Jan's Story

Breast cancer is something I thought I would never face, although I had previous biopsies. They were always negative.  I had my children when I was young and nursed them, there is no history of breast cancer in my family.  I had yearly mammograms and physicals.  So breast cancer was something I would never have to worry about.  At least until one day in April 2001 when my doctor noticed I had not had a mammogram for a year and a half. He could feel no changes but suggested it was time for another mammogram.  It was during this test, watching them zero in on two areas, one in each breast that my confidence wavered. After the biopsies I found one was benign, however, one was cancerous. My doctor assured me that I was very lucky to have the type and grade 1 cancer that I faced. After a lumpectomy and some 40 radiation treatments I could put this out of my mind once again. That was four years ago and I really did put it out of my mind, wanting to, but never knowing how I could make a difference for others.  God knows what one needs and in my case through my jewelry beading, hopefully we can raise a lot of research funds that will help, one day, eradicate this dreaded and dreadful disease. I am fortunate that my cancer was caught at an early stage and treatment was successful, but remember so many friends whose battle wasn't as easy as mine. We are fighting back with the resources we each have available to us. It takes us all to find "the cure".

Sharon's Story

In 2003, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Two years earlier, I had lost my youngest brother to lymphoma.  He had three young children.  My father was diagnosed with colon cancer at 58, and died at 61. I had never smoked, I exercised daily, and ate a healthy diet.  The summer of 2003, I had developed a cough which I ignored until one morning I spit up blood.  I was in the doctor's office the next day and on my way to Mayo Clinic by the end of the week.  The day after being diagnosed with lung cancer, I had surgery at Mayo to remove the upper left lobe of my lung. The disease has not only touched so many in my family, but also in the families of friends and relatives.  I know I'm not alone in wanting a cure found; but I feel there must be a reason why I am still here.  I had sold the clear plastic lung cancer bracelets to raise money for lung cancer, and had the idea that a nicer bracelet, that could be worn all of the time would raise more money.  I called Jan and here we are.  I think we were both looking for some way to use our talents to help gain ground in the fight to find a cure.  We had both tried to ignore our diagnosis up to this time, but decided that was selfish, and we needed to do something.  This is it!