"Cancer was something I was living with, not suffering from."

I started my journey with cancer on September 7, 2004. I was at work in a large furniture store and we were shifting one of the displays. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my groin and I thought I had pulled a muscle. Later that night, I discovered a small lump. I went to my doctor the very next morning and was sent to the local hospital for further tests. They operated on me that evening and found that one of my lymph nodes was badly infected. This was sent to the lab for more tests. A week later, the results came back and I was told I had cancer.

The diagnosis was hard to handle at first, but as a Christian, I knew that God was on my side and He would help me through this battle. I made a conscious decision to take a positive attitude towards this journey I was about to embark on. I refused to hide my illness from my friends, neighbors and my workmates. Cancer was something I was living with, not suffering from. After eight months of chemotherapy, I have been able to maintain a positive outlook on life and have made it my goal to spread awareness of cancer. I also want to make sure that people diagnosed with cancer know that this is not the end. Whenever I get the opportunity, I try to instill hope in someone going through treatment by telling them, "if I can do it - you can do it".

I hope and pray my story helps someone, somewhere, to get through their treatment with a little more hope. God Bless and keep healthy.