A few months before her 37th birthday, Angie Christine decided to fulfill a dream of entering Jennifer Hendershott’s,  All Women’s Weekend bodybuilding competition. Her recently adapted exercise routine and ultra-healthy lifestyle had finally begun to pay off. She was now gaining muscle mass and confidence, and she wanted to have a little breastwork done to contour her body -  as a reward for her hard work and in preparation for the upcoming competition.

Following a standard pre-surgery mammogram, Angie and her husband learned that she had five cancerous tumors in her left breast. “I was totally shocked,” shared Angie, “We worked out, ate healthy and stayed active; it didn’t make sense.”

Angie’s plans quickly changed from a standard augmentation, with a competition in the fall, to putting down the weights and undergoing a bilateral mastectomy. Angie continued, “Some may not agree with my decision to do the augmentation, but it saved my life. I can guarantee you I would not have gotten a mammogram until after I turned forty.”

Thankfully, the cancer had only reached her sentinel node; the surrounding nodes were clean. So while Angie’s battle is not yet over (she anticipates just one final surgery and anti-estrogen biologic treatments) it was detected early enough to rule out the need for chemotherapy or radiation.

Angie notes that her strong faith in God has been both a comfort and a ‘medicine’. In the midst of the fight, she is excited to soon join the ranks of the true survivors. “Within the first few weeks after diagnosis,” she shared, “I signed up to walk with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I wasn’t going to sit back and wallow in self-pity. I now have a team of 23 called Angie’s Angels. I can’t wait to participate in my first walk. And I promise, it won’t be my last.” We all run for a reason. What moves you?

At 32, Lori Ostreko had been happily married for four years. She was in the midst of enjoying a comfortable life, with all the dreams and future plans envisioned by most newlyweds. So when she discovered a lump in her breast, her first thought was not a dire one.

“I went to the doctor the next day, but he factored in my age and told me there wasn’t much to be alarmed about; it was most likely a cyst,” shared Lori, “I set up an Ultrasound just to be certain.” What followed was a biopsy, and the unfortunate revelation that she did, in fact, have Stage IIa breast cancer with some spread into her lymph nodes.

“My husband, Joe, is the best husband ever; he was super supportive,” Lori continued, “He said, ‘Whatever you need I will do it; just focus on being well.’” His support set the stage. Lori determined to meet the challenge head-on. A double-mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, six rounds of chemo and a year of biologic therapy could not detract from her voraciously positive attitude.

In fact, if there is one thing Lori wants to share with fellow breast cancer victims it is that being a victim is not an option. Lori bellowed, “I 100% believe that you really have control. You don’t think that you do, but your outlook is such a huge, huge part of your treatment. Your mindset is a powerful force!”

Three years later, Lori is still contending with the side effects of her treatments, but the cancer is gone and her joy remains contagious. She continues to share her survival story as a part of the Lacks Cancer Center Survivor’s Program and is currently creating a team to participate in this year’s West Michigan Race for the Cure. We all run for a reason. What moves you?

In 2005, Becky Dickenson moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Grand Rapids just two weeks after receiving a call from her best friend and college roommate, Beth Goodrich. “I vividly remember the moment I learned of her illness,” shared Dickenson, “I was in bed reading; when I picked-up the phone she immediately said, ‘I have breast cancer, can you come up?’ It was so surreal.”

Beth Goodrich was a 35-year-old mother of one. For her, the diagnosis seemed like a death sentence. Soon after she made the call for help, Dickenson moved into her home to help care for Goodrich and her four-year-old daughter, Ally. “The next five years were such a turning point in her life…and mine,” Dickenson continued, “Watching someone I’d basically grown up with fight for her life was frightening, poignant and altering. Really there was nothing I could do for her, but watch it all unfold. She was so amazingly strong.”

Six years later, Goodrich has finally been given the “all clear”, but it was six years of major surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, biologic and holistic therapies, hair loss, lymphedema, fear, hope, prayers, support and, ultimately, survival.

The last four years, Dickenson has been a Race for the Cure West Michigan volunteer. We all run for a reason. What moves you?