October 2005 hearing the words "it's cancer" had to be the 2 most scariest words in the world. My neighbor just had a double mastectomy & I was doing my routine check of my own breasts just a few days later & my fingers found the lump. My husband felt the lump & encouraged me to go to my doctor. From there I was sent to a specialist, a group of women doctors who only handle breast issues. All of this just weeks before our son was to get married on the beach in Florida. I was lucky as it was in the very early stage of cancer. I opted to first have 4 aggressive treatments of chemo in the hopes it would shrink the tumor & if it did then I would have a lumpectomy followed by radiation. The only thing that I insisted upon was that I see our son get married first before any treatment was to begin. I wanted to wear the beautiful gold halter style silk dress that my daughter-in-law helped pick and I proudly wore the pink ribbon on my dress that day too. Chemo began Thanksgiving week and I was thankful that I was still alive. Chemo worked, tumor shrunk, February 7, 2006 is when I became cancer free. I have a wonderful support group that I want to thank, my husband, sons & daughter-in-law who were all there every step of the way and also my friends. I'm 4 years cancer free and waiting to hit that 5 year anniversary. My attached photo was done for breast cancer awareness month although for me every month is breast cancer awareness. I tell ladies of the importance to learn self exam & practice it. It saved my life & can save yours!

Ramona Reeves
Cumming, GA