A Daughter's Gratitude

Dear Friend,

My name is Patty Evans, and I'm a proud member of the Breastcancer.org staff. I'd like to tell you why Mother's Day has become particularly special for my mom and me. We're both breast cancer survivors, and every Mother's Day I'm reminded that I have her to thank for both of us being here together, hopefully for many years to come.

After her own diagnosis, my mom was my ever-vigilant caretaker. She called me every month, reminding me to do a breast self-exam—so each month I did it. And in August 2006, when I was 28 years old, I felt a lump. It was cancer. My mom wasn't diagnosed until she was 51, so this early diagnosis was certainly a surprise. But because of my mom's reminders, my cancer was found early and was treatable. I truly believe she saved my life.

One of my mom's most powerful memories was when she and my dad walked into my house the day I was diagnosed and found both me and my husband searching the internet, arming ourselves with information to strengthen my fight against this disease. That is when I found Breastcancer.org.

The information on the site empowered me to face my diagnosis and understand the best ways to fight it. My mom did not have access to resources in the same way when she was diagnosed, and she distinctly remembered the fear and confusion she felt throughout her treatment.

On this Mother's Day, my mom is a 20-year survivor and I am a three-year survivor. I can always count on my mom to be there for me, anytime and anywhere. That's also what we do at Breastcancer.org every day: be there anytime, anywhere with information and support to give everyone facing this disease the tools they need to fight.

Please join me in honoring all mothers and daughters this Mother's Day by supporting Breastcancer.org. Your gift, at any level, will allow us to continue to reach people affected by breast cancer with the best medical and personal information available and keep this vital resource free for women and their families everywhere.

Sincerely,