Although I'm outspoken, during my diagnosis I told very few people. H4TG has given me a voice. I am now able to share about my journey without feeling as though I have to hide my feelings or my fears. H4TG has also allowed me to say NO to some things, allowing me time for me! But they also gave me strength to say YES to speaking, travel, and doing things that before I would have passed on. They allowed me to see that my time is NOW!

Don’t ask what you can do, look around and see what she hasn’t been able to get done herself. Anything you do will be appreciated, but it’s very hard to come up with things on the spot. Mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, unloading the dishwasher -- they are not glamorous, but so necessary.

One thing I wish I'd had was someone who understood what I was going through or understood what the doctor was saying. I really never understood what they were saying. I mean, I got it, I have breast cancer and it was pretty bad, but all that other stuff, I had no clue what they were telling me.

Take the time to consider your options and don’t allow anyone else to influence you! Make your own decisions.

I didn’t join until about five years out. There I found survivors that understood and listened to my concerns. (I found) that someone was beside me and understood my feelings.

One Boober! told me hey, if you feel tired, just sleep it off. No one expects a spic-and-span home, freshly baked bread, and a buffet for dinner! Not only did I laugh, but I needed someone to tell me that I can only do as much as I can, and that is okay.

H4TG was a big impact for me. The very first meeting I attended was the day before I had my double mastectomy. I met women in all stages of the journey and kept thinking: I need to remember this. Their faces, their story.

This is a lifelong journey. Ringing that bell is a significant moment for us and it pretty much solidifies the end of a really rough treatment process. However, it does NOT mean that the fight is officially over. Celebrate each achievement (wine and cake are always nice) and then be there to help them prepare for the next phase in life.