I was diagnosed on September 17, 1993 at the age of 35.

Paula

I was diagnosed just days from turning 36, with a disease that I have never heard of before, 'Inflammatory Carcinoma.'

I had been sick since May and had been to several doctors. My breast was leaking fluid which eventually became blood, and my nipple had inverted.

When I saw the first doc, he looked at my breast and said that he wouldn't touch me with a 10' pole. The second doc looked at my breast and said I had mastitis.

The third doc wouldn't even see me, but told his nurse, I needed to go to a surgeon and have a biopsy. So, I did that. But, before I went, I had a mammogram.

I carried the mammogram with me to the surgeon's office, and he told me that since I didn't have a history of breast cancer in my family, I had a 5% chance that it was cancer. He also informed me, that I had some type of infection.

So the next morning, my husband brought me to have the biopsy. When I awoke, the doctor gave me the bad news.

I started, 3 weeks from the biopsy, 4 rounds of Adrimycin, Cytoxan, and 5FU; lost my hair; had a modified radical mastectomy w/tram flap; then another 2 rounds of the same chemo; lost my hair again, and 35 radiation treatments.

I wasn't given a good report. My cancer was 8 CM with 2 lymph nodes involved out of 22, and I wouldn't live more then 2 or 3 years with the treatments. And I would only live 6 months without the treatments.

I chose the treatments. I never gave up fighting the hard battle that was ahead of me. I am still fighting today to stay cancer free!

In 1997, I was diagnosed with DCIS in my other breast. The doctor said I was going to have breast cancer anyway; but the mammogram found it early, so I didn't need any treatment.

Don't think that this is an easy battle, because it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but, I made it and you will, too. Don't ever give up, because we have too much to live for.

I believe in miracles, because I am one...........Praise Jesus!

Please click on the titles of the song and the hymn in order to hear the music.

Candle In The Wind 1997

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart

You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in

And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child

And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in

And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned our long before
Your legend ever will

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart

Goodbye England's rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in

And you footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend ever will

* * * * * * * * *

Performed at Princess Diana's funeral, on September 6, 1997.

Artist: Billy Joel

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

He Touched Me

Shackled by a heavy burden
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
Now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met the blessed Saviour
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.