In December of 2017, I had a PET Scan
that showed I was in complete remission.
months of chemo and 32 treatments of
anxiety from day to day about it returning.
March 28, 2018 was my 1 year
‘Cancerversary’ day. Before having a PET
Scan, I received the news the cancer had
returned once again in my neck and was
cancer. I was pissed… so angry I didn’t
are no more stages, NO CURE; I’m done. I
called each of my family members to tell
them and each of them were crying and
saying, “don’t know what to say.” I told
them, It’s OK. I don’t either.
second opinion. Once in San Antonio to
see a second doctor, it just seemed there
was no care in the world… I was just
doctor what my life expectancy was with
this new diagnosis, she said 1 to 3 years.
My heart dropped. I looked over at my son
and James, my husband, and just had no
Momma is really sick? I don’t know how
much more I or my family can take at this
I am terminal. I have no hair, no breasts, I
can’t keep up with my son, and I can barely
At this point I decided a few things
including to stay on chemo and start the
knew I was going to put my body through
bit like a woman again. We scheduled the
6:00 a.m. I woke up later that day all
in the hospital for having a horrible
from my family, my son and husband. I
remember needing to shower but the
water was so cold. I just stood there and
shivered with tears rolling down my face
thinking why.
why me, and then I remember cancer
doesn’t care if you are young, if you have
hope, and I make the choice to try and
be happy every day and live each day to
the fullest. But every day isn’t sunshine
and rainbows, it’s raw and heart
breaking. Cancer sucks!
JEAN TAYLOR
In October
2014, my sister,
Gayle Starry, and
myself were both
diagnosed with
Invasive Ductal
Carcinoma Breast
Cancer, exactly
two weeks apart. I credit my sister,
with her on the phone I immediately
gave myself a breast exam and
discovered a lump. It turned out to be
mastectomy in November 2014,
be taking Anastrozole, which is an
important that people on this cancer
ride share their journey. It is very healing
to try and help others who are going
through what we’re going through. I
count my blessings each and every day
that both me and my sister are Cancer
free!
NICOLE LOPEZ
Noemi Lopez,
most know me by
my middle name
Nicole. This is the
story about the
ever be in. I am a
25-year-old single mother of two
August of 2017, I found a lump in my
breast that would change my world. I
was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast
Cancer. I had a lumpectomy performed
on my right breast followed by hormone
therapy treatment for the next 2-3
years. My hopes in sharing my story is to
help women of all ages understand that
Cancer does not discriminate, this
kickboxing, with two small children we
beach, with two of my favorite hobbies
being dancing and long-boarding. My
children, and I am young. There is no
way to curve this disease. I can only
hope to inspire women to be aware,
perform regular breast exams, make
that visit when there is a concern, and
found.
DEANNA URBAN
I am a Cancer
survivor, but not
Breast Cancer. In
1989, they found
s o m e
pre-cancerous
cells in my cervix
at my regular
checkup. I was supposed to go back in
two months but had injured my knee
and ended up having surgery to repair
good about keeping my one-year
annual visit with the doctor and was
just going to wait. I ended up going back
four months later because I was
beginning to have some discomfort.
tumor and I was diagnosed with stage 5
Cancer. It grew so fast in just six
life, having to head out to MD Anderson
diagnosis, leaving my one year old and
There were no groups for support for
me or really anyone that I knew to turn
to. Family and friends were great, but
they really didn’t understand what I
was feeling and couldn’t give the
feedback I needed. I went into surgery
tumor was too large, and they had to
do a hysterectomy, biopsies of
numerous lymph nodes, but they
removed the cancer and I didn’t have to