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Fight to Live, It is Worth It

. In December of 1999, at the age of 46, I graduated from college at East Tennessee State University. My six month old granddaughter attended the ceremony. I was on top of the world and ready to begin searching for my career job.
One morning in Jan. of 2001 I woke up very depressed and crying. My husband called his doctor and asked him to see me. but took me any way. After a long exam and discussion, the doctor asked if I had had a mammogram, I said not and he said "Well you are going to have one now." I did and cancer was found in my right breast. I was shocking to go to the doctor for depression and find out you have cancer.
I had a massectomy and then the treatment started. The was to chemo was horrible. I was sick from day one and was hospitalized twice for dehydration.
I then began radiation. They found another lump. I prayed so hard that it was not more cancer, and it was not. I fought the battle hard and since then have become disabled due to the numerous other surgeries I had afterward. (they were not related to cancer) In 2004 a vaginal tumor was found. I had already had a hysterectomy so they were sure it was the breast cancer again, I prayed again and the tumor was not cancer. God had his hand in my life.
Just as I finished my treatment in December of 2001, my husband, who had been very sick the whole time I had cancer got much worse. During a second heart bypass, he never woke up. That was Sept. of 2002.I am still standing with no signs of cancer, I pray for everyone who faces this disease.

Debbie Hodges
Johnson City, TN

Breastfeeding can help prevent breast cancer

Please tell all the women in your life of childbearing age... breastfeeding can help prevent breast cancer. Studies show a significant decrease in risk. My name is Melissa and I have a 4-year-old son named Dakota. He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He's going to need me to be around for the long haul. So I am so glad I am breastfeeding his younger brother Emile and that I breastfed him also. In so doing, I am decreasing my risk of getting breast cancer.

Improving treatments and research are so important! But teaching woman what they can do about prevention is absolutely priceless!

I don't want to end up dying young of breast cancer like my father's sister did years ago.

Melissa Jenkins
Berkley, MI

Why Buy a Wig When You Can Buy Diamonds

The Diamond Declaration

Diamonds-I've always loved them. When I was a young girl, I always thought that diamonds were for the rich, models, and movie stars. I received my first pair of diamond studs at the age of sixteen when my mother died of pancreatic cancer. When this life altering moment occurred, I thought I would wear them every day for the rest of my life.

Years later, my second life altering moment occurred. My father got seriously ill with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I wore my mother's diamonds while visiting my father daily. Why? Maybe it was a sign of things to come. My diamonds, my mother's diamonds, gave me confidence and courage to cope with my father's poor health and ultimately his death.

Little did I know, a few short weeks after my father passed away my biggest challenge lay aheadâ¦ I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My diamonds stayed on my ears and eventually grew into a nice small collection of diamonds that I wore throughout my journey. They not only gave me the guts to battle my cancer, but my diamonds helped me to reinvent myself. Why buy a wig, which is temporary, when I can buy diamonds that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Now, wearing diamonds daily is customary, like washing my face every day. When both men and women admire my jewelry they almost always say, "Your earrings and necklace are so beautiful, they look so good on you."

And maybe wearing diamonds is a simple act of valor -- to envision myself as something I've never thought I would or could be.

Stay tuned for more of my story with my book, Why Buy A Wig...When You Can Buy Diamonds! You too can sparkle and reinvent yourself!

Randi Rentz
Penn Valley, PA

HOPE IS ALIVE

how My Interests
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By: joyce castillo

I am a 51-year-old women who loves to stay fit and work out. One morning while getting ready for work while in the shower and while doing my self breast exam, I found a lump. Thinking it was nothing I continued to shower, but just having the woman's intuition that something wasn't just right. I did the self check one more time, and this time I became scared. How could someone who still has her periods on a regular basis who doesn't smoke or drink and who doesn't have a history of cancer get it? But just to make sure I went and had a mammogram and ultrasound done. Those days just waiting for the results felt like forever. Then being told that there was an abnormal size lump and being told that you need to do a biopsy, I just felt that this was going to be bad. I will never forget that day when i was told "YOU HAVE BREAST CANCER."My whole life as I had known it would forever change. Through the American Cancer Society network, I have found much needed help and information and support that I never knew was out there. I have since had a mastectomy and am now starting chemo. I have found much courage and strength from women who have gone through this and have lived to talk about it. I will be one of those women one day who can say same the thing and I will be there for the next person who needs a shoulder to cry on or a person to confide in. HOPE IS ALIVE - FOR WITHOUT HOPE THERE WOULD BE NO STORY TO BE TOLD

joyce castillo
waialua, HI

Ten years plus

Early detection and excellent treatment saved my life and has given me ten plus wonderful years since I was first diagnosed. They have been the best years of my life because I know that without modern medicine I would not have had them.

In December 1998, I had surgery, radiation, and then took Tamoxifen for 5 years. I thank my family for their support during all these years and for urging me to have mammograms when I was afraid.

Susan
East Stroudsburg, PA

Chattanooga Susan G. Kohmen Walk for a Cure

Just wanted to let you know that yesterday 9/27/09 was the Walk for a Cure event in Chattanooga, TN and what an unbelievable site. There were over 7500 people there to walk or run and several others just cheering us on. I am one of the lucky ones and breast cancer has not touched anyone in my family but I have several close friends who have been touched by this illness.

I spent the day celebrating for those who have beat breast cancer and remembering those who did not. The chills that ran down my spine everytime a woman passed with 20, 25, even 32 necklaces around their necks is something I will never forget. I am already looking forward to next year.

Lori Betts
Chattanooga, TN

Fighting Breast Cancer

Hi i`m Donna i was 38 when i found a lump on my breast so i went to see my doctor where he told me it was nothing to worry about but my gut told me otherwise so i asked him to send me for an ultra sound i got a call that i have to go for a mammo and a biopsy. Went for my results on Oct. 31 where he told me i have invasive ductal cancer.I went for surgery in dec. to remove the tumor and 7-8 lymph nodes which were negative my estogen receptors were positive went for my follow up to hear that i needed another surgery so i got a partial masectomy in feb.08. My mom was the first one to see when i took my bandage off and she reasured me that it looks good i decided to show my partner it wasn`t the same reaction at all she said yuck that`s gross that really upset me and put a damper on things. I am proud to say that i did not go for surgery cause when i look at my scar it shows me everything i have gone threw to stay alive and i am damn proud of my scar. In april started chemo where i had to stop after the third treatment due to a bad side affect. Since my receptor`s were + i had to get a complete hysterectomy. I got 35 radiation. I lost everything but one thing i did not loose is my fight against cancer. I had a perfect support team but i did it all myself cause that`s the way i wanted it i didnt want to depend on anybody didnt want to be a burdon. I am now 40 and feeling great and loving life.

Donna Maillet
Moncton, Canada

The letter came yesterday

In the summer of 2005 a mammogram result dictated I needed a needle biopsy in my right breast. What a scare. No history of cancer in my family going back 3 generations. The result.......benign. Ok. Sigh.

One month later I was in a traffic collision that totaled my car (young man chasing girl's car hit me midside). The airbags saved my life, but apparently injured my left breast, disturbing the cells and allowing the seeds of cancer to take over.

2006's mammogram had a result simliar to 2005. Back for a needle biopsy, only not so scary this time. WRONG. Surgery, radiation and chemo over several months blessed me with remission.

The letter came yesterday. God has blessed me with remission one more year. Breathing is easier today.

Justine Miller
Bellflower, CA

My Family

Hello My name is Alexis I Have an Aunt who was in remission untill last yeare when the Cancer came back and she had the removeal and now back in remisson i believe an dmy moms best friend is a survior and I Just Found Out My step Cousion who is the only one in her family got Cancer and is now in remission and i have many teaches and friends who have or passed away from cancer

Alexis Luna
South Gate, CA

ADD ANOTHER SURVIVOR TO THE LIST

In November of 2003, I discovered a lump in my right breast but, even though my family has a history of breast cancer, I put off going to the doctor. When I finally went in January 2004, my fears were right...breast cancer! I immediately called my niece, Lori, who had also had breast cancer. Because of her courage, outlook on life and incredible sense of humor, she talked me through my "freaking out" stage. I got may act together, called the doctor and a week later had a lumpectomy. I also had to undergo chemo and radiation therapy. I have now been cancer-free for over five years. I AM A SURVIVOR! Thank you Lori!!

Susan
Monongahela, PA