Selma mother shares journey through stage four cancer on The Mark White Show

Mark White | The Mark White Show

Selma, Alabama - Amy Collins Carmichael is used to helping others navigate difficult seasons. As a licensed professional counselor, she has spent years guiding people through trauma, anxiety, and recovery.

Now, she is facing her own.

Carmichael recently appeared on The Mark White Show to share her experience with a recurrence of stage four metastatic breast cancer. The cancer has spread to her lungs, neck, and scalp. At the same time, her husband, Clay Carmichael, is undergoing treatment for melanoma that has spread to his lymph nodes.

The couple is raising two children, ages twelve and seven, while both parents remain in active treatment.

“When something like this happens and you’re a parent, your first thoughts are about your kids,” Carmichael said during the interview. “You wonder if you’ll get to see them grow up.”

Carmichael previously underwent cancer treatment and entered remission. She said the recurrence has felt different emotionally, particularly because there is no clear end point to treatment. She described hearing the chemotherapy bell ring for other patients and feeling happiness for them, while also recognizing that her own journey does not have the same defined finish line.

Both Carmichael and her husband attend frequent medical appointments. Carmichael receives weekly chemotherapy, while Clay receives immunotherapy every three weeks. Despite the demands of treatment, daily responsibilities continue.

“The routines of life don’t stop,” Carmichael said. “Our kids are active, and there are appointments, school activities, and everyday life to manage.”

Due to the volume of medical appointments and the physical effects of treatment, Carmichael made the decision to resign from her position at a community mental health facility. She said keeping up with both her treatment schedule and her children’s activities became overwhelming.

Carmichael and her family rely heavily on faith for emotional support. She said prayer helps her remain mentally grounded and focused during difficult days. She and her husband have spoken openly with their children about what is happening, while working to keep their lives as stable as possible.

Support from friends, family, and the community has come in many forms, including meals, encouragement, and financial assistance. A GoFundMe was created by her friend, Ashley Colburn, to help cover expenses during a period when Carmichael has been unable to work.

As a counselor, Carmichael acknowledged that applying coping skills to her own situation has not always been easy.

“Practice what I preach sounds good,” she said. “But it’s different when it’s you or someone you love.”

Carmichael said one of the most challenging aspects of treatment has been managing the side effects of chemotherapy while trying to remain present for her children. She described learning to balance activity on days when she feels well with rest on more difficult days.

Carmichael decided to share her story publicly after hearing from others who said her openness helped someone they knew who was facing cancer.

“You don’t realize how many people are affected until you start talking about it,” she said.

When asked what she hopes people take away from her story, Carmichael emphasized perspective.

“Every day is a gift,” she said. “Staying present matters.”

The full conversation with Amy Collins Carmichael is available through The Mark White Show.

You can also donate through VENMO at @ames-carmichael.