"With my husband by my side, I knew I could face the difficult situation"

When I was 47, with a job, husband, children, a grandchild and a happy life, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had gone in for a routine medical check-up on October 30, 2003 but that day my life changed. I underwent surgery and it was a very aggressive tumor. Then came two months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

All this was done in perfect secret because I chose to share my breast cancer only with Miguel Angel, my husband. My youngest son was about to graduate and and my other son was about to be a father. These were moments to enjoy, and I did not want to bring sadness by sharing my news. With my husband by my side, I knew I could face the difficult situation.

I remember that my first feelings were those of fear, loneliness, helplessness..."why me?" However I was always positive because I thought that if I did not fight this disease, I would not see my grandson born or enjoy my children's successes in life. I took the time to read good books, and to travel across my country with my husband. Now, we value our time together, sharing the day to day, dining out, taking long walks, things that previously seemed unimportant.

One day, I listened on the radio that the Liga Argentina de Lucha Contra el Cáncer (LALCEC) was inviting breast cancer patients to be trained as volunteers and I felt that it was something that I could do and enjoy. Now I spend much of my time as a volunteer at LALCEC.