Deb's Breast Cancer Journey

In this gallery you will see Deb's breast cancer journey unfold in pictures. These photos span the year from New Year's 1999 — 2000 to New Year's 2000 — 2001, a year of surgery and chemo, trial and triumph.

Other photo galleries on this site:
Deb's Life Before Breast Cancer
Deb's Friends

This is New Year's, 1999 - 2000. On December 13, Deb had her annual mammogram and a mass was discovered in her left breast. Things moved quickly. She was back in her physician's office the next day. A biopsy was scheduled for the next week, then postponed until January 4. While Deb prayed for the tumor to be benign she'd already told her husband Roy (that's the handsome guy in this picture and several others) that she was sure she had cancer. On December 27, she sent the first email to friends about her situation. On New Year's Eve, with surgery and uncertainty on the horizon, she and Roy went out for a night of fun.

By summer Deb had been through an amazing number of ups and downs. A mastectomy and a hysterectomy had come and gone. Chemo had claimed her hair and a lot of energy. But Deb kept on with life, getting braces, traveling and going to conferences. This picture was taken at Somers White's formal dinner, held before the National Speakers Association convention where Deb had been nominated for membership on the Board of Directors.

Cancer or no, chemo or no, Deb stayed positive even thought that wasn't always easy. This is a picture shows a typical scene of Deb at work in her office with Cocoa the Dog. Here she is on the phone, casually dressed and busy. About this time, Roy described Deb as "bald, braces and still beautiful."

Sometimes the urge to do something overwhelmingly fun and unexpected just seizes hold of Deb. Here she is at a party, planting a kiss on the cheek of surprised waiter who had complimented her just seconds before. Things were looking up. It had been a year since the original cancer diagnosis, and Deb was feeling better even though recovery was not complete.

This picture was taken a year after the first one in this gallery, at New Years, 2000 - 2001. Recovery was still going on. The braces would be off soon. Deb had discovered that she liked short hair. All in all, this was a time to celebrate--a year of trial and testing, surgery and chemotherapy, ups and downs, along with the support of friends. It was a milestone on Deb's walk through the valley of breast cancer.

Deb's Life Before Breast Cancer Deb's Friends The Main Photo Galleries Page