I am proud to say that I am a 5 1/2 -year survivor of breast cancer. The past 5 1/2 years have, in many ways, been the best part of my life thus far.

My journey began in 1992, when my physician discovered a lump in my right breast. The mammogram did not show anything suspicious, so it was written off as fibrocystic tissue. It was said that I was too young, age 34 at the time, to be concerned about breast cancer. For the next two years I had many follow-up exams and the lump never went away.

One night I was watching a TV special on breast cancer hosted by Linda Ellerbe. As she interviewed women who had survived breast cancer, all I could think about was the lump in my breast. In that program there was a segment on the Day of Caring, a luncheon and fashion show held in Denver, Colorado, where all of the models were breast cancer survivors. After seeing the courage displayed by these women, I knew I had nothing to fear. My instincts were telling me that something was very wrong and now I had the courage to face my suspicions.

My advice to any woman is to be aggressive with your doctors and trust your instincts, you know when something is wrong with your body. On January 14, 1994, a date I will never forget, the biopsy proved to be breast cancer. This was a powerful wake-up call for me, I knew immediately that I had to change my attitude or I would not survive. I never once accepted this as a death sentence, never allowed that thought to enter into my mind. Yet I knew my life would never be the same again.

Two weeks later I hired a new team of doctors. It was essential to have trust and confidence in these people. Within a few days, I had a lumpectomy with lymph node dissection, which indicated the cancer had spread to three lymph nodes. Because the cancer had spread I received six rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. For half a year I had to give up control of my life to my medical team. Overall the treatments were not as bad as I had anticipated. The greatest thing I learned during this time was how very powerful our minds are. I practiced mind over matter whenever I needed the strength to make it through the day. I worked throughout my treatments and only required a couple days off after each chemo treatment.

Ironically, 5 years later I am the chairperson for the 2000 Day of Caring for Breast Cancer Awareness. After my diagnosis I often thought of the Ellerbe program which made me aware of the Day of Caring for Breast Cancer Awareness taking place in Denver. I attended this event for the first time shortly after I had begun chemo treatments-- it was there that my education in breast cancer began. This is an event that not only educates the community on breast cancer awareness, but also empowers women to survive. It is with great pride that I will stand before hundreds of women at the 2000 Day of Caring, offering them the opportunity to empower themselves.

My life is so much richer and fuller now. I have learned many wonderful lessons over the past 5 1/2 years. The most important things I have realized are my inner strength and beauty. Now, I approach life with my eyes wide open--I want to experience all that I can in each day that I am given.

There is life after breast cancer, one filled with so much love and joy.

- Kim M. Baxter