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Messages of HOPE Stories of survivors and encouraging words from supporters. Together we are stronger. SEND A MESSAGE KENITA BELL-PERRY I have been so apprehensive about positing but I know that I need to...2022 was a year I never thought I would have heard the words that forever changed my life, "You are diagnosed with Breast Cancer."...... Read More LINDA SPIVEY I was diagnosed August 2006 lump in breast. I wasn't alarmed because I thought it was just another cyst, so I was planning to have my regular cyst aspiration done until I saw a dimple... Read More RENEE CABRERA When I went to my routine mammogram appointment, a spot on the x-ray was discovered. I was asked to get a biopsy done... Read More LATONYA TEPLAN I discovered a lump in my right breast at Kohls with Nova Mines, Catrice, Andrea and Elena. I asked them to feel what I felt and they encouraged me to contact my doctor... Read More

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Xaria Smith Xaria Smith is a 21 year old student who currently attends University of Arkansas and plans to graduate May 2026. Being a college student and daughter of a mother who is a breast cancer survivor is what qualifies her for this scholarship. Take a look at what she has to say about how breast cancer has changed her life and her journey as a supporter. "On October 21st, 2003, my 16th birthday, my mom was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. The life I knew had changed the moment she sat my family and I on the couch in our living room with tears in her eyes. At the age of 16, I set aside my role as a teenager to become a care giver for not only my mother, but my father who had been battling with stage four kidney failure since the summer prior. Instead of switching my work and school schedule to attend the high school football games, I was switching my schedules around to ensure I could get my parents to and from their doctor appointments or surgeries. I had added well over 50,000 miles onto my car within the span of 7 to 8 months. I was a full-time high school student with two jobs and bigger responsibilities than any teenager should be given. The more responsibilities expected of me, the more appointments I scheduled with my therapist at the time. Due to the strictly transactional/care giver relationship that had formed between my father and I, my mother was seemingly my only parent. Every one of her appointments and checkups motivated the manifestation of an all-consuming anxiety. While my peers began to plan the universities, they were striving for and the decorations they were adding to their caps, I was learning how to mourn two people I was close to losing. Graduating high school and beginning my future didn’t mean much if my mom was going to be stuck in the confinements of the hospital walls, repeating the draining routine of blood draws and chemo appointments. I thought my life would go back ‘to normal’ when my mom went into remission roughly two years into her journey and I could have never been more wrong. I had forgotten what it was like to act my age and fall back into my role as a daughter. I had forgotten what it was like to put myself first, emotions and all. I hadn’t truly realized how badly I felt I was drowning because I forgot how to ask for help. Still to this day, I am relearning that it is okay to not be okay. At the age of 20, I am slowly making up for the fun teenage years I had missed, allowing myself to take a deep breath and live for myself." BACK

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Savanna Vinson Savanna Vinson is a 20 year old student who currently attends University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and plans to graduate May 2027. Being a college student and daughter who witnessed her mother being a breast cancer survivor is what qualifies her for this scholarship. Here's what she has to say about how breast cancer has changed her life and her journey with breast cancer as a supporter. "I was young, but I do know that cancer sucks. Cancer is the worst kind of disease any person can have in their lifetime. I have had several family members who have had cancer. This brings me to share a story about a SURVIVOR! My Mom! My Warrior! My example of STRENGTH and determination; and her testimony of her battle with cancer. My Mom has been a breast cancer survivor for 18 years. Her breast cancer diagnosis came only a few months after I was born. For as long as I can remember, my mom has had to soldier up against this attack on her body; all while being a mom. My mom! (Tammy). She is a very caring, sweet and loving individual. And please don’t let me forget to share that she is a phenomenal cook. Her symptoms and side effects from chemotherapy. The frequent doctor’s appointments, the pain (that she tried to hide from me and my younger sister), the medications; everything became more apparent. My mom made sure my sister and I did not miss a beat with her being sick. Growing up and understanding what having breast cancer can do to a person, what other illnesses it leads to. Watching my mom get sick and have heart problems, which would have her in the hospital several times; still makes me emotional. My sister and I would usually be with a family member who would take us to school. As a result, the repercussions of my mom's breast cancer affected her body and life, but for me it affected my childhood. With her having to deal with the aftermath of breast cancer made it hard for her to live. Dealing with health problems and raising 2 kids on her own wasn’t easy. As a single mother she must rely on checks in order to take care of my sister and me. Since she had heart problems, she couldn’t work a job because of her health problems, which made a way for her to become a stay-at-home mom. It helped me be good at school. That would make me the scholar that I am today." BACK

About Breast Cancer Educating women and men on what they can do to be proactive with their breast health is one of our top priorities because the knowledge saves lives What is Breast Cancer? Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow. There are different kinds of breast cancer and therefore depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Most cancer begins in the ducts or lobules, and can spread outside of the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. Breast cancer becomes metastasized once it spreads to other parts of the body. The two most common types of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma . The invasive cancer cells in both types can spread to other parts of the body. Invasive ductal carcinoma is cancer cells that begin in the ducts and then grow outside of the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive lobular carcinoma is cancer cells that begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to breast tissues that are close by. Stages of Breast Cancer Stage 0 : A non-invasive breast cancer, meaning it hasn’t spread outside of its original location on the breast tissue. It’s highly treatable when it’s detected early. It can spread into surrounding breast tissue if untreated. Stage 1 : Stage 1: The earliest stage of breast cancer that is invasive. The cancer is no longer contained in its original location but is generally small and found in the early stages when it can be most effectively treated. This stage is divided into two categories: Stage 1A and Stage 1B , which is based on the size of the tumor and whether it is only in the breast tissue or has spread to the lymph nodes. Stage 2 : The breast cancer is growing, but it is still contained in the breast or growth has only extended to the nearby lymph nodes. The stage is also divided into two categories: Stage 2A and Stage 2B . Chemotherapy is done first. Surgery and radiation therapy follows after. Stage 3 : The breast cancer has extended beyond the immediate region of the tumor and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and muscles but hasn’t spread to nearby organs. This stage is divided into three categories: Stage 3A, Stage 3B, and Stage 3C . Treatment options may consist of a combination of two more treatments which is mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Stage 4 : The breast cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the brain, bones, lung and liver, and known as metastatic breast cancer. It’s not curable but is usually treatable. This stage may respond to a number of treatments and can extend your life for several years. Want to learn more about the stages of cancer, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org for more information. Risk Factors Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to many factors. Simply being a woman and getting older are the main factors that influence your risk. Breast cancer found in women and men are 50 years old or older but some women will get breast cancer without any risk factors that they know of. Having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get breast cancer and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most men and women can have the risk factors but not get breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about ways to lower your risk and screenings for breast cancer. You can lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health by keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, choosing not to drink alcohol or drinking it in moderation, and if you are taking oral contraceptives, ask your doctor about the risks . Staying healthy will lower the risk of developing cancer and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it ever occurs. If you have a family history of breast cancer or genetic changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about ways you can lower your risk. Breast Cancer and Pregnancy Even though it's rare, it's possible to be diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy, but breast cancer is not caused by the pregnancy. There is still hope for both mother and child because of the many treatment options available . If you have been diagnosed while being pregnant, be sure to communicate carefully with your obstetric care team. They will take extra care in designing the treatment plan that best controls the breast cancer while protecting your unborn child. Even though breast cancer is more common in older women, if you’ve been diagnosed at a younger age, you may wonder if breast cancer will affect your ability to have children and if there will be any risks if you become pregnant. Women are able to become pregnant after being treated for cancer but some treatments can make it harder to get pregnant . Talk to your doctor before you begin treatment if you want to have children or want to keep that option open. Studies have not shown that pregnancy increases the risk of the cancer coming back after successful treatment . However, some women may not be able to breastfeed after breast cancer treatment, depending on what type of treatment they have received. For those who are able to breastfeed after treatment, it’s not thought to increase the risk of breast cancer coming back because there is less information on if it can lower the risk of it coming back after treatment.

Early Detection Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms. Learn more about different ways to increase chances for early detection. Signs and Symptoms Many people have different symptoms and some may not experience any symptoms at all. Most people who have symptoms will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean that you have breast cancer. Some symptoms to look out for are : A new lump in the breast or armpit Thickening or swelling in area of the breast Irritation of breast skin Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast Pain in the nipple area Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood Any change in the size or the shape of the breast Pain in any area of the breast You will be able to easily identify any changes in your breasts by doing monthly self-exams. If you notice any unusual changes, be sure to contact your doctor right away . Breast Exams Breast exams are performed by checking the breasts for signs and symptoms of the disease. A breast self-exam is an early detection tool with the use of physical and visual examinations of the breast and gets you familiarized with the way your breasts normally look and feel. Self-exams at least once a month will help you identify any changes such as a new lump or skin changes. This exam can be performed while standing in a mirror or lying down and using three fingers to press firmly on the breast and armpit area. Any changes that are discovered should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible. A clinical breast exam is performed by a healthcare professional that is trained to recognize different types of abnormalities and warning signs. This is another important early detection tool because a professional may notice a spot on the breast that fails to register as a warning in the patient. Mammograms A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that allows a specialist to examine breast tissue. The breast is exposed to a small dose of ionizing radiation that produces an image of the breast tissue. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early so it’ll be easier to treat before it gets big enough to feel symptoms. Regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. Mammograms are done by standing in front of a machine. The specialist will place your breast on a plastic plate and another plate will firmly press down on your breast from above. The plates will flatten the breast to hold it still while the x-ray is being taken. These steps are repeated to make a side view and the other breast will be done the same way. Having a mammogram may be uncomfortable and some find it painful, but it only takes a few moments and the discomfort is over. It’s best not to get a mammogram before or during your period because your breasts may be tender or swollen. It’s also best not to wear any deodorant, perfumes, or powders because these products can show up as white spots on the x-rays. You will need to undress from the waist up when getting a mammogram, so wear a top and bottom is advised than wearing a dress.

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