a survivor's story

by Angela Hamilton

​My cancer was found during a routine mammogram in July 2009. Hearing the words “You have cancer” started the roller coaster ride of a lifetime. The many hills, tunnels and straightaways keep cancer as a challenge to overcome and a motivator to try new things.

During my treatments I had the best support system – a patient and loving husband, two awesome kids, extended family, great friends and neighbors, yet I still felt alone. I needed the emotional support that could only come from someone who had also heard those dreadful words. In January 2010 I attended my first Touch of Courage and my first Young Cancer Survivors support groups – both times shaking in my shoes and emotional. I quickly realized that even though our stories may be different we were all on that same roller coaster – lives interrupted, sleepless nights, racing minds and a “sisterhood” that I really didn’t understand until it became my own.

Being around other survivors helped me put my diagnosis and treatment plan into perspective. It helped me move forward and want to help others get up and over the hills of cancer. It also caused me to reflect on what was important to me and to not wait – take action to reach your goals, fulfill your bucket list, and find joy in every day. My diagnosis also had my family riding on the roller coaster and so we decided to make some lifestyle changes. Not only did we pay more attention to the food going into our bodies but also our activity levels. My husband started running while I was undergoing treatments to get into shape and ran his first half marathon. Although running was out of the question for me at that time, we decided that I would run my first half marathon if I was still cancer-free at 5 years. Once I finished the clinical trial and it seemed as if I was coasting on a straight-away, I began running and training for that half marathon. Crossing that finish line was amazing – we pushed cancer down that hill!

​I continue to see my oncologist every 6 months and continue my preventative checks. Throughout the years I have had many trying times with suspicious areas and at times felt like a pin cushion. I feel blessed that those hills were conquered and I have had no recurrence of the disease! My health is good and I am thankful for that every day. As I continue on this roller coaster, my hope is to be there for others who are still climbing the hills, help them find joy on the straight-aways, and wave with our hands in the air during the downhill ride. We are survivors and we got this! 

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