In the Fall of 2003, my husband and I were looking forward to our honeymoon cruise. We were married in July and opted to wait until January to take our vacation. We were still living among stacked boxes in my husband Tony's tiny bachelor apartment. In order to see the TV you had to position yourself just right on the couch to see between the stacks. We had two cats, Lily and Phoebe. While I was curled up on the couch, Phoebe decided to come and cuddle up with me by lying right on my chest. This was unusual for her, so I was thrilled! She continued to behave this way for a couple of weeks. One day when I was watching TV with her I needed to reposition her on my chest so her claws wouldn't dig into my skin. When I did that, I pressed down on my right breast and felt something hard. It didn't hurt or anything so I didn't worry about it. I had recently had a fender bender so I figured maybe it was just from bumping against the steering wheel or something. Phoebe continued to be my cuddly kitty and every time she crawled up on my chest, I was reminded of the lump. Finally, I decided I would go to the doctor and have it checked out. I had just gotten my new job at the radio station and I had pretty good insurance finally so I may as well use it. To make a long story short, I discovered just before Christmas that I had breast cancer.

I was surprised at my own reaction. When I got the news, I expected to freak out and cry and get hysterical and yell, "WHY God?! WHY???!!!" but I didn't. In fact, I was at home when I got the news, and decided to finish watching the episode of "Days of Our Lives" that was on. I think all of the research I had learned through the radio station helped me to realize that my diagnosis was not a death sentence. I had also made the decision to tell listeners about my cancer. No sense in hiding it since I might be able to help others going through it by being an example or at least a friend. I got a lot of wonderful supportive emails and phone calls from those listeners. It was amazing. And I know that at least two women listening heard my story while driving in the car, pulled over, did a self exam right then and there and actually found something. Both of those women are doing fine now.

My first thought after the diagnosis wasn't, "Oh my God. I might die." Rather, it was, "Oh my God. I just got my dream job! How am I going to do this? I can't lose it now!" I begged my bosses to let me broadcast from home. They told me no at first and wanted me to just go home and come back when I was better. I knew I would be bored to death and so I kept pushing until they eventually agreed. I had my surgery right after we returned from our cruise. The entire trip had an anxious cloud over it, knowing this could potentially be our last trip together depending on the outcome of my health. Surgery went beautifully. After I got out of the hospital, I broadcast from home for about 10 weeks. It wasn't always easy because the surgery was pretty major and I was tired a lot but I am very glad I did it. The isolation in that tiny apartment was hard enough. Lucky for me, I acted early enough and my mastectomy surgery was all that was needed to get rid of my cancer - no radiation or chemotherapy. For that I am grateful.

Lying around for a few months (coupled with many gifts of chocolate) I had put on some weight. I decided to start walking to get some fresh air, get my body used to moving again and to feel a little more balanced. Soon, walking turned into a minute of jogging, then two minutes, then five. Now, it's been 7 years and I am in training for my first marathon this Fall.