My mother was all business first, she made it to the top by being smart, driven, passionate, & this was when women were not prominent in the boardroom unless you served coffee. We lived in RTP and my mom was assigned to a 1 year contract in Boca to start a new department. As she was packing, her life change,she felt a lump on her Rt. Breast 12'o. I was in RN school &thought "this is bad". In Boca, she had a golf ball sized tumor with no lymph node involvement but later we found out it had already metastasized to her bones.I moved to take care of my mom. Through countless radiation, chemo every month, and all the rest of the "agony" that this disease gave to my mummy, she stayed strong! I got to know the women that had raw emotions about life, love, being a mother & gave me gifts along the way. We would fill our days with all stories of her business trips(some made me blush), her lost love, how guilty she felt being a single mom, funny things about myself growing up.Through her almost 5 yr Breast Ca to Bone she finally lost her battle when it hit her liver. I believe if all women in general would take a short time each month to do self breast exams I may have my mother today.See, she was too busy to take her health to heart but when the chips fell she fought the battle of her life and lost. I hope this story can help1 women that thinks "ohhh, I'll check later" or " Mammogram, that's all day". I wish my mummy did think of her past history & take the time(she died at 49). I could be hearing more stories &making memories together.

Melissa Perlman
Apex, NC