The Susan G Koman (SGK) charity fundraiser walk has special meaning to me. In 2011 my mother and I walked 60 miles in 3 days with SGK through Atlanta because we both had family and friends whose lives had been touched by breast cancer. Little did I know that four years later in August 2015 my routine mammogram would reveal an abnormality. Several ultrasounds and one brutal CT guided biopsy later I learned that I was now that 1 in 3 women affected by breast cancer. At the age of 46 I was diagnosed with distal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), intermediate grade. My surgeon, radiation oncologist, and oncologist mapped out a treatment plan for me. I underwent a lumpectomy and then shortly thereafter 4 weeks of radiation therapy. My treatment protocols were no doubt based on research supported by fundraisers like SGK. I told very few people what I was going through because it was scary enough without saying it out loud. I kept my diagnosis private for many reasons, but am now trying to get better at living with the diagnosis rather than living in fear of it. It still scares me and I still hold my breath at every check up hoping it hasn’t recurred. I have thankfully completed 7 years with clear scans and am hoping for an 8th this year. Please help me reach my goal of $1800 as I walk 40 miles over 2 days in August with friends at the Denver SGK Walk. We are hoping to one day put an end to anyone else having to fear breast cancer. Feel free to forward this info to whomever else may want to support me. Or at the very least, remember to get screened and encourage your loved ones to be screened regularly for breast cancer. 

UPDATE - I received an 8th year of clear scans in June. Big sigh. Thanks for the good juju from my crew.