Jannet Cox gets up every morning, showers, gets dressed and goes to work. She by lives life like everyone else.

But no one would blame the 62-year-old if she wanted to take a day off every now and then.

In March of 1999 Cox was diagnosed with breast cancer and has battled the disease every day since. But slowing down, even for a month or two, isn’t how Cox desired to live her life.

“When I got cancer, I put it in the hands of the Lord,” she said. “And the Lord hasn’t once let me down.”

Cox, a Natchez attorney, discovered a lump in her left breast herself nearly 11 years ago after a day of cleaning house. Cox said she was tired from vacuuming, dusting and picking up and decided to lie down on the couch.

“I plopped down on the couch like I had so many times and crossed my hands across my chest,” she said. “That’s when I felt something, the lump.”

Cox immediately called her doctor and after receiving the diagnosis she expected, she traveled to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for treatment. There she underwent a single mastectomy and tram flap breast reconstruction — a reconstruction that utilizes muscle, fat and skin from the abdomen to build a breast.

Jannet Douglas Cox was chosen a top 10 finalist for the WLBT Power of Pink “Strength in Pink” essay contest. Cox’s daughter, Barbara Bradley, submitted Cox’s story for the contest because of Cox’s courage in her fight against the disease. Cox is still a practicing attorney in Natchez despite an 11-year battle with breast cancer. The winner will be announced Oct. 26. Vote for Cox at www.wlbt.com and follow the “strength in pink” cues.

“When the surgeon finished removing the breast, the plastic surgeon stepped in and did the reconstruction,” Cox said.

“With the tram flap it does everything like a real breast,” she said. “It sags like it is supposed to, and I don’t have to worry about the hardness from an implant.”

Cox remained in Houston for a month to be close to her plastic surgeon, before returning to her home in the Jackson area.

At that time, Cox thought she had done everything to rid her body of the cancer. But, a blood test at a check up revealed that wasn’t the case.

“My cancer markers were going up,” Cox said. “It had metastasized to my bones.”

But not even that could discourage Cox.

“Once you face something like cancer, it is a real blessing to get up in the morning and put your clothes on and go to work,” she said. “I’m not going to quit living and working just because I’ve got cancer.”

October is breast cancer awareness month.

Anyone that knows Cox shouldn’t be surprised by her determination. She has always been a go-getter.

In 1987, Cox decided to leave her career as a hairdresser, but didn’t know exactly what else she wanted to do. She started taking some college classes at the Natchez campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

“I had always liked the law and learning about the law,” she said. “So after a few classes I decided that was what I wanted to do.”

Cox completed her undergraduate studies and three years of law school in five and a half years.

“I did my two years at Co-Lin in one year and my undergrad at (Mississippi College) in a year and a half,” she said. “It liked to kill me, but I did it.”

After completing her law degree, she remained in the Jackson area and practiced law, before moving back to Natchez approximately 10 years ago.

“I love having the ability to help people,” she said.

Her treatment now includes chemotherapy in a pill form to help prevent the cancer cells from spreading more.

Though chemotherapy leaves her feeling fatigued, Cox still maintains a law practice and works nearly every day.

To make it through a day, Cox takes breaks whenever needed to rest and refuel her energy.

“See that couch,” she said pointing across her office. “That’s where I go when I need to rest. I’ve got a television and a clock to tell me what time it is.

“You do what you’ve got to do.”

And on days when she doesn’t have to be in court, Cox’s sheds the business suits and high heels for more casual attire and comfortable clogs.

“Having the cancer in my bones makes it hard to wear the heels, so I only do it when I have to,” she said. “And there have been times in court when I’ve looked down and been wearing my clogs with a business suit.

“Oh well, I mean what are you going to do?”

But more than working and living a relatively normal life — she has regular doctor visits with Dr. Jack Rodriquez every three weeks and check-up at M.D. Anderson every three months — Cox said it is family and friends that help provide her strength to remain a positive person.

“I have wonderful family and friends,” Cox said. “If I needed anything from any of them, all I have to do is ask and even at 3 a.m. they’d all be up and here in 15 minutes. Everyone has a helping hand out.

“It is with their help and through faith in God that I’m enjoying everyday I have.”

Currently, Cox isn’t cancer free but her cancer markers are stable, meaning the cancer is not spreading. And for that she is thankful.

“I’m stable and happy,” she said. “I might have cancer until the day I die, but I’m not going to live my life in fear of that. I don’t look forward to tomorrow, I’m just thankful for today.

“God has blessed me with a great life — great kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, family — and I’m giving up on that because I’ve got a little bit of cancer.”