Bakersfield.com

larger view

I was diagnosed in 1993. I had called the Cancer Society to get information to help me deal with my mom because my mom had cancer. And two weeks later, I had to use the information for myself. It was breast cancer and I went through a year of chemo.

Every year I go through a lot of tests. I haven't been sick and I haven't had a flare up. This is my sixth year doing Relay for Life. There's a lot of people who don't understand cancer. You would really have to go through it to understand. I thank God that I'm still here.

I'm a private care nurse and I deal with a lot of people who have cancer.

It was scary at first. I took it both ways. I'm blessed that I'm still here. It could have been worse. I'm happy.

Walking in the survivor walk was a feeling you never forget. My first time around, I think I cried for two days. I was happy that I was around so many people going through what I went through. That's a lot of support.