You can say, "How can I have a Merry Christmas? I was just diagnosed with breast cancer!" "I am tired all the time. How am I going to get a tree up for the kids." You are bombared with questions and fears. You feel alone. How can anyone else understand how you are feeling.

We are Sisters in Pink, and we can understand. We have been there. The operative word here is "HAVE." We HAVE had those questions and those fears. We HAVE felt isolated at times. We HAVE cried, and some have asked "Why me?" We HAVE had pity parties.

For me, once the impossible hit home, I prayed. I sent out an e-mail and asked for prayer help from family and friends. I felt blessed days later when we got snow (uncommon where I live). One friend stopped by to check on me that Sat. and told another that I was in denial--I was feeling so happy with the snow; I felt like God sent that just to let me know I was going to be okay and there were miracles and blessings in every day. I was laughing and happy, but three days before I learned that I had breast cancer.

My attitude has been positive; my prayer life full; and paying it forward has been a big help in my recovery and being blessed to have had breast cancer. Through The Sparkle Caps Project, in 25 months, we have given out 262 gift bags to women in treatment for cancer (not just breast cancer).

So, I conclude with "Be Blessed! Merry Christmas." And don’t be afraid to ask for help.

We found out my mom had breast cancer when I was only 10 and my sister was only 7 and my brother was 27 it hit us hard cause I understood right away and so did my sister and brother my mom stayed at home with us all day while my dad would work 14 hour shifts to pay the bills and put food on the table. When we found out she had breast cancer it was already to late she had to have one breast removed and her limphnodes under her arm they thought they caught it all but only how we found out about the breast cancer she had broken her hip and walked on it for 2 weeks not knowing she had broke it. She cleaned with it broke and took care of us kids every day doing grocery shopping and all sorts of things the cancer had spread to her bones and caused the hip to brake she had a hip replacement and was hospitalized for a month to relearn how to walk she went through chemo and aradiation and aridia and blood transfusions twice a week while caring for us kids. She was a brave woman and hell of a fighter she unfortunatley the cancer had spread to her brain leaving tumors and we lost this wonderful woman I called mom. In August of 2002 I lost my mom but I miss her deeply. R.I.P. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. Please love every moment she did, even being sick.

It's wonderful to have things in common with one's big sister. However, breast cancer is not one of them. Unfortunately my sister and I have both fought and won the battle. Until now, that is. Her cancer has returned and her battle begins again. I am so so sorry she has to fight again. Be strong SIS. I love you.

2012, when the world came to England and Royal celebrations went on, I started the New Year driving our senior citizen group to a new year dinner and dance with my grandson. Little did I know what 2012 had in store for me and my family.

We always moved from private to temporary council accommodation for almost 17 years. I would always tell the kids, we will buy this, we will do this, when we have our own house. Finally in February this year, the council finally gave us a house. It was our ultimate dream come true, somewhere to belong. Our own home. Life couldn't get any better right? Wrong.

In May I discovered the lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer weeks before my holiday to Africa. I had to cancel my trip and hit rock bottom. My life was spiralling downwards.

My close knit family and great circle of friends rallied round, helping, supporting and praying. I went through chemotherapy, surgery and radiottherapy, and live today to tell the story. My mum, nephew, brother and sister travelled from afar to come help me get better. The rest of my family called and kept in touch everyday for the seven months that I needed them.

I have battled cancer with moral, physical and financial support from family and friends. I couldn't ask God for more. I think God for small mercies. Living the dream now.

My mother: Tina Cole was diagnosed with breast cancer and it grew and spread after numerous surgeries – too many to count. Spreading into her lungs, throat and lymph nodes: meaning more surgery was necessary. My mother is 53 years of age and has had a mastectomy (removal of breast), lymphadenectomy (removal of lymph nodes) and has scarring that covers the utmost upper portion of her body from surgeries, chemotherapy and intensive radiation…

She has been fighting this Stage 4 Monster called CANCER for almost six years now.

She is the mother of four children: Shawn (33), Johnny (30), Tahnee (27) and her baby Dillon (16) and has been married to her loving husband John Cole for almost 30 years!!

She is anything but weak - her strength is everlasting BUT her options are not.

She has endured every type of chemotherapy and radiation known to man and the result: the cancer is angrier than ever.

All thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Tahnee Cole

I, too, had a lumpectomy and radiation. I just had my two year anniversary and I still feel alone sometimes. But, it’s one day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Keep going. You can do it and you will do it. Please know that there are thousands of us out here who have read your story and are sending you love and strength right now – really.

I am writing in behalf of my wife and best friend Karen. She wants no special treatment even though she is now going through breast cancer for the 4th time in under 6 years. Stop and think about that. Surgeries, chemo, radiation, tests, and Dr. visits almost continually for 6 years. And she remains an advocate for BC in our community, attending fund raisers and support groups to be a role model for others. Never thinking she can use the support herself.

Sure, Karen would love to be like many others we've met in our "cancer travels", get diagnosed, maybe have surgery, some chemo, and possibly radiation treatment and then be cured. Too bad, Karen says, "I sure haven't gone about this the easy way!" She calls herself "a high maintenance woman." Not like some women in other ways. Hair, nails, fine clothing etc.... Olny through her constant cancer treatment. But guess what, Karen is still here!!! She rarely complains and is living her life like every day really matters, with a huge emphasis on family. Especially the light of her eye our beautiful little granddaughter Jaelynn!

So whatever your story, don't give up. Life is a precious gift. Live every day to it's fullest. Sure you will encounter some bumps in the road. Cancer is an evil monster. We almost all knew someone that has lost their battle to cancer. But with faith, a positive attitude, good Dr's., and the latest treatments, you can live a very productive after cancer life for many years!!!

My mom got diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. She was going to be 50. We had an awsome party for her. Months to follow were very difficult, she was in a lot of pain daily. With 8 treatments of chemo, finally ready for the surgery. You see inflammatory breast cancer is very rare and extremely aggressive, so chemo was necessary before surgery. Less than a month after surgery, before radiation could be done,the cancer returned. She underwent another round of chemo, and before her second round, at 51,she had a blood clot that went to her lungs and a few hrs later, my mom, my world, was gone:'( I watched her take her last breath as she waited for me to pass. Feb 8, 2004. Everyday, almost 9 yrs later I can't get passed the fact that she's gone. There isn't a day that I don't feel like she's just going to walk through the door. I miss u so much mom!!!!

Don't ever give up!!! Remember that there are many of us out here praying for your recovery. The shock of getting the news that you have breast cancer (as I did this past August when I was in the States on business) and then the surgery and follow-up of waiting for news of chemo, radiation, hormone therapy,etc, were, for me, the most difficult part. With that behind me I am determined to be as strong as those women whose stories I read here.

We are STRONG WOMEN and we WILL SURVIVE! Cancer can slow us down for a while but it can never STOP us. Everyday is a day of victory over the disease. Never forget that SO celebrate each day and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds you in so many areas. You have my prayerful support! (I returned here Nov 14th)

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

I found my lump by chance when I felt something along my bra band line under my breast. My heart just sunk, and I was in disbelief that my worst fear was now happening to me. I reacted fast and two days later I got in for a mammogram followed by an ultrasound. My 2cm. lump did not show up on the mammogram images and it was thought to be just a cyst, but I insisted on a needle biopsy right then and there. 2 days later, I received the call from my doctor. I'm 41 and I have breast cancer... I was numb; all I can think about is my son and now had to tell my husband who just totally broke down in tears.

I met with my surgeon who told me that I have a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer that doesn't respond to hormone therapy. I knew I was in for a fight and had to be strong and stay focused. I was Stage 2 with no node invoIvement. I opted for a lumpectomy, followed by an intense cocktail chemotherapy every other week for 3½ months and then 33 radiation treatments.

Nearing the end of my treatments I felt lost, life after cancer treatments is a lot harder than when i was going through it. I've been struggling some... the life I once had, there's no going back to... so many changes that I had to learn to cope with. Fatigue, diet, lifestyle changes and chemo brain has been challenging affecting my quality of life. I turned to a local cancer wellness center for support, trying to figure out my new "normal" and live again. I am now a 3 year survivor! LIVE LIFE!