Breast cancer is a very important health problem in the United States and various other countries around the world. Breast cancer occupies second rank as the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in America. Until recently cancer of the breast topped the list of leading causes of cancer deaths in women, it still occupies an unenviable second position, second only to lung cancer. If skin cancer is excluded, cancer of the breast is the commonest cancer among women living in America. According to the WHO, more than 1.2 million women get the new diagnosis of breast cancer every year in the world. These numbers represent tremendous challenges posed by breast cancer within the United States of America and across the world.

Breast cancer claims the top position as the leading cause of deaths from cancer among women aged between 40 and 55 years. Breast cancer can occur in males too; with about 1450 new cases of male breast cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. It is comforting to note that the deaths from breast cancer among women of all ages have declined in US by 2.8 percent for every year from 1990 to 2000. The declining mortality rates may be attributed to the successful screening programs and progress in various therapy modalities of breast cancer.

Komen Lobby Day 2008

On Thursday June 5 nearly 300 breast cancer Survivors and activists from all over the country represented Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Capitol Hill. I was part of the delegation from my local affiliate, the North Carolina Triad Affiliate. We were there to meet with our representatives so that we could explain the need for increased cancer research funding and improved access to screening and treatment.



It is expected that a piece of comprehensive cancer legislation, intended to "reignite the war against cancer," will be introduced this summer. Developed by Senators Kennedy ( D-MA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the bill is known as as the Kennedy-Hutchison Cancer Legislation.

According to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, here is what you can expect to find in this legislation:

(1) A greater investment in cancer research, particularly translational research.

(2) An emphasis on early detection.

(3) Improved access to cancer care for underserved populations. How? Among other things, by expanding access to clinical trials.


Go here to listen to an NPR interview with Senator Hutchison about this legislation. Keep in mind that this legislation is not exclusive to breast cancer; it is applicable to all cancers. Did you know that approximately 1500 Americans die from cancer every day? That 40 percent of all Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lifetime? (*)





Ricardo Antonio Chivara (Carlos on "Desperate Housewives") spoke at a press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill. His mother died of breast cancer when he was a teenager.

Please Join Us . .

These are the hands of women who have cared for each other, nurtured each other, loved each other.These are the hands of women who have blessed each other, served each other, treated each other with respect.These are the hands of the mother and daughters who have prayed together, played together, and stayed together.These are the hands of the women who have worked hard to keep family bonds unbroken and have shared traditions and faith.
These are the hands of the sisters who hold their loving and courageous mother in prayer right now.

We walk to remember, we honor them . . .

This poem was posted on someone's breast cancer page and I really loved reading it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, pass it on! -Ana

There's an empty seat at the dinner table where a mother use to sit.

She's 34 years old, full of life and dreams and two small kids.

There's a young man with a tear in this eye and pink ribbon on his coat, in memory of the only love he'd ever known.

There's a lady looking in the mirror without a single strand of hair, she barely recognizes the woman standing there.

She's waging a silent war against an enemy inside and putting up the fight of her life.

That's why we walk.

We honor them all and that's why we walk.

She lays in a cold small room in a baby-blue paper gown, anticipating what the x-rays might have found.

Then she hears the words that always stop you on a dime and pray that they found it in time.That's why we walk.

We honor them all and that's why we walk.

For life for love, for one another, for him, for her, there's strength in numbers.

We walk to remember, we walk to celebrate, that's why we walk, leaning on each other, and holding on to faith, for those who are gone and those who live on.

We honor them all and that's why we walk.

Win a Pink iPod!!!!

I ran across this website/blog the other day!! Wow what amazing words, ideas, promotions, comments! I was so immpressed with this site, and more than anything I too wanted to do something like this. All those walking know just how hard it is to fundraise, we all know first hand that after a while asking the same people year after year for money, get's old and you always have to come up with new ways and ideas to fundraise. Well.....on this site, not only will you find many great things, but there giving away a PINK NANO....yep, a pink iPod Nano....now, I'm determined to win this, and I feel like I'm going to, only because I want it more than you do! But really, this is an amzing cause, I ask you all to head on over, read these words, post a comment and donate to a great cause! Donate to this team donate to mind, but donate, it's an amazing cause! http://our3day.com/ is the link!! Head on over, donate and you might win the June give-a-way!! Which I already did, but go on!! Check it out! -Ana"I choose “Life” as the category for this blog, because that’s really what it’s about. Not necessarily MY life, but others’ lives. There are a couple of things going on here. First, let me tell you about my Mom’s friend Donna at work. A couple of weeks ago, Donna’s husband started complaining about being tired and not feeling well. They assumed it was nothing and figured it would go away. Eventually, he started feeling worse, and having other more severe symptoms. They went to the ER, and after quite a few tests, it was determined that he has cancer…of the liver, the pancreas, it had even spread to his intestines. All of this from feeling tired and “not well”. It’s too far gone to treat, and he’s been given just a couple of months. Donna had told my Mom about her disbelief of the situation. Just a week or two ago, they had been sitting on the back porch planning the landscaping for their yard, and now he’s going to be gone in less than two months. The cancer is too advanced to treat. They won’t even try chemotherapy. Now, I am not telling you this to depress you. I’m telling you this because it woke me up a little. Despite the things that I have heard, seen, and read in the past couple of months since signing up for the Breast Cancer 3 Day, it never occured to me how quickly cancer can steal a life. I’ve heard of the treatments that these women endure and how hard it is on their bodies, but I had never considered those treatments not even being an option. What do you do when all you have is a little time, and then it’s done? How does a mom with small children explain to them that she might not see the end of their school year, their next birthday, or Christmas? Now I feel like I TRULY understand the need for early detection. What could the difference have been if this had been discovered two months ago?
Yesterday was the official kickoff for training walks for the 3 day in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Laurie and I went down to University Park, which is a beautiful old neighborhood near SMU. We joined about 150 other women who were there to kick off their training with a 4 mile walk. It was incredible to see the people that turned out. There were young women, middle age women, older women, husbands, brothers, survivors, supporters… We started our walk through the neighborhood at the New Balance store (they’re an official outfitter/sponsor for the walk) and wound through the gorgeous neighborhood. The sidewalks were well shaded by the old trees, and the houses were absolutely incredible. Along the way, neighbors and kids came out to wave to us and clap for us. Some even thanked us. The sidewalks had been decorated with encouraging phrases (like, “YOU ROCK!”), arrows, and pink ribbons. There was a “cheer station” where supporters were waiting to greet us with candy, give us stickers and cheer us on. There were cars that honked and waved as they drove by. At the finish line, we were greeted with even more cheering and high fives! I knew all along that this was a good cause, and that this was a wonderful thing to do. I guess I just hadn’t really felt it as much as I did yesterday. Being around all those other women, many of which have beat the disease, really drove this home for me. I can’t wait for the big event now. I can’t wait to meet more incredible people with amazing stories.
My feet are sore, and my legs a little achy today, but that’s nothing compaired to what some of the other women there have been through. I’m just grateful to be healty enough to be able to make this journey. Next year, there may be more survivors walking, because of what we are doing this year. THAT makes sixty miles soooooo worth while, despite the horror stories of blisters and swollen feet we’ve heard. I’ll take some blisters for the team! We really are going to make a difference, one that we will remember for rest of our lives.


Hundreds of women rallied prior to the DFW kickoff at New Balance.

This survivor tells her emotional story to the crowd.
This is why we walk!
We walked behind this team that wore angel costumes.
Families stood outside their homes to cheer and wave– one of the most emotional and touching parts of the day. Simply amazing.
Signs of encouragement were all along the route.
Stickers and candy were handed out at “cheer stations” along the path.
Cheers, high-fives and congratulations were waiting at the finish!

I cannot wait to share all of our milestones. This weekend starts the official 24 weeks of training leading up to the 3-Day in November. We have so many wonderful ideas and cannot wait to share them all with you. We appeciate all of your support!"

My 2008 3 Day Journey, begins . . .

My 2008 3 Day Journey

The Minimum...To walk in this event, each participant must raise $2200. There are a lot of people who think that this is wrong and that you should be able to walk no matter how much you raise. Here are my thoughts on that based on my experience. I have fund raised for many things since I was in grade school. Most of the time, you are trying to get to a certain level of sales to obtain a "prize". Most people, myself included, don't raise beyond that minimum because they reached the goal of what they wanted. In some cases, there is no "prize" for your fundraising efforts and in these cases most people, myself included, tend to ask for donation from a few people then stop after they have raised a little bit of money.What I have found since doing this event last year, is that I spend a lot of time trying to come up with creative ways of raising money for this cause. "Having" to raise such a large amount of money has caused me to be more bold in asking for money and also caused me to think outside the box and come up with fun ideas that bring in the cash!It is a fun way to be creative and in the end the "prize" for my fundraising effort is that my kids may not have to grow up without me or that anyone else should have to lose a loved one to this disease.So instead of thinking "why, why, why do I have to raise so much money?" Shift your thinking to "Why not"! The life you save may very well be your own!Ask, ask, ask and you will receive!

2 Feet+3 Days+60 Miles = An Amazing Journey of Inspiration!

I am raising money to walk in the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk this November in DFW, Texas. I hope to raise in excess of $2200 for the walk. All proceeds benefit The 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk.
To learn more about my walk visit:

http://08.the3day.org/goto/anamoss

The event is filled with walkers, friends, family, and co-workers who have made a commitment to walk 60 miles over 3 days to help find a cure for breast cancer. I will be training very hard between now and November to prepare for this amazing journey. I will also be working very hard to fundraise at minimum $2200.

I need the support of our friends, family and community to help me achieve my goals and to make a bold statement in the fight against this deadly disease.

Adopt a “Pink Ribbon Duck” and donate to this amazing cause!