Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa StandingBearTerrones, a senior ammunition tech in the 45th Sustainment Brigade, poses with her stepchildren, Kyler and Jaidan Terrones; her daughter-in-law, Ayla Simodi; and her grandson, Adrian Engelhart, after competing...
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa StandingBearTerrones, a senior ammunition tech in the 45th Sustainment Brigade, poses with her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carlos Terrones, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Div...
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa StandingBearTerrones, a senior ammunition tech in the 45th Sustainment Brigade, snaps a photo with her daughter, Spc. Krista D. Engelhart, 2nd Aviation Assault Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, from Fort Bragg, N.C...
Cancer survivor, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa StandingBear-Terrones, a senior ammunition tech in the 45th Sustainment Brigade, talks with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gary Carr of the 25th Infantry Division during an ammo conference in the Schofield Barra...
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Some embrace the Army's campaign slogan, "Army Strong," as a physical challenge, while others see it a mental obstacle.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa StandingBear-Terrones, a senior ammunition tech in the 45th Sustainment Brigade, has demonstrated both sides of the battle by taking on cancer... and winning.
With her bright eyes and even brighter smile that creeps across her face whenever she's asked about her family, StandingBear-Terrones, displays a rare strength few can match. As soon as anyone meets her, they can see it in her eyes. They hide a long and challenging journey.
Her story begins with a mandatory mammogram that every female in the military must get before they turn 40. At 39, the energetic warrant officer didn't think much of the test. Then stationed in Okinawa, Japan as an accountable officer, she went in for the routine exam in early 2010.
"I had felt a lump before the mammogram," she said, "but they assured me at the time that everything was fine."
Like many women, she brushed off the concern initially. Still, something didn't feel right. After her transfer to the 15th Sustainment Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas, in May 2011, StandingBear-Terrones requested another mammogram.
The weeks that followed would change her life forever.
"I got a message in the mail telling me to come back to the clinic for an ultrasound," she said. "I thought, 'This never happens! I never get call backs from the doctor!'"
A biopsy and ultrasound revealed stage one estrogen positive breast cancer.
"It takes a week for the tests to come back," she said with the tears welling in her eyes. "You don't know what you're going to do, what the treatment is, what stage it is, what type it is... it's very nerve-racking."
Still in shock over the diagnosis, she worked with her doctor on how to proceed with the cancer treatment. After careful research she elected to do chemotherapy combined with a lumpectomy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
"After chemo treatment, I gained a lot of weight," she said, "about 20 pounds."
She said she was also extremely tired from the therapy. Luckily, she said she had solid support from her family members. Her husband, another chief warrant officer three, encouraged her to go back to work and be strong with the diagnosis. She also had a great support team at work.
"My whole chain of command was very supportive. There were days I would come home from chemo treatment with horrible pain in my back. Sometimes it was just too much to handle with a full work day."
She cites one person in particular who really helped her through the battle, 1st Sgt. Dawn Wright. A breast cancer survivor herself, Wright was familiar with the challenges StandingBear-Terrones faced.
"I was very lucky to have her. It's very unusual to have a breast cancer survivor in the same unit as you. The fact that she was military and understood what I was going through really helped me through my treatment."
During her first chemotherapy session, StandingBear-Terrones was on edge. When they started the bag of chemo she began crying. One of her favorite memories was Wright's reaction.
"[Wright] gently lifted her magazine, jokingly hit my head, and said, 'Why are you crying? No worries, you will get through this, and live to see your grandchildren grow up!'"
Her silly manner and gentle concern was something StandingBear-Terrones would never forget during the very difficult time.
Standingbear-Terrones received her last session of chemotherapy in September 2011. Afterward, she was diagnosed cancer-free.
Now that she is in the prevention phase of her treatment, StandingBear-Terrones makes it her mission to educate others on cancer any chance she gets.
"I am all about awareness," she said "Every time I go in for a checkup, I bring pamphlets and information for my section. I ask the guys if they're married and say, 'Give this to your wife!'"
Looking back through her struggle, StandingBear-Terrones emphasizes how important it is for females to be in touch with their health.
"If there's one thing I could tell myself before all of this, it would be pay attention to the slight changes. Small details can help females detect the cancer before it becomes more serious."
Cancer-free for more than a year-and-a-half, StandingBear-Terrones still battles with the side-effects of her medication. She is also required to be near an oncology clinic for five years which means she is unable to deploy.
Despite these challenges, she continues to make a very positive impact on those around her, especially her fellow Soldiers.
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