My daughter Mary who is five wanted to get a pink stripe in her hair ever since she saw the blog about "Pink Hair, You Bet!" Seeing she is only five I did not want to get anything permanent in her hair but I thought it was so wonderful she wanted to show support for breast cancer. I spoke to my hair dresser and she said it would look cute and will fade but at five years of age is supporting a cause. Angie and Nichole at Scissors by Troy in Concord, New Hampshire cut Mary's hair and put a small pink stripe down the front of her head. Thursday was the best girls day. I was with my mom who was not keen on getting the pink stripe but thought Mary's pink stripe was cute. My daughter was only a year old when I was first diagnosed with cancer. I had a complete mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, followed by chemotherapy treatments. Little Mary, my mom Mary and I went to have our hair done on Thursday because on Friday November 30 I had a lumpectomy to remove a mass found on my left breast. I am so proud of my daughter and even at a young age she wants to love and support me. This is one of Mary's favorite singers, who also is sporting a wonderful pink stripe!

Yesterday I went to Concord Hospital to have my lumpectomy with my husband, my son Tylor and my mom. My day started at 9 am and checked in, then given a wonderful johnny and stylish booties to wear. All the nurses were so nice. Then I went down stairs to radiology to have my needle localization done and what an experience that was. I sat in the chair with my breast compressed talking to the nurse about her horses and our experience's getting bucked off them. It was so helpful to keep my mind off of what was going on, but I still almost passed out. I should have never looked down to see the two needles coming out of my breast. When that was done the nurses put a cup over the needles so I wouldn't hit them. I thought it was a great inventive idea so I wouldn't hit or move the needles. The blue dye that was inserted was painful but tolerable. The whole process took about an hour and a half then I went right to the operating room. My surgeon removed an egg size lump from my left breast and everything went well except for my soar throat. I have several stitches and a small amount of swelling. I will not get the results until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. This is the hardest part for me and am staying focus on positive things in my life. I have a lot of wonderful care givers like Tenisha. She is a thirteen year old girl that stayed with me all night long to see if I needed anything. She is here to help with Mary, letting the dog out and giving me sips of ginger ale. Everyone has been a big help and I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life who love and care for me.

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.

On November 25 my experience was not as reassuring. My surgeon reassured me that he was 75 % sure I did not have breast cancer stood by my bed in the recovery room to tell me he was so sorry to have to confirm that I did have an aggressive form of breast cancer. I was so upset and believed that my surgeon was very unprofessional and out of line by telling me my chances for having breast cancer was only 25 %. At the time of my first appointment I trusted what my physician said to me. I would have not been so confident that everything was going to be fine. If my surgeon said he didn't know if it was cancer or not would have not given me false hope or being blind sided with the final outcome. I have mixed emotions about my service. I received wonderful service on the initial day that I went to the clinic and everyone was so helpful. It did take all day to get the test done but I knew it would be worth it at the end of the day. Looking back at the chain of events the only thing that I do not agree with is my surgeon telling me he does not think I have breast cancer because of my age and having no family history? I know now that cancer has no limits and age or family history does not matter. I had a complete mastectomy, tram-flap reconstructive surgery and immediately followed with chemotherapy. I made history for my daughter and will always educate her to know her body and make sure she is a strong advocate for her own health care needs.

Share your health care experience.

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!

and click on the special ticket offers page

Those are beautiful words to a breast cancer survivor.

I went for my now annual mammogram and got great news that all is well, seven and a half years and two kids later. This is a big step for me since the diagnosis on my 33^rd birthday. I had my first mammogram at 32 and have had many, many since then (along with the supporting cast of sonograms, CT and bone scans as well as MRIs).

God bless Julie, my mammogram technician at Fairfax Radiology. She took my films to the radiologist and had them read immediately so I could leave that day with the most generous and precious of gifts, that temporary peace of mind that comes from "passing" all your latest tests. When I saw what tender loving care Julie used with me, I interrupted her very hectic and crazy day to ask her a bit about her perspective on all of us who come to see her (she works in the Fairfax, Virginia office).

Julie recognizes that we all generally don't view the annual mammogram as a joyous task and since her aunt is a breast cancer survivor, she might be a bit more aware of our anxiety. She sees her day as a way to nurture and comfort us through this often dreaded task, not as a "job". With her amazing bedside manner and invaluable sense of humor, Julie guided me through the obligatory mammogram process in such a way that I was able to relax here and there, something I've not been able to do before. I sensed that she genuinely cared about me and wanted to comfort me. She truly has a gift.

Julie is hopeful that by sharing her genuine concern for our welfare that more women will make the effort to come in regularly, as it breaks her heart when she hears about someone who hasn't come for a mammogram for several years. She went on to explain that patients often come in crying, having not been into the office for a few years out of fear or anticipation or just nerves.

One tip Julie had for us – and one I hadn't yet heard before – was to note our technician's name. If we find someone with whom we have good chemistry and comfort, we should be sure to ask for that person when we make our appointments the following year. I'll definitely be asking for Julie again!

Prima, the absolutely angelic patient coordinator at Fairfax Radiology also wanted me to share a tip with everyone. She loves her patients and lucky for us, she is the first and last face we see. She thinks that we should all treat ourselves to something special after we get a mammogram. I thought that was such a great idea that I got a piece of pumpkin pecan cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory to share with my family to celebrate the good news! Her final reminder to all of us, "attitude is everything".

I thank everyone at Fairfax Radiology for making my "dreaded" experience a little easier. And I hope you too, go get your mammogram.

I admit it freely. I'm scared of it. It owns me. A week before, all I know is I'm a wreck – emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The night before, I can't sleep, dreading, wondering, anticipating.....fearing........

Yes, it's the Mammogram.

Don't get me wrong. Part of me loves the Mammogram. After all, it saved me (with a little help from its friend, Sonogram). Yet after hearing the words "you have cancer" once after a Mammogram isn't it just slightly, remotely, fundamentally possible that you could actually hear them again after another Mammogram?

Now, we all know that the Mammogram has come under a lot of controversy in the last few years, being attacked for giving people a false sense of hope and comfort (on the occasions where nothing is found when there really was something there). From my perspective, however, the Mammogram saved my life and because of that, I was diagnosed early enough to have a theoretically good prognosis.

In spite of being malinged so much of late, the Mammogram is still one of the best diagnostic tools we have to date (jokes about it being invented by a man and all), especially when the alternative for some people is not to go get one. Now, I know you're thinking that there is so much disparity within our healthcare system when so many people aren't getting them because of insurance and financial reasons. And in spite of all the work that the various breast cancer advocacy groups are doing to help fund mammograms to the underserved, there are still too many people who aren't getting them at least annually.

There is a lot to talk about on this subject – and we will.

In the meantime, be sure you remind those in your life who should be getting their mammogram to do so.

Then, please say a prayer for me that today's mammogram comes up just like all those since I was diagnosed. Clean.

I lost a friend yesterday. Well, at least in the physical sense. Her name was Vivian Hines and she was larger than life.

Miss Vivvy, as I always called her, was a breast cancer survivor and the very first person I met when I became more deeply entrenched with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a survivor. I was nervous, it was my first team captains' meeting for the National Race for the Cure as a survivor. And there was Miss Vivvy, ever present, this time checking everyone in for the meeting. She sensed my hesitation and apprehension and announced to me with that big, wonderous smile of hers, that she too was a survivor. She was a vision of loveliness with perfectly put together hair and makeup – and let's not forget those perfectly manicured nails! Her warm welcome was the start of a beautiful relationship.

Miss Vivvy was the backbone of the National Race for the Cure for several years. She volunteered at the office so much that she was eventually hired as the receptionist. And true to form, she did that job with the same passion – and compassion - she did everything else in her life. At her funeral service today, the story was told of how she comforted a woman who called in because her dog was diagnosed with breast cancer. During the course of their 15 minute conversation, Miss Vivvy gave this anxious dog owner the same consideration she would have if I had called in. She was famous in her church and cancer communities for her intricate cake designs. She also ran the BMW Drive for the Cure here locally for years and was a past recipient of their Local Survivor Hero award, among her many other accolades. I had the honor of being introduced by her when I was graced with the Local Survivor Hero award in 2003.

As much as I enjoyed celebrating her life yesterday in a very animated and fitting ceremony, I couldn't stop thinking about how we didn't have to there, in this church today, saying good bye to Miss Vivvy. You see, she had a recurrence, the thing we breast cancer survivors worry about the most. And her recurrence was misdiagnosed several times and information about her test results wasn't forthcoming because of the "system", so she wasn't able to get treatment in time to save her life. She belonged to one of the country's largest HMOs and they, frankly, failed her.

Listen, I can accept that the "system" isn't perfect and I can accept that as human beings, we sometimes make mistakes. But I can't accept that the "system" doesn't get some front and center priority attention right here and now, especially as we enter an election year. There is a lot we can all do to make our voices heard. We'll talk more about that during the coming weeks and months.

In the meantime, Miss Vivvy, please know that you have left a void, a hole in my heart – and many others. But that as the Reverend said yesterday, you also were a person who lived every waking minute to positively affect the lives of everyone around you. You've touched more people than you can ever imagine and their lives are that much better for it – for you.

God bless you, Our Darling Ms. Vivvy.

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

AOL Latino has partnered with the National Cancer Institute to answer your questions about breast cancer. The medical specialists at the National Cancer Institute are waiting for your questions, so please participate and ask questions right here in our Health blog.

Read the translated blog post.

Explore AOL Latino.

Test your breast cancer knowledge with this quiz

Welcome to United for Pink! This blog will raise support and awareness for breast cancer not only during October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but all year long.

This blog is for the survivors. This blog is for anyone who knows someone with breast cancer. This blog is for the caretakers, the researchers, the friends and families of anyone who has gone through this fight. From the newly diagnosed to those going through chemotherapy -- and for those who have won their battle, this blog is for anyone who wants to find a cure and knows we will find one.

United for Pink will keep you up to date with the latest breast cancer news, survivor stories, breast cancer events, interviews and more. We invite you to visit our message boards, where you can meet others and get support.

Everyone has a story to tell. We want to hear yours. To begin this month of awareness, take a moment to introduce yourself and share your breast cancer story with others. This message board is a great place to start.

Cancer Go Away: 18 Ways to Survive

While looking for articles to promote on the AOL Think Pink blog, I've met some dependable partners who support raising breast cancer awareness and I met some new friends along the way. Dalene Entenmann was a blogger for The Cancer Blog and she had given me a lot of insight and interesting articles in the last couple months. Here is one of my favorite writing's of hers. Her words are so genuine, it's refreshing to hear such a down-to-earth point of view. Keep writing Dalene! You're an inspiration to us all!

Cancer Go Away: 18 ways to survive

Cancer go away.

The news is not good today. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, and there seem to be so many of us now, it does not diminish the initial response when you find out someone else has cancer. The news is still a shock to the spirit, a moment where the breath catches and pauses out of rythmn, and the heart drops into another pool of sadness. As a cancer survivor, you know what is to come for the newly diagnosed, not just the physical, but the mental, the emotional and the spiritual effects for the cancer patient and those who love them.

Cancer. I hate this disease.

I really encourage everyone to take part in the United for Pink message boards. There are a lot of active communities featured throughout this blog, and I'll be highlighting different conversations and topics each week.

Today I want to spotlight caregivers and the role they play in the fight against breast cancer. I found a really interesting post on this message board, where one woman is addressing the issue of caregiver burnout. As a caregiver, have you ever felt this way? Talk to others who are going through similar situations.