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I was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 12, 2000 at the age of 38. I was raising my three sons after separating from my husband one year before. At that time my boys were 13, 11 and 8 years old. My first thought was "How will I tell the boys?" and then "I don't want to die". I had major surgery which included immediate TRAM flap reconstruction, I went through a grueling schedule of chemo and RADS that took up most of the year 2001. When I finished treatment I needed to be with other survivors to gain support, little did I know I would also be giving support. I joined a dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors in Philadelphia called Against the Wind, and life as I knew it was gone, replaced by the world of dragonboating, where I became physically and emotionally strong again. It turned out that I was a natural to paddling and I love it. In 2002 I tried out for a competitive dragon boat team that was heading to Nationals, and I made the team! I travelled to California with a strong team called Tsunami made up of very strong women, including me. I had the time of my life. In 2003 I was voted the Captain of Against the Wind, I was very honored. We travelled all over the US to compete in dragon boat competitions - New York City, Washington, DC, Boston, and of course Philadelphia. We did a whole show for Seeking Solutions with Suzanne the year before which won an Emmy and we were in the news a couple of times. In 2004 I helped coach the coaches for teams in the Philadelphia Dragonboat Festival, that was fun, but my heart remained in the boat. This year I am a member of a fantastic and well-known Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Team called Hope Afloat, and I plan to dragon boat well into the future. I was an administrator for the Younger Board at bcsupport.org, and I tried to help other women who were newly diagnosed and trying to cope. I made friends from around the country and around the world through that venue. In October 2005 a large group of us from bcsupport.org met in New York City at a party for our friend Ali, who we all knew so well online but never met in person because she lives in Scotland. She flew in and it was a fantastic day and one that I will never forget. I am so thankful for all the opportunities that I have had since I heard those terrifying words "You have cancer".My family (I am the youngest child of five) and my children are so proud of me. My oldest son, who is now 19 years old and away at college, tells everyone that his mom has bigger muscles than him! :) I hope that I can inspire other survivors and let them see that there really is life after breast cancer, sometimes a better life - and in my case, one that will be filled with adventure!
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