In October 2007 I had my yearly mammogram, which I had been doing for 15 years since I turned 40. This was the first time they offered the Image Checker which magnifies. They found a small breast lump, I had a biopsy, and the morning after Thanksgiving they called and said it was cancer. I was fortunate to be able to get appointments quickly, had a lumpectomy on December 6, then had 32 radiation treatments from February to April 2008. I started my radiation treatments the day before my husband had surgery for his second kidney cancer (one in each kidney) at UVA, so I was a cancer patient and a caregiver. My oncologist, my family, and co-workers were wonderful. God has really blessed us. We're now both cancer free and I work with the Radford, Virginia Relay for Life as survivor chairperson, and I offer advice and support whenever I can. We have eleven grandchildren ages 16 years to 8 months, and I plan on being around to see them all grow up.

Marie Archer
Max Meadows, VA