Survivor Stories

Catalina's Story



I had just turned 30 and my life was perfect; I had a seven-year-old daughter, an amazing family and great friends. Unfortunately, everything changed after doing a routine self-breast exam. It turned out I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a tumor the size of a tennis ball in my right breast. It was a hard and long journey to stay alive. From losing my hair...chemo...radiation...and three surgeries...I made it! Thanks to all the individuals, family and friends that were in my life during that time, I'm alive. This experience has given me the strength to support and help the women and men, young and old, that face breast cancer today and tomorrow, and I hope that my experience can help them get through it.


Cindy's Story



My name is Cindy Matteson and I am a six year breast cancer survivor.  I am and always will be an avid supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

Because of a former co-worker’s diagnosis, I became more aware of this horrible disease called breast cancer.  I felt the urge after her diagnosis to raise awareness and become an advocate.  Little did I know, at the age of 49 years old I would be faced with the same problem. On December 27, 2005, I was diagnosed with Stage IIIA Her2Neu, DCIS and IDC breast cancer…. (not a very good Christmas gift, to say the least!).  I had 6 of 10 lymph nodes involved; bilateral mastectomy surgery in January 2006, a port implanted in February, then began 16 grueling weeks of chemotherapy.  After a very short break from chemo, 7 weeks of radiation therapy was next. 

Now that I’ve finished all my reconstructive surgeries, I feel so extremely grateful for the loving support of my spouse, family, friends and medical staff that cared for me during my illness. Every single day of the year, I feel it is my job to raise awareness. I am especially grateful to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for allowing me the opportunity to be creative in my fundraising efforts.  The list can be endless of all the things you can do to raise money……you just have to put on your thinking caps!

I will always believe in Susan G. Komen for the Cure and their mission; to end breast cancer forever.

I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL A CURE IS FOUND!


Eileen's Story



"No, this can't be happening to me," was my first thought when the radiologist was showing me the distorted outline of my left breast. I was a 56-year-old nurse and social worker with a great job: I was the administrator of a research unit at UTHSCSA. I stood, rooted, looking at that mammographic image on the light board and my brain was simply not cooperating with my ears. As I left the radiology unit and walked through the hospital back to my office, I kept looking at people I passed, thinking, "If only I could trade places with you..."

My mother died a painful death from breast cancer when I was 26; she was only four years past a Halstead radical mastectomy and was one of the first women to be subjected to intense radiation and mustane-based chemotherapy. The mastectomy site never healed, and her last days were spent in misery. I so didn't want to go down the same path! I so didn't want to have breast cancer --- but I did.

I look back now, 15 years later, and the memories of those first days are still painfully fresh. The realization that my life had turned a corner took a while to sink in, and, even now, I have a hard time with the knowledge that I am a "fat chart" patient in my internist's file. Stage 3 infiltrating lobular carcinoma is not who I am and neither is my surgically flattened chest. I am a woman with a mission, a passion for helping others to believe that they too can survive with breast cancer. I am a Komen volunteer.