At 45 yrs old I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was November 23rd, the day before Thanksgiving 2003. (Sort of hard to give thanks that year on Thanksgiving Day!)

After many tests, exams, doctor appointments, conversations with survivors, 2nd opinions and prayer, I chose to have a lumpectomy, followed with 4 rounds of chemotherapy and 28 days of radiation. There were many days of pain, nausea, exhaustion, feeling like giving up, being terrified and then, to top it off you lose your hair!!!

Many more appointments to follow and 5 years of taking Tamoxifen and now I am happy to be 9 years CANCER FREE!!! I wouldn’t have made it through this battle without the support of my family, friends, co-workers and faith in God.

“Why me?” Doctors don’t know why I got breast cancer… It’s not in my family… I did all the “right” things to prevent breast cancer….but I got it….and I am thankful to have had breast cancer. Now I can say, “Why not me?” IT IS a life-changing experience and I am more grateful now for ALL blessings-great or small- each and EVERY DAY.

~Vicki Pfizenmaier, CCMC Activity Director