Participating in life was Martin’s resolve with cancer

BY GREGG L. PARKER / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

For Marlee Martin, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has always been an important time.

“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 years old. She is now 72,” Martin said.

“Having a month dedicated to breast cancer allows us to honor those survivors in our lives and to remember those who lost their battle,” Martin said. “The month’s commemoration also provides a venue for sharing our stories with others and to encourage all women to stay vigilant in the care of their bodies.”

Over the past year, Martin faced a scenario similar to her mother’s. Following a routine mammogram, Martin was diagnosed with in-situ ductal carcinoma.

Martin remembers the drive to her doctor’s office on a Friday morning in August 2010.

“I remember talking to God … ‘Lord, if it’s cancer, just don’t take my hair.'” After considering her plea, Martin then prayed, “OK. You can have my hair, too. Just give me my life.”

“This type is sometimes considered a pre-cancerous stage of breast cancer and is very treatable if caught early,” she said.

She was treated at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.

“I had a double mastectomy, followed by a series of re-constructive surgeries,” Martin said.

Her surgeries did not involve an inordinate amount of pain.

“I was able to return to work about three weeks after my mastectomies,” she said. “The re-constructive surgeries did not require overnight stays. I was back to work usually the next day or two following each surgery.”

Fortunately, Martin’s cancer was detected very early, and she did not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

“Such a blessing!” she said. Early detection also resulted in a bright prognosis. “I expect to make a full recovery and remain cancer-free,” Martin said.

She said her experience with breast cancer was “used by God in ways that He could not use me otherwise.”

“I surrounded myself with family and friends that were such a support for me,” she said. “I didn’t take myself too seriously and looked for the lighter side in my circumstance.”

In addition, Martin “participated in life” at a deeper level. Her diagnosis coincided with her daughter’s senior year in high school, and she was determined never to miss one event.

She and husband Bryan have lived in the Madison/Monrovia area since they married in 1990. She grew up in Florence and moved to the Huntsville area to accept a job offer in 1988.

Martin works as assistant director of Asbury Weekday preschool and kindergarten at Asbury United Methodist Church. Bryan Martin works as a systems engineer for The Boeing Company.

The Martins’ daughter Abby is a freshman at the University of Alabama and a member of the Million Dollar Band. Their son Will is a junior at Sparkman High School and plays varsity baseball.

Marlee Martin enjoys collecting coupons and antiques, following Crimson Tide football and Sparkman baseball and serving at Asbury.

She made her first attempt at running a 5K on Oct. 15 in the eighth annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run.