Survivor Stories
Justine's Journey - Four Times Stronger
At 18, Justine was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, beginning what would become a lifelong journey with cancer. Twenty years later, breast cancer entered her life. But this wouldn't be her last battle - she would face cancer on three separate occasions over the years.
"For me, unfortunately, cancer is something that has been a part of most of my life," Justine reflects. Yet her perspective remains remarkably positive. "While there is so much to be sad about, I always focus on the positive. There is so much to be hopeful for as well!"
Fighting breast cancer transformed Justine's outlook on life. It gave her strength she never knew she possessed and put everything into perspective. Today, she's found her tribe in her breast cancer survivor dragon boat team - a family of women who understand the journey intimately. "Each and every member understands the breast cancer journey. It has made us all stronger than ever."
Justine stands proud today as a four-time cancer survivor, proof that hope and community can carry us through even the darkest moments.
Maria's March Diagnosis - A New Mother's Fight
In March 2021, Maria received the call that would change everything. After a routine biopsy, she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. The timing couldn't have been more challenging - just one month earlier, in February 2021, she had adopted her 5-year-old grandson.
Sitting in her car in the parking lot after leaving work, Maria spent 30 minutes crying after receiving the oncologist's call. The weight of her new responsibility as a grandmother and her cancer diagnosis felt overwhelming. But as the tears dried, her resolve strengthened.
Maria knew she had to fight - not just for herself, but for the little boy who needed her. Her journey through chemotherapy and treatment was made meaningful by the knowledge that she was fighting to be there for her grandson's future. Every treatment session, every difficult day, was powered by her determination to watch him grow up.
Today, Maria celebrates not only her survival but also the joy of seeing her grandson thrive under her care. Her battle with cancer taught her that love and purpose can be the most powerful medicine of all.
Sarah's Self-Advocacy Victory
At 42, Sarah was the picture of health - or so she thought. During a routine self-examination, she discovered a small lump in her left breast. Her first doctor dismissed her concerns, attributing it to normal breast tissue changes. But Sarah trusted her instincts.
"I knew my body, and I knew something wasn't right," Sarah recalls. She sought a second opinion, then a third. The third doctor ordered additional imaging and a biopsy. The results confirmed what Sarah had suspected all along - invasive ductal carcinoma.
Sarah's journey through treatment was challenging, but she approached it with the same determination that led her to advocate for proper testing. Through six months of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and radiation, Sarah maintained her fighting spirit.
"Cancer taught me to trust myself and speak up for my health," she says. "If I hadn't pushed for more testing, my story might have been very different." Today, five years cancer-free, Sarah volunteers with newly diagnosed patients, teaching them the importance of self-advocacy and trusting their instincts.
Linda's Legacy of Love
At 55, Linda was focused on planning her daughter's wedding when an unexpected discovery changed everything. A routine mammogram revealed suspicious areas in both breasts. Further testing confirmed bilateral breast cancer - a diagnosis that threatened to overshadow what should have been one of the happiest times in her family's life.
"My first thought wasn't about me - it was about whether I'd be there to see my daughter walk down the aisle," Linda remembers. The wedding was just eight months away, and her treatment schedule seemed to conflict with every milestone leading up to the big day.
But Linda's medical team worked with her to create a treatment plan that honored both her health needs and her family priorities. She underwent surgery and began chemotherapy with the wedding date circled on her calendar as her goal.
The journey wasn't easy. There were days when fatigue threatened to overwhelm her, and moments when she wondered if she'd have the strength to fulfill her mother-of-the-bride duties. But with each treatment, she visualized herself dancing at her daughter's reception.
Eight months later, Linda not only walked her daughter down the aisle but danced the night away at the reception. "Cancer tried to steal my joy, but instead it taught me to cherish every precious moment," she says. Today, three years later, Linda is cancer-free and recently became a grandmother.
Story 5: Patricia's Second Chance at Life
Patricia was 38 and juggling a demanding career with raising two young children when she felt a lump during her monthly self-exam. As a busy working mother, her first instinct was to wait until her next routine checkup. But something told her not to delay.
The biopsy results revealed aggressive breast cancer that had already begun to spread to nearby lymph nodes. Patricia's world turned upside down. "I remember thinking about my kids and wondering if they'd remember me," she says.
Her treatment plan was intensive - neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by a mastectomy and reconstruction, then additional chemotherapy and radiation. Through it all, Patricia's children, ages 6 and 8, became her biggest cheerleaders.
"They made me cards before every treatment and told me I was the strongest mom in the world," Patricia recalls with tears in her eyes. "Their faith in me gave me the strength to keep fighting when I wanted to give up."
Patricia's children helped her find humor during the hardest days, decorating her bald head with colorful scarves and drawing pictures of her as a superhero. Today, six years later, Patricia is not only cancer-free but has started a support group for working mothers facing cancer diagnoses.