Stories of Cancer-survivors & in memory

Not a day goes by where I don't hear another story about someone who has cancer or has passed away from it. It is just such a common thing to hear these days and I am not going to lie-I hate it. I hate cancer and everything it does. Cancer has touched my life in so many ways recently. Whether it is someone in my immediate circle, a friend of a friend or a stranger asking to help tell her story-it is always there.

{My father-in-law Sonny & mother-in-law Cheryl}

My mother-in-law, Cheryl, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of 2010. She had surgery to remove the cancer and went through a year of chemotherapy and radiation. She lost all of her hair and had days when she didn't know if she would make it through another round of medicine. Thankfully, after a year of fighting her battle-she won! She has been cancer free for over a year now and we couldn't be happier!

Unfortunately, not everyone is that lucky. This is Nancy-she is from my hometown and is about 5 years younger than me. She went to school with my cousin and her brother was a friend of my brother's. When Nancy was 17 weeks pregnant, she found a lump in her armpit and the doctors just gave her antibiotics. Not long after that, she was admitted to a tumor institute and was diagnosed with anaplastic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She refused to give up her baby in order to save her own life. Sadly, the baby didn't survive much longer and Nancy passed just a few short weeks later. Her friends have rallied around her and started a dance studio named in her honor. They raise money to donate to cancer research and keep her memory alive. You can read more of her story here and here.

This is Heather. I don't know Heather, but she reached out to me and asked me to share her story. Diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, Heather is a survivor and wants to share her story with others who might be faced with a situation that we so commonly see these days. I encourage you to read her story and find hope.

My hope is that you read these stories and learn from them. If you feel like something just isn't right, do whatever it takes to get the answers that you need. Don't take the first answer that you get, keep seeking answers and second opinions until you find someone who will help you find the right diagnosis and the right treatment. Not all stories have a happy ending, but some do. If you are ever faced with this horrible thing we call cancer, I pray that you come out a survivor!

Dedicated to Nancy and her precious baby girl