Profile in Courage

Profile at a Glance

Genevieve (Gen) didn't plan to spend her summer vacation fighting breast cancer. At 53, a wife, mother and grandmother, she had expected to stay busy with her day-to-day "hustle and bustle" of caring for her loved ones. She had trips planned to Washington D.C. with her granddaughters and a trip with her husband to Italy in the fall.

Things have changed since her diagnosis on May 16, 2006 and her surgery in June. Her tumor was stage 2, requiring chemotherapy and radiation. Her trips were cancelled and her thoughts have turned inward, reflective.

She shared this on her CarePage shortly after her surgery, "Cancer is just another way to become a better person. Think about it for a minute. We all have choices everyday in how to act and react. If you knew that your days were numbered would you be different?"

Gen balances her reflections with humor. When told she would lose her hair from the chemotherapy, she shaved it off with the intention of dying it pink. Big earrings and makeup would replace the hair. When her counts are getting low, she relishes the "doctor's orders" for steak and sugar.

"People looked at me and treated me like I was dying. They don't know how to act or what to say," Gen says. "Don't treat me differently. I'm still me. Remember that I may have cancer, but I'm still the same person."

Blessed with a large family and supportive friends, Gen is grateful for their help and support. She's buoyed by their encouragement and believes her story can help someone else.

"For some, cancer is a life-breaking experience," she says. "If I can help someone think about it differently — as a 'life-enriching' experience, something that you can survive and look back on — that's what I am here for."

Connect with Gen and be encouraged by her positive attitude. Join her CarePage and support her and her continued treatments for breast cancer.