Anne Marie Herman says her experience with breast cancer taught her to face life’s uncertainties one day at a time, a lesson she revisits in her memoir, Doing It My Way? With Prayer, Persistence and Detours, launched in September this year.
The book traces a life shaped by humble beginnings, faith, education, family and unexpected turns, including her breast cancer diagnosis in September 2005, an experience she describes as one of the major detours in her journey.
Herman said the diagnosis came after she attended what she expected to be a routine mammogram. Instead of being advised to return the following year, she was told that something had been detected.
What followed was surgery, chemotherapy and a period of uncertainty that tested her physically and emotionally.
Reflecting on that time, Herman acknowledged that while her faith and determination helped her through, she was not without fear.
“I [am] human, and there were difficult moments,” she told St Lucia Times, explaining that her faith provided comfort while determination helped her take each step forward.
She also credited the support of those around her, noting that perseverance was not about having no fear, but finding the courage to continue despite it.
Writing about the experience in her memoir brought its own emotional challenges. Herman said putting her cancer journey into words brought back memories of uncertainty, treatment and personal change, as well as deeply personal experiences involving family and those who supported her.
She wanted to recount what had happened honestly without allowing the difficult moments to define the entire story.
The experience, she said, changed how she views life and relationships. It made her more conscious of life’s preciousness and the importance of not taking ordinary days for granted, while deepening her appreciation for meaningful relationships, kindness and time with loved ones.
Although breast cancer became part of her story, Herman said it did not define her entire life.
“It has also reminded me that life can change unexpectedly. I cannot control every turn, but I can choose how I meet it,” she said.
The question mark in her memoir’s title is deliberate. Herman explained that while she has made her own choices and worked towards her goals, her journey has also been shaped by circumstances beyond her control and the support of others.
She now sees doing things her way as taking responsibility for her decisions while remaining open to guidance, change and unexpected opportunities.
Asked what she would tell herself at the time of her diagnosis, Herman said she would encourage her younger self to take each day as it comes, accept help and hold on to her faith. She would also remind herself that it was possible to experience fear without allowing it to determine her future.
She hopes her story will encourage others facing difficult circumstances to remain hopeful and understand that challenging experiences do not have to define their lives.
“I know that breast cancer is one chapter of my story, not the whole story,” Herman said, expressing gratitude for the faith, love and support that helped her through the experience.
Through her memoir, she hopes to encourage others to keep going, embrace life and remain open to the possibilities ahead.
