After my treatments ended and I began to feel like my old self, I found myself feeling like a much older self, not in age but in attitude. And that old me that I was beginning to see emerge was the me from college. The Activist. The Opinionated. The Fighter. I had risen above cancer. I had slain it. It hadn't stood a chance with me. Now I would set out, stare it right in the face and thumb my nose at it. HA! Cancer would not get me again.

Before cancer, I never thought much about fund-raising for research for any disease. Now it was my mission. I wanted to be the poster woman for early detection. I wanted to be the face of survival. And I was.

PHOTO: My dear friends, Pat and Suzanne, were a constant source of support throughout my treatments and were with me to celebrate this first victory lap.

One of the fitness center members owns a gourmet restaurant and opened it for us. Mimosas and Bloody Marys, along with a wonderful buffet were there for all to enjoy. This was his donation to the cause. I've already decided that I am going to captain a team from my school district next year. I can't wait. If you have the opportunity to participate in an event like this, do it. It's good for your soul, good for your spirit.

Regina

NEXT- HAIR!

My First Victory Lap
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Subject: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Date: Sun, 04 October 1998 03:54 PM EDT From: QueenReg

Ladies, I had the most wonderful experience today. I participated in "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" in Rochester, NY. It was exciting. I walked with a group from a fitness center where I was once a fitness instructor. Two of my friends from school also joined me. The walk began at Frontier Field, the baseball stadium in the city and it wound around a five mile course of the downtown area. Our group was one of the first to leave the stadium and begin the walk. About 5 minutes into it, I turned around and saw a sea of men and women behind me. I couldn't see the end of the group. It sent chills down my spine to think that all these people were there to help fight cancer, and in a way, to help me.