On May 2, 2010 I brought my friends together to celebrate the end of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In March 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The following months included a lumpectomy, six months of chemo (1 treatment every three weeks), followed by 35 radiation treatments which I completed this past February. It was a harsh interruption in life with experiences that will be long lasting. Throughout the cancer journey, I met many courageous people, both men and women who were experiencing their own journeys. We encouraged and supported one another.I feel very blessed to have reached my 61st birthday on April 25th. Along the way I learned many things. The most important, not to give up hope, to embrace my faith, to live each day with determination and to control what I could and give the rest to God and my medical team. I feel so blessed to have had my family and friends support me through it all. I thank them all, especially my husband Jim and my loving father, Victorio, who died after I completed my chemo. It was devastating, but I know he is in heaven watching over me. On the left is my dear friend Gay Kennedy Horton.
Submitted by Kathie Palada Dixon
Long Beach
Long Beach
Dear Kathie,
Thanks for sharing your courageous story! You are quite the fighter and having family and friends is so important as you have realized.
Bless you and I know that your daddy is smiling down on you with pride and love!
Thank you Nancy for your nice comment. No one is ever prepared to hear that you have cancer but when it tags you and you're it you have to make clear decisions. I had to focus and be as strong as I could to get through this journey. None of it was easy but I put my mind set to make it manageable. Many things I could not control but what I could I became empowered. I know it may not be over. Time will tell but I know I have what it takes not to surrender.