I was told tonight that I have cancer again! This is the second time I heard those nasty words. I had a mammogram in June and was told everything was okay see you in a year. A week ago I had a lumpectomy to remove a mass on my left breast. My surgeon is going to schedule my mastectomy after the holidays. I am going to have my mastectomy and reconstructive surgery done at the same time again. I felt that because I had cancer once that I would never have to go through it again. I felt invincible. I guess I will be going through many different emotions but I think the second time around is harder for me. I know I will survive and am very lucky to have wonderful, caring, loving parents and friends who will hold my hand every step of the way. I want to thank everyone for supporting me and am very blessed to have you in my life. This is a picture of my beautiful daughter Mary who wanted a pink stripe in her hair to support and find a cure for breast cancer! She is one awesome kid.

Take Care, Patty Matthews

I was looking at different items that could help support breast cancer research. This wonderful breast cancer travel case in my opinion is so cute and convenient. This purchase will help in the efforts to end domestic violence and breast cancer. All of the net proceeds are grants through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade and/or Speak Out Against Domestic Violence programs. This is a great gift to show your support whether or not you know someone affected by these causes or not. As a breast cancer survivor I am always looking at new ways to share breast cancer awareness through gifts. Please go to the Avon Foundation and see what other wonderful gifts they have to help in the support the breast cancer crusade and domestic violence programs. Take Care

I found this article about breast cancer research and how the Avon foundation is spending the money we all raise to help in fight to find a cure for breast cancer.

"Eighteen scientists investigating novel means for primary prevention of breast cancer by studying the natural impact of pregnancy on breast tissue met at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston on Monday, November 12, 2007 to share interim findings. All are part of the unique Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Prevention Research Initiative, one of many Avon Foundation funded programs seeking new directions in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure."

I often wondered if my pregnancy had anything to do with my breast cancer diagnosis. I was 31 years old when I had my daughter Mary and was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32. I know my body went through a tremendous physical change when I was pregnant. I do not have any family history and was wondering if it was a hormonal in balance due to my pregnancy. I am glad that there has been different types of studies done to help better understand breast cancer. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer has helped me physically, emotionally and to make sure that the money I have raised is going to help in finding a cure. I hope you find this article informative and educational.

I just turned 37 on November 3 and wanted to do something fun and different with my family. We all went rollerskating and what a wonderful time. Much to my surprise I did not fall but watch everyone fall like bowling pins! My world came falling down when I was told last week that my breast cancer might have returned. I had a perfectly fine mammogram in June and now just 4 months later there is a mass in my left breast. My right breast was removed in 2003 followed by reconstructive surgery and then chemotherapy treatments. Now I am going to see my surgeon on Thursday to schedule a lumpectomy. I am shocked but relieved that I know what to expect if the biopsy is positive. I have learned to take one day at a time and that helps both myself and my family stay positive. I am thankful to have such a wonderful group of family and friends. I am staying positive that everything will be okay but I think it is important to be prepared if it not. I have my friends at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to help me through what ever avenue I have to go through. Regardless of my outcome I know that once a survivor, always a survivor!

Please share your story's of survival.

Personal health care experiences have not always been that pleasant but have been effective for me. The diagnosis of breast cancer was introduced to me at the early age of 32. There was a chain of events that took place before I had surgery to remove a 5.2 centimeter mass on my right breast. There were doctors, surgeons, test and medical procedures that I had to experienced.

Quality care is giving a patient respect, informative and correct information, compassion. Communication with the patient and provider is essential for building a relationship. I went to an appointment which began the first of many more trips to the clinic. The doctor was not going to do anything until I told her my mother had breast cancer and stressed that I think I should have a mammogram or something. I had to lie to the doctor just to get a test because I knew something was wrong my mother never had cancer. I went right down to get an ultrasound. The radiologist came in and asked if I could stay to have a mammogram and I said yes. Now I have seen two doctors who both seem perplexed at what the lump and both said because of my age is more then likely just a clogged milk duct because I had stopped breast feeding my daughter a couple of months earlier. The radiologist then came in to tell me that I have to see the surgeon to have the lump removed because it was too big to leave as well as two other pea size lumps. I walked down to see the surgeon which is the third physician I saw in this one trip to the clinic. At this point it was a very long and stressful day but I did read about a years worth of People magazines in a day's time. The physician explained that due to my age and with no prior family history because I did have to tell my mother did not ever have cancer. I left the clinic feeling very confident and comfortable with my surgeon and the staff that day. The surgeon told me that he was 75 % sure it was nothing. Everyone was pleasant, professional and I was pleased that the quality care and service that I received that day was structured and quick. The experience that I had that day was not what I expected because the tests were done so quickly. When I left the clinic I had an ultra sound, mammogram, and saw three physician's one who was my surgeon and whom scheduled me for surgery to have a lumpectomy within two weeks. This experience did meet my expectations because everyone involved was looking out for my best interests. All the health care personal were helpful, reassuring and quick to help solve my health care concerns.

The Manchester Monarchs have teamed up with the American Cancer Society
(ACS) and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign to host "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Night", Friday, November 9th, 2007 vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack! In support of this event, the Monarchs players will all be wearing special pink jersey ties during the game that evening. The Monarchs will also introduce a number of game elements tied to supporting the Making Strides campaign including an intermission recognition of this year's "Pacesetters", an exclusive ACS team autographed pink hockey stick raffle, a commemorative ACS game night ROAR program cover and feature story.

For each ticket purchased, fans will receive a pink specialty game puck, compliments of the Catholic Medical Center 's Breast Cancer Center . Best of all, $6 from each ticket will go to directly benefit the American Cancer Society in order to raise awareness and aid in fighting breast cancer.
Hope you can join us on this special night. Hope starts with you!

Breast cancer can bring out so many different emotions such as anger, frustration, pity just to name a few. Replacing the awful feelings that breast cancer can give a person can easily be replaced with good and positive outcomes. I was recently reading an article about hypnosis before a breast cancer patient has surgery on the American Cancer Society web site. It explained that women can have fewer side effects after surgery with hypnosis. In my opinion any type of noninvasive procedure that could help and lower side effects of surgery sign me up. Explore all the opportunities that are out there for breast cancer patients. There are many different treatment options and exploring those options can help breast cancer patients ease the pain and help control all the emotional roller coasters that a cancer patients will go through. What are some of the treatment options you have used?

Having breast cancer was the hardest obstacle I have ever had to endure. There were so many emotions that a person goes through after being told they have cancer. At first I did not know what emotional path I was going to go down. My mind and body were able to find a positive path and I was blessed to spend another day with my family and friends. I refused to let the life threatening cancer take my power to stay positive. It is important to stay positive with treatment, emotions, body changes and financial stress. It took me a while to come to terms with everything that was thrown at me at such an early age. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer helped me understand how much this disease affected so many other people. How could I feel sorry for myself when there were other individuals who have lost their lives to this horrible disease? The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was one of my outlets to help me to completely understanding breast cancer and allowed me to stay focused on the positive things in life.

Please share what your power to stay positive is.

What a wonderful day for a Making Strides event. Over 4,200 walkers attended this years breast cancer walk in Concord New Hampshire. There was $492,616 raised this year! Memorial Field was gorgeous flowing with pink, walkers and volunteer's. It was truly an amazing sight to see. I am very honored to be a member of the committee to help accomplish such a wonderful and meaningful day for all. The concord monitor wrote a fantastic article which will bring tears to your eyes. As a breast cancer survivor the event was a spectacular sight with a warm inviting feeling when you entered the survivor tent. The survivor tent is a special place where survivors and family members can go to reflect. The "BELIEVE" theme was clearly visible with balloons, engraved gold book marks and note paper that allowed people to write and display their personal thoughts. Congratulations to Concord New Hampshire Making Strides against Breast Cancer! And a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers for all of your hard work.

I am joining many other wonderful individuals for Making Strides on Sunday, October 14, 2007. This event is a non-competitive emotional and motivating walk. I am proud to say that I am on the sub committee for the greater concord area in New Hampshire along with many other dedicated people. The event starts at Memorial Field and is a 5 mile walk with beautiful painted pink ribbons on the side walk, then through St. Paul's school with the home stretch past the Payson Center where I personally had my chemotherapy treatments along with many other cancer survivors. The walk allows everyone to reflect personal endeavors and many walk in memory of others. We are all joining in the fight to find a cure for breast cancer. Everyone should be congratulated for all efforts great and small. Making Strides are making steps forward to help in finding a cure for breast cancer through thousands of walkers in just Concord New Hampshire alone.

Join us to Encourage, To Support, To Celebrate, To Remember, To BELIEVE

I was 32 years old when I was diagnosed with cancer. My daughter Mary was a year old and full of life. I waited until December 26, 2003 to have my mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. I wanted to have a care free Christmas day with my family. The next day was a grueling 14 hour surgery. My mom and my best friend Diane Lewis came to my rescue everyday. My mom took care of me and Diane took care of Mary while my husband Chuck went to work. I will never forget the day the Avon Walk entered my life. Mary and my mom were spending the day with me. The television was on and there was a familiar song that was playing "A thousand miles" by Vanessa Carlton.

Mary and I started to dance, well my arms were moving but Mary was twirling and trying to sing and I looked up and it was the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer advertisement. My mom and I cried because that song was Mary and my song from the day she was born and I said that is our song forever. I was one week out of chemotherapy treatments when I walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It was the most inspirational event with a positive atmosphere and incredible energy in the air that makes you feel good. I have met so many amazing individuals that are dedicated in the fight for breast cancer. Stacey and Kayla Harwood attend the Avon Walk with my husband and I every year. Schrodinger Cat's band donates their time to raise money through their music at my fund raising party. Since 2004 I have had a fund raising party to raise breast cancer awareness and money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer has allowed me to stay strong and I look forward to attending the walk every year. It gives me a chance to celebrate life and makes me proud to be a survivor. I will continue to do the Avon Walk until I can not do it any more.

Schrodinger's Cat is a band located in Concord, New Hampshire and in my eyes should be traveling the world with their passion and love for music. The band is made up of five wonderful people. The singer is Ben Cooper, Stacey Webber on guitar, and Jessica Makris on base guitar, Jeremy Welch on drums and Kevin Turk as the sound man. When word was out that I needed to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Schrodinger's Cat offered to play at a benefit concert for free. This was huge and left me speechless. The band who I did not know at the time wanted to help and what a better way then through music. My first benefit to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was at Boar's Tavern in Loudon, New Hampshire. The band started to play and everyone danced and smiled. Through their music I danced for the first time in months. I forgot about being bald and my feet hurting and just held my husband close. Schroedinger's Cat's music made everyone in the room come together and to help in the fight to find a cure. Everyone looks forward to listening to the band play every year and they have helped raise thousands of dollars to help in the fight to find a cure. All the band members are non-survivors and support the cause because they can. The members of Schrodinger's Cat have all vow to continue to play to help raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer through their music. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful support group and band in my life.

My life changed on November 25, 2003 when I heard the words "You have breast cancer!" I often contemplate if having breast cancer was so bad. Now you are thinking she is out of her mind, but hear me out. Going through treatments was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. I was able to look at life differently and no matter how bad I was feeling I knew somebody else felt worse. It was impossible to feel sorry for myself and learned to take one day or one step at a time. Being a survivor allows me to stay strong as a person, help other survivors by listening or sharing words of encouragement. I volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and was also in the book Why We Walk by Deb Murphy and photo's by Paula Lerner, who is also a breast cancer survivor. Last year I had the privilege of being the survivor speaker at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston and am one of the 2008 marketing campaign. I have met so many wonderful people that have changed my life forever and have allowed me to have a better understand of life. Having breast cancer have given me the opportunity to share my survivor ship with others and there is still a lot to be done before everyone diagnosed with breast cancer can survive. Having a mastectomy and enduring months of chemotherapy I do not think about what I lost but most importantly all the things I have gained in life. So to me being a survivor is not so bad.