Karen Thomas, known to friends and family as K.T., has always been serious about preventive health care and leading an active lifestyle. She’s an avid cyclist and power walker. Now retired and in her 70’s, K.T. continues the regular mammogram schedule she’s maintained for nearly 50 years without incident. But this year’s annual exam in January included addressing unusual discomfort …

Shruti Babu’s breast cancer diagnosis came as quite a shock. A healthy, busy 38-year-old mom keeping up with two kids, with no known family history of cancer, she originally regarded a lump she discovered as dried breast milk. She nervously consulted her obstetrician-gynecologist, who recommended a mammogram and a visit to Texas Oncology. With her diagnosis in October 2017, Shruti …

What’s so funny about cancer? For professional public speaker and improv comedienne Vickie Sokol Evans, a sense of humor and fearlessness required in performing comedy were essential to her successful fight against breast cancer. Even though she had no family history of breast cancer or any symptoms, Vickie scheduled a mammogram in January 2017 after the unexpected passing of her …

Enduring cancer twice requires more than advanced treatment and smart medical teams. It takes a community of support – caring, eager to help, and nearby. Just ask Sarah Martinez. Five years after a valiant and successful breast cancer fight, Sarah was charging full steam ahead with her life, working on a doctoral degree in educational leadership. Then, just five weeks …

For many people, tennis is just a game played for recreation and exercise. But for Linda Cummins and Bekah Thomas, a day on the tennis court would provide much more — a bond that would strengthen them both during the fight that lay ahead. In May 2017, 60-year-old Linda Cummins had a routine mammogram and learned that her doctors would need more pictures. Not alarmed, …

“Cancer changes you. You realize, once you get through it, that you’re very strong – stronger than you ever thought you were. And I know that about myself.” – Karen Phillips When one of life’s biggest challenges coincides with one of its most important milestones, a special kind of motivation emerges. That was the situation for Karen Phillips, who was …

“Once I found out I was diagnosed, my husband proposed to me. We went to Vegas and got married over the weekend, and on that Monday I started chemotherapy.” – Valerie Shupp Valerie Shupp was originally diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer at 27 years old. After undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, Valerie was followed by a doctor regularly for …

“You never know what you have until something like this happens. I’m forever grateful to these ladies.” – Sheila Hyde Sheila Hyde was just beginning a new job with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission when she found a lump in her breast. A coworker convinced her to take the time to have it checked. After learning the lump …

“It doesn’t matter how old you are. Just go and get checked.” – Ana Knoben In August of last year, 34-year-old Ana Knoben noticed a lump in her breast while showering. A physician at a regional walk-in clinic ordered a mammogram and biopsy after examining it. Ana was at work when she received a call two days later informing her …

“This life, I have realized, has been filled with much joy and a lot of sadness. This helps us evolve into, we all hope, better and more compassionate humans.” – Teresa Green It was March of 2015 when Teresa Green attended a cancer luncheon with a friend at  a local hotel — a few hundred strong and beautiful women, all …