When I was performing my monthly Breast Self Exam (BSE) I found a lump in my breast. I was only 27 years old, and in the midst of planning my wedding. Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a mastectomy and twelve weeks of chemotherapy with Adriamycin and Cytoxan, I was married on the original wedding date, as planned. I was more nervous about my wig flying off or my breast prosthesis falling out as I walked down the aisle, than I was about whatever so-called normal wedding day jitters would be!

As a newlywed, only one year after my wedding, I discovered my cancer had spread to my bones. My stage I negative lymph-node status jumped straight to Stage IV. I underwent radiation to my sternum, and then began treatment with Zoladex injections. I have had a Zoladex injection every three months for the past three and a half years, and it seems to be working, as I have not shown disease progression since 2000!

Two weeks ago, I celebrated my 5-years since being diagnosed anniversary, and am proud to say that I am LIVING PROOF that a BSE can save a life - because it saved mine.