From Power Shoes to Powerful Survival

In an unforgettable episode of The Gloria Show, Dorchelle Spence opens up about her diagnosis, treatment, and survival of breast cancer — a fight she insists on never calling a “journey.” For Dorchelle, journeys are pleasant, like travel, but cancer is an unrelenting battle for one’s life that demands courage, resilience, and a warrior mindset.

Her diagnosis in April 2016 began with the discovery of a lump under her arm. Initially told she had triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype more common among women of color and more difficult to treat, she later learned through further review that she was HER2-positive. This change meant targeted therapies were available for her, and it reinforced her belief in self-advocacy — patients should read their pathology reports, research reliable sources, and question medical opinions because doctors can make mistakes.

Dense breast tissue complicated Dorchelle’s early detection. She had been receiving mammograms since age 30 due to family history, but the cancer was missed until it reached her lymph nodes. She advises women with dense breast tissue to request MRIs or ultrasounds for more accurate screening and stresses the importance of trusting one’s instincts about the body.

Even while enduring two years of chemotherapy and 36 radiation treatments, Dorchelle continued to work as Vice President of a nonprofit managing the Memphis riverfront, balancing her career with caring for her teenage daughter, husband, three stepsons, and chronically ill mother. She took brief breaks after chemotherapy but often returned promptly to work.

One of Dorchelle’s most personal rituals was wearing her “power shoes” — heels that symbolized her identity, dignity, and resilience. This act became her armor, helping her feel empowered even when physically exhausted. She encourages others to find and embrace their own symbols of strength during challenging times.

Faith, family, and friends became Dorchelle’s foundation. Whether faith in God or in the universe, the support from loved ones and her own sense of style and determination (“finesse”) carried her through the darkest times. She also gave herself permission to cry in private, often in her closet, and emphasizes that vulnerability is part of healing as long as you keep moving forward.

Dorchelle transformed her experience into advocacy through writing. Her memoir, Into the Gathering Clouds, offers insight for caregivers into the emotional and physical toll cancer takes, while her novel, No Less Worthy, inspires teens to face adversity with strength and self-worth.

Now a proud seven-year survivor as of October 2025, Dorchelle shares her story not only to celebrate survival but to encourage others toward early detection, self-advocacy, and embracing personal growth beyond cancer. She and host Gloria Sloan remind us that breast cancer awareness should be year-round and that sharing personal narratives builds communities of strength, hope, and empowerment.

This episode of The Gloria Show delivers a powerful message: cancer may try to define you, but with knowledge, faith, community, and the courage to fight, you can reclaim your life and thrive.