CANCER ISN'T STOPPING ME!

On November 25, 2009 at age 46, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I never felt alone, my family went through this journey with me. I was given so much strength, support and encouragement from friends and family. I was fortunate to receive excellent health care from the doctors and nurses who cared for me.

Through treatment, I tried to keep my life as normal as possible. I was able to work and exercise most days. This made me feel emotionally and physically healthy. On April 15, 2010 I was listed as a participant to run the Boston Marathon!  I did not show up at the starting line – cancer cancelled that day. Fourteen months after my diagnosis I could start training again. I re-qualified for the2013 Boston Marathon. I ran in the 2013 Boston Marathon and it made me feel like "we" had beat cancer. I say "we" because this was made possible by the support of family and friends who surrounded me. I have connected with many cancer survivors through this time in my life who have become wonderful friends. I have also met many others who are not cancer patients, but generous people who are supportive in making a difference in cancer patients lives. I joined the Beyond Pink TEAM in March of 2012 as a volunteer member. This amazing group provides so much for persons facing a cancer diagnosis, and have role models who exemplify what the word advocacy means. I wanted to be an advocate, and in May 2012 I was able to attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Annual Advocate Summit. The days were filled with research updates, prevention, overcoming barriers and making ending breast cancer a national priority. One of the workshops I attended was Breast Cancer Vaccine Research, the speaker was Keith Knutson, Ph.D. Hearing the update on how these efforts were progressing was great news. When I returned home, I contacted the Mayo Clinic, spoke with a Clinical Trial Referral Coordinator, and asked to be put on a list as a potential participant for a vaccine trial. I wanted to be part of this progress! In February 2013, I was enrolled as a participant in a Phase 1 Vaccine Trial. I received a vaccine monthly for 6 months. This study will last up to 30 months with intermittent blood work, tests and physical exams. The purpose of this study is to look at the safety and immune response to a vaccine used in patients previously treated for HER2 positive breast cancer. My hope is that a vaccine will become available in the future to prevent recurrence of breast cancer. I am now four years out from my diagnosis of breast cancer, and have gained a lot from so many. At the beginning of my journey, a breast cancer survivor told me, “Be Brave, Stay Strong, and Live Life”. That has been good advice for me.