We found out my mom had breast cancer in June 2008, which had agressively moved to her spine. She passed away in November 2008 after a hard 5 month battle. At the last fundraiser I had no idea how breast cancer would affect me, and now less than a year later it has completely torn my life apart taking away the number one person in my life, and in many others’ lives.

- Jason

Both my aunts are survors of breast cancer. Now one of my best friends, only 34 (no history, not on the pill, breast fed 3 babies), has been diagnosed! Thankfully my mother is free of cancer but with two girls of my own I am more aware that this disease will strike anyone, at any time, at any age.. One out of eight women regardless of history. Standing in a room with my closest girlfriends I never imagined it would be the youngest of the bunch of us! She is brave and strong and hopefully after her mastectomy in 4 weeks she will be free from cancer with beautiful new breasts! God bless to all those who have been touched by this.

- Christina

I was 42 when I was diagnoised with Breast cancer in 2006. I had a cousine on my dads side of the family who was diagnoised 4 years earlier. But no one on my moms side. So I guess you can say I am the guinea pig. I was told that at this early stage in my life I would have to loose a breast, so that meant a Mastectomy was in my future. After my surgery I was blessed to be told that I had all of my lymph nodes clear. And that chemo or radiation was not in my protical. I am on Tamoxifen which blocks estrogen from my breast. I will be on that for a total of 5 years. So 2 years to go. I feel fortunate that I did not have to go through chemo. But it also in the same time saddens me that so many woman have to go through such rigoreous treatments. My breast was gone, but LIFE was starring me staight in the eye. And that is what I have choosen to chose life. After all right now I have a 23 and 20 year old daughter and It is also their lives I choose to live for . I was lucky enough to have a husband who constantly told me how beautiful I was, he also told me that he would rather have my Life here on Earth than have my boob. I went a year without that boob, then decided to do reconstruction. And let me tell you that taught me patience as it is a long process. I feel whole again, I love my new boobie and I am currently blessed to have my “good Boob” which I call Betty Boob. God bless and Nilo thank you for such a great organization.

- Sylvia

My sister was only 44 years old when she was diagnoised with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. She had just had a mammogram in December which showed no definative nodule and here it was 3 months later and she was faced with a mastectomy, months of Chemotherapy and a radiation treatments. That was four years ago and she is still with us. She had many set backs, the chemotherapy damaged her heart and she had to overcome many infection. She also found out she had a blood clotting disorder which has left her unable to walk and unable to work. As a Oncology RN I have cared for many women with Breast Cancer but it wasn’t until my own sister was diagnoised did I understand the full impact it has on a family. I started working with The Sister Study two years ago to help with Breast Cancer Research with hope that one day we will be able to wipe Breast Cancer completly away.

- Josette

My best friend Jesse Jane Rankin, was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma April 22, 2008. After a year of intense chemotherapy and a mastectomy she is now a breast cancer surviver. Her stength, courage and humor throughout her battle has inspired everyone around her. She is a fighter and I have learned so much from her. Thank you Jesse!! I love and admire you!!!!

- Laura

I have lost a few very special people to breast cancer. Including my best friends mom whos battle lasted over 10 years until we lost her last summer right after her daughter gave birth to her first son. I truely believe she was holding on to see her grandson. She was a beautiful person.

- Haylee

In honor of Daniel Stern and Jacob Stern.

Breast cancer has affected the male side of my family. I lost my Grandfather at age 52 and my father at age 49 to this disease. This life experience has made my entire family (Brothers, sisters, sons and daughters) aware of the dangers of breast cancer and the need to have regular screening and exams. Fortunately, this disease has not affected any other members of my family since my father and grandfather passed on and I attribute this to the awareness and screening rpograms that are available today.

- Bruce

As tough as it was going through the diagnosis, surgeries, treatment, and day to day living afterwards, I’d do it all over again. It made me a better person, gave me a true perspective on what is truly important in life and taught me not to take things and people for granted. Also I’ve met many truly amazing women that are my sisters now – sisters in cancer – that I would have never known. These friendships will last a lifetime and without having had cancer, I would have missed out on this opportunity to meet and love these precious ladies. Cancer has been a blessing to me in many ways. Thank you Lord for allowing me to go through this disease. It has made me a better and stronger woman.

- Sharon

My good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer within the last two months – she is 31years old. This was some of the most shocking news I have heard in years.You really don’t ever expect someone to tell you they have cancer at 31 years old. I can not possibly comprehend what she is feeling inside, but I know what I see. I see a beautiful woman who wears a huge smile. A smile and laugh that lights up the room – cancer can not take that away. I see a woman who is one of my strongest friends – her strength inspires me. I called her the other day and happened to catch her in the midst of her second chemotherapy treatment – I asked her what she was doing, she said “healing, after this I only have 14 left so I am that much closer”. The reality is, she still has a year long battle in front of her but that is not going to get her down. Cancer can not take her spirit. Her spirit, her optimism, her patience, her determination and her strength are no doubt going to carry her through.

I have already learned so much from her and I hope she realizes the impact she is having on so many around her. It brings back a lot of emotion and memories of how terrible this cancer really is. It shows me how far there is still left to go to find the answers we need to cure the incurable. It also reminds me of how much respect I have for anyone who has gone through this, or stood by someone who has. In the last month she has faced test after test and become what she calls a “lab rat”. To me she is nothing less than pure inspiration. She is a shining light in the room – that’s why I won’t mention her name. If you look around, you would never know she is fighting cancer – she is more beautiful today than she was before being diagnosed. She is what I call a trooper!

- Emily

I am writting on behalf of my cousin Debbie. She was recently diagnoised with Breast cancer on January 12, 2009. She is a beautiful 47 year old woman and mother of two beautiful daughters. My cousins fight is not over yet. STAGE 3 with 5 lymph nodes involved. Her spirit is amazing, through her journey she has inspired us all and has taught us all to llaugh and live life. Debbie has two more chemo treatments ahead of her, then she will start about 40 treatments of Radiation. This is not just the beginning of her story, 7 years ago she was first diagnoised with breast cancer at the age of 40. She had a lumpectomy , chemo and radiation. She was CANCER FREE.. This time around she went ahead and had a double mastectomy.

What is so beautiful about my cousin is that she has not stopped fighting for breast cancer. 7 years ago she started a team called Huntington Beach “Surf City Titty’s” they are a team that walk with the Avon 3 day walk. She and her team walk 20 miles a day for a total of 60 miles. In the last 7 years she has raised almost 1 million dollars. Her goal this year for the November walk is to be done with her Radiation treatment and be well enough to walk with her team.

As a 3 year survivor myself, she has been my rock, my inspiration, my HERO………..

- Sylvia