Having hosted a radio show geared toward women for nearly 16 years, when October rolls around I always think of breast cancer. Thankfully, due to the efforts of the Avon Breast Cancer walk, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and many other voices speaking up on behalf of women, most are aware that October is breast cancer awareness month. Even the NFL gets in on the act sporting pink towels and other pink paraphernalia.

Most women in North America know how to do self examinations and as uncomfortable as it might be, if you are a woman over 40, you don’t cancel on your annual mammogram appointment. Because most of us have someone close to us who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sarah McLean is my guest today on the podcast and she didn’t fight breast cancer just once, she did it twice! One of my dear friends, Sandy Towers, finished her second battle last year. In fact I have 3 friends who’ve walked this road and an aunt who lost her life to breast cancer. I dedicate this podcast to Sandy, Joyce, and Katie, as well as to my aunt Barbara.

One of the statistics that Sarah shares in the podcast is that 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. No one expects to hear those words at age 26 as Sarah did. Within a ten year period she would hear those words again. What tends to happen when your life is threatened is a reprioritizing and redefining of one’s life. That’s Sarah’s story as she moved onto an emotional roller coaster.

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or are walking the journey with a friend, you’ll want to listen to this week’s podcast. Sarah is the embodiment of encouragement. She discovered how to thrive even while fighting to survive. Check out Sarah’s website www.project31.us which supports the breast cancer community through outreach, education, and financial support.