"I was diagnosed with Imflammatory Breast Cancer Sept 21, it was caught on time..whiched help with annual check up did not show up in my mammagram showed up in My ultrasound...Redlands walk is very important to me I completed my first walk for the Cure in Redlands, 7 days out of my first treatment I was feeling tired I did it. I was 43 years old"

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 32 years old. On February 14 2006 I found a lump in my breast and was told that it was most likely not cancer as I was young and there was no history of breast cancer in my family. Because of the aggressive tumor that I had I elected to have a double mastectomy and 29 rounds of chemo. I also had TRAM reconstruction. The process has taken four year to complete and I am finished. I am so very thankful to be alive and healthy. I hope I can go on to provide hope for other women battling this life changing illness."

"The day after my sons 9th birthday while lying in bed I had an itch on my left breast that has totally changed my life. A small 9 mm size pea was right under the skin. On May 20 2010 I was diagnosed with invasive ductual carcinoma at the age of 34. With no family history and leading a healthy lifestyle I was shocked beyond belief. Sometimes the fear is overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like a pink warrior. No matter what Im feeling Ive decided I AM a survivor regardless of where Im at in treatment. Cancer may live in my breast right now but that is also where it will die."

"I have a cousin now as we speak who is battling breast cancer. When her husband called and told me it broke my heart and I fell into tears. Just hearing the pain in his voice tore me up. I know that our God is an awesome God and I know that he will bring my cousin and her family through this period in their lives. I found a lump as well about the same time as hers and to think she was trying to comfort me was awesome. Mine turned out to be negative but hers did not. I walked for her."

"I first heard the word Breast Cancer about 20 years ago. A friend of mine who I care for dearly had to battle it. Later, those words never went away, year after year someone else I knew was diagnosed with Cancer. I have watched family and friends, fight cancer with all their might and beat it and I have seen others lose their battle. All these wonderful people have become my heroes, and after turning 40 years old last year, I have dedicated my Cancer Walks to these strong woman and for the woman of our future. I do this to bring awareness to Breast Cancer and to help find a cure. My biggest accomplishment was the Avon Breast Cancer walk about a week ago. I raised my goal and walked 26 long miles in the name of my Heroes. Today, I will join this walk and bring 10 other woman with me, all in the name of awareness."

"I AM A SURVIVOR....those words should make me happy but they make me sad... I will tell you why... my mother died of breast cancer on October 1 2007. It is because of her death that I even took the time to do a breast check. she found her cancer in July 2007 and passed Oct 2007, I found my lump July 2008 and Oct 2008 had a double mastectomy. I have three daughters and fear for them everyday. Nobody should have to endure this disease and hopefully we can find a cure."

"My mother noticed a large lump recently and found out it was cancer. We have multiple family members with cancer but no breast cancer. I never knew that lumps just appear out of the blue and the mammograms did not see it."

"24 years ago at the age of 23, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was in told shock because I did not have any symptoms or a family history of cancer. I was very lucky with my doctors early diagnosis and treatment. I am here today with a goal to help raise $500.00 for other cancer patients to reach their goal of beating cancer."

"My aunt Carmen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago. After therapy and removing the ovaries they told her they couldnt find the cancer. She ended up in the hospital earlier this year 2009 and they pulled the plug on her February 17, the same day my friend passed away exactly one year ago of Leukemia. on February 25, 2009 she was still fighting it. They transferred her to a different hospital and she passed away on March 28,2009. My brother and I will walk for my aunt Carmen and i miss her and love her very much."

"I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer in 2003 at the age of 45 and consider myself lucky to have been vigilant on my annual pap smears as it was caught early and surgery took care of it with no follow up chemo or radiation necessary. Then in 2008 I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma on my right thigh. Again, because I was vigilant and had been seeing a dermatologist regularly it was caught early and surgery got it all and no follow up care was needed. I consider myself a very lucky survivor of 2 cancers and I strongly urge all women and men to do the screenings early for all health issues and be your own health advocate!"

"Feb, 2008 My daughter Christina passed away from breast cancer. She had just turned 42 in Dec of 2007. She was first told she had uterine cancer then they changed it to colon cancer. We finally got a correct diagnoses of breast cancer. By then it was too late. She under went Chemo and radiation but to no avail. My friends, family and I walk in her memory."

"People used to think that cancer is hereditary but, in most cases and in my case, it wasnt. Let me tell you my story. I found a lump in my breast when I was only 36 years old. I was not concerned because I didnt have a family history of Breast Cancer and a biopsy showed the mass was benign. But a year and a half later, the lump had grown and a second biopsy determined I had Breast Cancer. I was the first family member to have this disease. At the time of diagnosis, I was in the best shape of my life. Because I was in such good shape, I was able to recover quickly from surgery and radiation.

People used to think that having cancer meant a death sentence but having cancer is not the end of the world. It has been a new chapter of my life. I have a strong network of family and friends that have helped me with treatments. Most importantly, God has given me the courage and strength to fight this disease. Oftentimes, I have wondered why God gave me this disease, but all of us have a purpose in life. Sharing my experience and encouraging others has made me a better and stronger person.

Early detection and being pro-active are keys to survival. Unfortunately, there are many women in our area who cant afford to get a mammogram and/or other tests. As a community, it is very important for us to help these women get the tests and treatments that they need. Although we have come a long way in cancer research and education, we need to continue to support cancer research and education. The result of the research can save more lives."

"Two years ago at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I was shocked because I did not have severe symptoms or a family history of cancer. I maintained a healthy lifestyle with a diet consisting mostly of vegetables and fruits. I did not understand how I could have cancer. With my diagnosis, everything suddenly seemed hopeless.

During treatment, my body was in the worst condition it had ever been in my life. I felt like I was in a long dark tunnel without any light of hope. However, I began to draw strength from my strong relationships with family, friends and church members. They supported me through my journey with cancer and encouraged me to remain positive. They helped me to remember that worrying was pointless because it would not change my condition.

With the help of my support system and the excellent doctors and nurses at Loma Linda University Cancer Center, I began to move forward. It would have been impossible without all of them. They helped to change my death sentence into the beginning of my NEW LIFE! I feel like I have been given another opportunity to achieve my dreams and I appreciate everything about my life. I firmly believe that appropriate diagnosis, treatments, and research can save many people like me."

"My grandma was diagnosed with cancer when I was only 16 years old. She was my cheerleader, encourager, comforter, and most importantly my friend. She passed only a few months after her diagnosis. Because she was never taught to check her body for lumps the Cancer had spread over a length of time without her even being aware. I walk in her memory and to make other people aware that its important to know your body and learn the fundamentals of how to check for cancer."