Amy Jansen Mossel Bay, Western Cape South Africa Amazon Heart Thunder Australia 2009 Experienced Rider Click Here to Donate Now!

I am Amy Jansen, 54 years old, wife to Arnie and mother to Bernice and Craig, both living abroad with their families.

I am excited and honored to be part of this great cause "Australian Amazon Heart Thunder 2009", as I am combine my two passions in life, to spread breast cancer awareness and to ride my Harley Davidson motorcycle.

My cancer story started in December 2004. For most of my life I had lead a healthy life, ate sensibly and kept very fit. I took part in many marathons - both speed walking and running. I climbed Kilimanjaro twice, dieted and took good care of my body. I was always a happy, positive person, but in hindsight I think that I focused on unimportant things
and forgot how to have fun!

I found the lump in my right breast three days after Christmas 2004. I scheduled an appointment with my GP, and was reassured that there was very little chance that it would be malignant, but it was! He sent me off to the surgeon as a precautionary measure. I had a lumpectomy, and waited for the result, never anticipating that it could be bad. The Friday I called his office to get the results, my whole life changed!

Firstly, being a very healthy person, I did not even understand what I was being told. I had never heard the words “Lobular carcinoma in situ” in my life before. I wanted to know if I should get a script for some antibiotic. He called my husband and me into his consulting rooms, I can remember sitting in his office and staring out across the deep blue
ocean. I could see his lips moving, but I did not understand anything. My husband was wonderful. He took charge and took in all the information. The first advice the surgeon gave us, was to get a total mastectomy.

The entire weekend was spent in a daze of shock and tears, anger and frustration. Then my logic prevailed and survival mode took over. I made a decision: I want to live! I made a deal with my surgeon, that if he could get clean edges around the tumor, I wanted to keep what remained of my breast (I did some research on internet that weekend.) My surgeon
is a wonderful man and I owe a lot of my recovery to him and my great oncologist and, of course, most of all, GOD!

They removed and examined 12 lymph nodes and only found nonmalignant cells. Returning to the oncologist, she worked out my treatment plan - 38 radiation treatments. No Chemo! This was to be followed by 5 years of Tamoxifen. I received the treatment in Cape Town. We put our lives on hold and rented a small apartment close to Panorama clinic. This was a good arrangement and I was grateful for my supportive husband at my side. On good days we walked along the beach and shopped and enjoyed plenty of
fresh air. On bad days we stayed in bed, watched old movies and talked about the future. As a breast cancer survivor, it is important to have something to look forward to. Think long-term, think life, think fun! I dreamed about riding my own Harley Davidson motor cycle. This dream became a reality, and today I am the proud owner of a 1586cc Fatboy.
I have learnt that God is NOT mean - sometimes bad things happen to good people. I have learnt that’s its OK to have an off day now and again, but don’t allow yourself to get depressed, stand up, shake it off and do something nice. Call a friend, laugh at silly jokes, drink a glass of wine or read a good book. Go shopping - even if it is just to get out of
the house!

Having had breast cancer has changed my life in other ways as well. I laugh more, and I want more joy in my life. I’m determined that stress is not an option, so I keep it at bay as much as possible. If I want to take the afternoon off and sit at the beach – that’s what I do! We love dancing and do this often now. In essence, we have decided to live now
and to make our dreams come true. I’ve been blessed with awesome family
and friends, who also makes this journey much more bearable. NEVER GIVE
UP!! Stay positive!

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE, Love Amy

Click Here to Donate Now!