So, here goes my first post...=]

I've had 3 loved ones in my life diagnosed with cancer - 2 of them fought through it, 1, sadly passed away by the time they caught the fact that she had cancer. 

My grandmother on my mom's side had breast cancer 8-9 times and survived every time.  She was a fighter and I'm very proud of her for that.  She passed away a couple of years ago, not from cancer but from a pulmonary edema - she passed away from an air bubble in the brain.  She beat off cancer - she never let it win.  And she never let anyone else see her struggle - I think I've learned that from her...the good thing about having this site is that you can build up a support network.  My Nana didn't have that opportunity.

My grandmother on my dad's side also had Ovarian cancer.  She was the one that they didn't catch in time.  From everything that I've researched it's one of the harder cancers to diagnose anyway.  She was not as much of a fighter as my Nana, but I was still proud of what she did.  She kept going to different doctor's and even though they didn't catch it in time, she continued pushing to find out the truth.

My Uncle, the cancer survivor, had skin cancer that matastisized into his lungs.  They didn't catch the skin cancer until it was already in his lungs.  As he went through chemotherapy, I saw a shell of my uncle...I saw my uncle disappear.  He has been a survivor for 10-11 years and ever since his surgery to remove parts of his lungs, he has been the same uncle that I knew and loved.  Except slightly less floatable...=]

So, that's my story.  I've known fighters my whole life...that's what I think they all were.  I rather like thinking that maybe I inherited my fighting spirit from them...=]