MY MOTHER AND I WERE BOTH DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN 2004. I HAD JUST TURNED 40, BEEN LAID OFF AND LOST ALL OF MY HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS. IT WAS IN MY LYMPH NODES AND I HAD CHEMO, SURGERY AND RADIATION. MY MOTHER WAS TREATED WITH RADIATION. WE BOTH DID OKAY UNTIL 2006. THEN WE WERE BOTH DIAGNOSED AGAIN. BOTH HAD MASTECTOMIES AND MOM HAD RECONSTRUCTION. I COULD NOT DUE TO RADIATION TREATMENTS WERE TOO SEVERE. MOM HELD ON AND FOUGHT A HARD BATTLE BUT LOST IN JANUARY 2008. JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER HER DEATH, I WAS STRICKEN ONCE AGAIN. I WAS STAGE FOUR AND HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH CHEMO SINCE THEN. I HAVE BEEN IN REMISSION BUT STILL GO FOR MY HERCEPTIN EVERY THREE WEEKS.
Rhonda RayCanal Winchester, OH