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Join fellow survivors at the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Survivor Party.  Michael will create a fabulous portrait of you which will be included in the huge Survivor banner displayed at the Race for the Cure on September 11.  Your portrait will also be available online to share with family and friends.  Refreshments will be served.

When: August 19, 4pm-7pm
Where: Clifford Norton Studio, 26801 Miles Road, Warrensville Heights, OH
Register: By August 13th online at www.cliffordnorton.com/komen or at 216-378-8000.  Register early.  Only the first 150 survivors to call will be assured of a time slot.

Join fellow survivors for a great time filled with good conversation and great food.

Survivor Story: Keela Gurley

When I initially started supporting cancer survivors and research in 1997, I did it because I was proud of all those who sacrificed themselves through clinical trials to help others. I never thought that I would be diagnosed with cancer: I just knew I need to support the cause.

In 2006, I asked my doctor for a mammogram because I had a lump and leaking from my right breast. She told me I was okay. By 2008, I had seen my doctor several times and expressed my feelings but each time she told me I didn’t need a mammogram. I noticed the lump had gotten bigger and the nipple discharge had become more frequent; I demanded a mammogram in August 2008. While my doctor agreed and told me it was probably nothing( I had a benign lump removed in 1999 and I just had a lumpy breast), I figured I was okay, but better safe than sorry.

Click here to read more of Keela's story.

“You have breast cancer.”

It’s a diagnosis that women dread hearing and is all too common, although it was slightly different with me because I was a 38 year old man. Back in late 2008, I started to notice an occasional wet spot on my shirts. For a few weeks, I didn’t think anything about it. Then I noticed that it was always the same spot. My right nipple was leaking a clear serum-like fluid. My doctor looked at it and recommended further testing. And here’s where the indignity kicked in. Believe me when I say that there is nothing more emasculating than being a five foot ten, 240 pound man with a shaved head and tattoos who has to sit in a pastel, pink ribbon-decorated waiting room -- awaiting a mammogram.  So, after a ton of tests – I was told I had breast cancer.

Click here to read more of Dale's story.

Survivor Story: Mildred Maldonado

I was diagnosed in 1996, 13 years ago. The doctors gave me a choice to remove the lump and take chemo or have a mastectomy. I had a mastectomy. It was a very difficult time in my life. Back then, there was no literature available in Spanish. Now, because of Komen, there are a lot of educational materials in Spanish. It would have made a big difference for me if I had had Spanish information when I was diagnosed. I needed information about surgery and what would happen to me. Cuando tu leyes tu sabes mas o menos lo que va a pasar. I didn't have anyone to speak to in Spanish.

Click here to read more of Mildred's story.

Survivor Story: Michelle Oleyar

I was diagnosed in November, 2004 with breast cancer.  I “accidentally” found my lump while I was in the shower and was completely convinced at the time that it was absolutely nothing.  I had no family history of breast cancer and was a 33 year old otherwise healthy young woman. I had a double mastectomy in December, 2004, went through a round of chemotherapy and then radiation.  In October, 2007 I had a reoccurrence of the disease and discovered that the breast cancer had returned and metastasized to my bones. I have since been on a couple different forms of chemotherapy and we continue trying to find a treatment that will slow the progression of the disease while allowing me to maintain my quality of life. 

Click here to read more of Michelle's story.