Finding out you have breast cancer can evoke many different feelings: fear, anxiety, worry, annoyance. For me, all those feelings have come into play since my diagnosis just over a year ago. But as odd as this may sound, there have also been many positive things that have come into my life as well.

    A lot of people are aware of my cancer and that is fine. From the beginning, I didn’t feel I needed to hide it. Cancer isn’t something to be ashamed of. When the first newspaper article came out about my diagnosis, I had a lot of people email and call. It was so nice to feel their support. In fact, I had no idea just how much it would affect me. I was overwhelmed. And an even better side affect of that visibility is the number of women who now contact me when they are first diagnosed. I’m obviously not a clinician or counselor, but I enjoy talking with them and telling them how things were for me. I love the camaraderie I feel with these people. Unfortunately, that number is growing rapidly. I’m amazed at how often someone I know is diagnosed.

    During PMC’s Brake for Breakfast, I saw a woman who is also a survivor. I hadn’t seen her since the rodeo where we met during the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” event.

    Her hair has grown back and she looked positive and happy.

    It was a change from just six month ago, when she appeared scared and numb. I was so happy to see her again and we had a great time with all the other survivors who volunteered, dressed in our pink attire with sashes, tiaras, and tutus and celebrating just being alive.

    It is these women who have brought the most joy to this journey. Their strength and appreciation of life is remarkable and infectious.

    They are proud to be called a survivor and so am I.

    Brenda Stanley is the mother of five children, including two sets of twins and a grandmother of three. She lives with her veterinarian husband on a small