Melissa

The fight to find a cure for breast cancer is very personal for me: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 when I was 34 years old. I had no family history and I was so young that I wasn't too concerned when I felt the lump, but I did go see my doctor about it. Although they didn't think it was anything, they decided to do a mammogram anyway to have a base line. It sounds dramatic, but that mammogram saved my life. The lump I felt was not cancerous, but there was a mass that I couldn't feel growing close to the chest wall that was malignant. Mastectomy. Chemo. Baldness (not a good look for me). Reconstruction.

While I was going through treatment, I attended a breast cancer support group at the American Cancer Society. It was so amazing to talk to other women going through the same things I was. Fear but optimism. Chemo brain. Nausea remedies. Reconstruction plans. Chemo brain (did I say that already? Sorry, it's the chemo brain.) A handful of us gals bonded and became close friends. We became family. And their extended families became my extended family.

In 2002, Denise, the daughter of my dear survivor friend Linda, told me about a walk to raise money for breast cancer. A 60-mile, 3-day walk from San Jose to San Francisco. I though she was kidding. I should have known better. Denise can be very persuasive and before I knew it, I was signed up! We walked and we walked and we walked to get ready. Then we walked 60 miles in 3 days. Incredible! Exhausting! Fulfilling! Inspiring! I still get jazzed just thinking about it! You ROCK, Denise! I couldn't have done it without you.

When they had the first 3-day walk here in Phoenix in 2004, Denise and Vicky and I decided to go cheer on the walkers for one hour on Sunday morning. Denise and I knew how much it meant to have people encouraging us along the route, so we bought matching pink polka dot pajamas, grabbed a boom box and headed out. Our one hour turned into all day! We had so much fun that by the time the day was over we were already planning costumes and surprises, and had committed to cheer all three days the next year! Gail joined in later and Team Tough Titties was born!

I'm an accountant and work at a local bank. When I'm not working or spending time with the other Titties, I love to TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL! But whether it's traveling to Kansas to see the family, traveling to ballparks around the country to see baseball games, or traveling around the world, I'm always happy to come home.

I support breast cancer research in celebration of my Fabulous Babes: Nancy, aka YoderSprite, LindaLou, Beth, Jean Ann, Ellen, Barbara, Roni, Judy, and the many other gals I've met along the journey. And in loving memory of our dear Carole.