stage 0” sounds almost harmless, like something caught early enough to brush aside. But in truth, it carries the same emotional weight and treatment plan as something much more serious.

The months leading up to that day had already been heavy.  I had lost my mother and in the fog of grief and trying to keep life moving, I had put off my mammogram — a simple appointment that could have changed the timing of everything. When I finally went in, I told myself it was routine. The follow-up call came faster than expected. Then a second look. Then a biopsy. And just like that, life was divided into two parts —before and after the diagnosis.

I had choices to make. Mastectomy or lumpectomy. Radiation or not. I chose a lumpectomy followed by thirty rounds of radiation. It was the right decision for me — but that doesn’t mean it was easy. There’s a kind of silent fear that lives in those waiting rooms, a sense of being surrounded by others walking their own versions of the same path.

Through it all, I decided to stay quiet. Not because I was ashamed or afraid, but because I needed space to process. I continued running my photography business, meeting clients, and editing portraits, often pretending everything was normal. There’s a strange peace that comes with routine, even when your world is anything but ordinary.

Radiation became part of my rhythm — early mornings, driving to the hospital, chatting with the techs, then heading home to start the rest of my day. I grew tired but also grateful. Grateful for medical teams who cared deeply. Grateful for family who understood when words didn’t come easily. Grateful for the reminder that life — in all its fragile beauty — is worth showing up for.

 

Finding Courage

If there’s one thing I want others to take from my story, it’s this: don’t put it off. Schedule the mammogram. Take the test. Make the call. We’re so quick to care for others and so slow to care for ourselves. But you can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t fight what you don’t know is there.

I may have been labeled “Stage 0,” but that label doesn’t define my courage, my healing, or my gratitude. It simply marks the point where I chose to keep living fully — with purpose, with awareness, and with the quiet strength of someone who has looked fear in the face and decided to keep moving forward.

Carol Davis is a renowned photographer from Maryland which is how Timeless Nebraska Media got to know her.