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DALLAS — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, designed to bring attention and raise funds for research into the disease’s cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
With the month in mind, Airways publisher Steve Cosgrove met with Cindy Cox, a Boeing 777 First Officer for American Airlines (AA), who shared her long and successful journey battling the disease.
You can read Part 2 of the interview here, and here's Part 3:
What would you have to say to a woman who just got diagnosed with breast cancer?
That's a really good question. It's so different for everyone. First of all, my heart would go out to the person because, no matter what, it's not good. I would encourage them to eat well, and—if they believe—to pray, try to keep their immune system strong, seek the best medical advice, and do what the doctors say. At times, it can be more of an emotional battle than a physical one. Talk to other people who have had similar experiences.
How many doctors did you go through?
I actually went through four.
Until you found the one you were comfortable with.
Right, and I would also get a second opinion. For example: MD Anderson may have a different treatment than Sloan and Kettering. Some doctors will put you in a trial/study if you qualify. So, I would definitely seek out different doctors and get a second opinion. Also, I would implore women and anyone to be their own advocates. If you can think of something that might help their situation, bring it up to your doctor.
Men can get breast cancer too. I've got a friend from high school whose son had it, and he is now a big advocate for men getting checked.
Absolutely. Get checked, and continue to get checked. My oncologist, whom I've had since I've gone back to flying said, “Cindy, I don't mean to scare you but, most of the time, breast cancer comes back in a different form.”
I said, "I'm aware of that." I believe in keeping your immune system strong, trying not to be stressed out for any period of time, eating more of an alkaline diet, limit your sugar intake, and getting a good night’s sleep; these are just a few natural things that people can do to help their bodies fight what's going on inside of them. I believe that your body wants to heal. We just need to give it the right things to help it.
How difficult was it to get your medical back as a Pilot? I hear horror stories all the time about that.
Well, Marsha Reekie, at American Airlines, sent me to an outstanding doctor in Michigan, Dr. Pinnell. He's a Pilot himself and has six doctors below him. Dr. Pinnell got my medical back on the first try. He went above and beyond to help me get it back. He does not mind a tough case. I had a pile of paperwork 16 inches thick that he had to go through and to figure out everything that had happened to me in the 16 years. I am so grateful to Marsha Reekie and Dr. Pinnell for standing by me and getting my medical back.
So, for those facing something like that, it's just a matter of finding the right doctor to get the application through.
Absolutely. I highly recommend Dr. Pinnell. He's outstanding and a very smart man.
Now, you were telling me that, when you got back on the cockpit, sharing your story with the Captains every once in a while, you'd run into a Captain who was not having a good day. Talking about how bad he had it, and you would tell your story, what would happen?
He would say, "Well, I guess I don't have it bad at all, do I?" And he would not complain during the rest of the trip!
I tell them how I found the scientist, and I tell people about me standing in my bedroom, looking up at the ceiling and saying, “OK God, I know I am dying because I can feel it and, if it's my time to die, so be it, I'll die. But if not, send someone to me or let me find them”
Once, a Captain looked at me, a little shocked, and said, “Did you really mean it when you said, "If it's your time to die, that you will die?” And I said, "Yes, I did." I truly meant that. Because, I believe that, if it’s my time, then it’s my time. That’s just my belief, though.
So you’ve got a few more years before you hit retirement age.
Just a few. I turned 62 in September.
So you’ve got several years. When do you think you’ll get to go left seat?
I don’t know. Probably in another year or so, when I can be a Captain on the 777, it’s what I'm guessing. The nice thing about American is that we're all type-rated in the airplane. Not all airlines type their First Officers. Back at Piedmont and US Air, First Officers were not typed in the aircraft. Only the Captain was.
One of the things that impressed me about you is that, despite you being off for 16 years, there was no bitterness or woes because of missing all those years of flying, your seniority, and all of that type of stuff.
I have absolutely no bitterness, even though, with the merger, technically, you could say I lost seniority. I really liked who I was 20 years ago, but I love who I am today. I'm a lot more spiritual, and I'm very appreciative. I'm very grateful. I would go through everything that I went through all over again to be who I am today.
Life is about perspectives. How do you look at life? I'm a half-cup full type person, even when I'm in the belly of the whale, and I'm possibly struggling. I still hold on to my belief system and put one foot in front of the other. And, before I know it, I am on top of that mountain that was ahead of me.
In fact, when I came back after 16 years, one of the things I told the training committee was to tell other Pilots to look down at their feet. Don't look ahead because your brain can only handle so much information at a time.
There's so much information that you have to learn after 16 years that it's easy to get overwhelmed, and your brain may shut down. So, if you look at your feet and just do what's necessary at that moment, put one foot in front of the other, before you know it, you will be on top of that mountain, and you'll have your type rating in your hand. That's exactly what happened with me.
And that's kind of how you approached your cancer, too.
Absolutely. It wasn't an emotional thing. It was like, “Okay, these are the facts, let's fix it now, let's do what I need to do.” I never dreamt in a million years that I'd be out 16 years. I thought it would be maybe a year, year and a half maximum.
I share your story with Pilots, and I can tell you're developing a good reputation because I'm starting to hear more and more of the guys saying, “I haven't met her, but I've heard about it.”
Wow! Well, I believe in helping people. I believe in doing random acts of kindness. It's not necessarily about Cindy, it's about helping others. I pray that this interview will inspire and help others that are in my situation or in any other situation in life. I believe that, once we go through something, we can pay it forward by helping other people.
I had a masseuse that once told me, “Cindy, can I share something with you?” And I said, “Sure, what's up, Jeremy?”
And he said, “Anyone with an intake form, like the one you filled out with all these surgeries that you've had”—I had seven surgeries in 16 years, not all related to cancer—“I try to weed those people out of my practice. However, I would never know that any of those things happened to you. Not one of them, because you don't wear them on your sleeve. You're not a victim.”
I told him, “I'm not a victim. I'm not a survivor. My name is Cindy.”
Join with the AARC to find better ways to prevent and treat breast cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time for reflection on trends in breast cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Visit the American Association for Cancer Research (AARC) for more information.
The contents of this interview are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, image interpretation, or treatment. Airways recommends seeking the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.
Featured image: Cindy Cox
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