Why I'm Proud To Say I'm a Survivor

This year I will be participating in my fourth Susan G. Komen Washington, D.C. 3-Day®, however, my own battle with breast cancer is not what motivated me to sign up for my first Komen 3-Day walk. In fact, I was silent about my own experience for many years. I can hardly believe it has been 18 years since my boyfriend found a lump in my left breast. When I went to my doctor and was told I had breast cancer, at the time all I could think was, ‘28 year olds are not supposed to have breast cancer’. All I have to say is thank God for second base or I might not be here today. 

After my diagnosis, only a select few were brought into the loop, and even then it was on a need to know basis. Breast cancer was NOT a dining room table topic of conversation in my family and because of that I didn’t feel the need to tell them when I was diagnosed. When I first learned of my own cancer I did not know my Grandmother was also a survivor.  It took me YEARS to open up about my cancer. In 2010, when I signed up for my first Komen Washington, D.C. 3-Day, I spent hours struggling over the decision whether or not to check the “survivor” box on the registration form.  It was only because I had recently lost a dear friend to breast cancer that was too advanced when they finally detected it, that I opted to open up about my personal diagnosis.

Even though I checked that box, I still wasn’t comfortable with the title “Survivor.” In both the 2010 and 2011 3-Day events, when I finished my 60 miles, I collected my pink survivor shirt, but didn’t put it on. I opted not to join the other survivors at closing ceremonies, but instead remained with my teammates. Last year, I was honored as a survivor participant in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Washington, DC 3-Day, which for me was another step towards accepting my diagnosis .I had to bravely put on my pink survivor shirt and finally accept the title of survivor, which as you can imagine, was an overwhelming emotional experience and step in my journey towards finally conquering breast cancer. 

At the culmination of each 3-Day, during closing ceremony, there is a “shoe salute”, where each participant removes a sneaker in mass and holds it up in the air to honor the survivors as they enter. In past years I’ve stood with my team and I have held my own shoe up in tribute. Last year, as I walked in with the other survivors and saw all those shoes held aloft, I realized all those wonderful people had walked for me.  It almost rendered me unable to take another step, but I took the hands of the women beside me and we continued to put one foot in front of the other, as survivors do.

The 3-Day is much more than just the event itself. It is a journey comprised of many months of training and fundraising.  There are days when I’m not sure what part of the journey is more difficult. Almost any day of the week I can give you a list of things I’d much rather do than a ten-mile training walk. And there are weekends where sleeping in or reading a book sounds more appealing than decking myself out in so much PINK I look more like Glenda from Oz then Debbi for awareness sake, but I know what I’m doing is important. Not just the money I raise, but the knowledge I bring by telling my story. If I can save one life because I convinced someone to get checked, then it is all worth it.

Signing up to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day was one of the hardest and yet, one of the best decisions I ever made. For me it has truly been a life changing experience. While I may have been hesitant about participating in the beginning, when I look back, I’m glad I mad this decision. I can't imagine not walking 60-miles year after year to honor all of those who have had the same life changing diagnosis, at age 28 or otherwise. I have gotten so much more back from this community than I have put into it and it has changed me forever and for the better. Today I am proud to say that I am a survivor.

For more information or to join Debbi in the fight against breast cancer, please visit www.the3day.org.