Fighting Pretty Tips from a Gorgeous Gal

After seeing a woman by the name of Alexis, only through Facebook, her energy shines through posts, pictures and her amazing smile. See below, isn't she gorgeous?

We asked her to share some of her tips on Fighting Pretty and here's what she had to say:

These days exercise keeps me going!
Being outside! (With good SPF and a Sunshirt (SPF 50 protection).

I make sure that any day I have the energy I am outside walking with my headphones on and I definitely look up new music on iTunes daily.  My FEEL GOOD songs are:

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: "Can't hold us"
"Can we go back, this is the moment | Tonight is the night, we’ll fight 'til it’s over | So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us!!!"

Avicii (feat. Nicky Romero) "I could be the one"
"When you need a way to beat the pressure down | When you need to find a way to breathe | I could be the one to make you feel that way | I could be the one to set you free"

Gym Class Heroes featuring Ryan Tedder "The Fighter"
Give em hell, turn their heads | Gonna live life 'til we're dead. | Give me scars, give me pain | Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me...there's goes the fighter! | This one's a fighter!

One Republic "Feel Again" 
With you I can feel again! 
Regarding make-up, I just recently went out shopping wearing only a chemo cap, but lipstick, blush and mascara. I ran into a woman who knew my mom and within 15 minutes she asked if I would date her son.  No, literally, I was like: "Um Lady, I'm totally bald...and in chemotherapy" and her response was: "You're absolutely beautiful!"  It was a huge compliment! It's hard going out, because I think once people recognize a woman on chemo they're afraid to make eye contact.  The days I wear make-up, its really shocking to see that the general public isn't that afraid.  I believe other people realize I'm not scared of the changes my body is going through, and there is no reason for them to be afraid either.  

Thank you for empowering us as cancer survivors and showing us that cancer can't stop us, even when we are affected at such a young age.

--------------------------------------------

Check out these gorgeous pictures of Alexis and her dear friend Michele!
Our love goes out to you Alexis and you are ONE HOT CHICK!! xoxoxo

Oh Angie

You have to hand it to her. She made an incredibly hard decision to do something that would change her body forever.

After having a double mastectomy myself, I know it's a life-changing experience. You no longer look at your body and see what God gave you. You see something that has not only been altered, but manufactured. The breast implants, though natural-looking to the outside, are just that: implants. They pucker, they are hard, and you no longer have any feeling in your chest.

But the best part about it all - is you have done what you can to diminish the chances of getting breast cancer again. You will not hear the words "you have breast cancer." And that is something to be happy about.

Fighting Pretty by Pumping the Positivity

Written by Elizabeth Redmond

As Brad Paisley sings…."you are not supposed to say cancer in a song.”  Also, you are not supposed to tell an otherwise healthy woman, with no family history of Breast Cancer at the age of 32 that she does in fact have Stage 2 Breast Cancer.    Well, that is what happened on Monday, May 2, 2011 at about 9:30 pm as I sat in the doctor’s office with my husband, mother and father. 

However, the weird thing looking back is, I almost in way a felt relieved, I had an answer to the lump I found in my arm pit.  I like answers, maybe not this one, but that is part of life.  For those who know me, know that I am a very focused person…if there is a problem, here is the solution, let’s get it done!!  

My husband Brian, family, friends and I took on this awful diagnosis with a positive attitude.   We refused to let something like cancer keep us down!  I considered myself a healthy woman with cancer…and I would win this battle just like I had any other challenge I had taken on in my life.

After my official diagnosis, surgery was scheduled for June 28, 2011.  I needed to enjoy all the happiness that was taking place in my family which included my cousin Jake’s 8^th grade graduation, my cousin Sara’s high school graduation, my cousin Irene’s College Graduation.  Additionally, my brother Leo and I had graduations from Graduate school. The big family event was the wedding of my brother Ed and Victoria.  Life has too much to offer to let cancer rule the day!

Following surgery, I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy from August through December 2011.   This was 8 treatments and 2 months longer than initially planned.  A set back?  NO! This was my body telling me it needed a little more time to rid itself of cancer.  What is the difference of two more months of treatment vs. another 40, 50, maybe even 60 years of living?  I CAN DO THIS!

Through it all I continued to smile with my shiny bald head.  No matter how I looked, my wonderful husband, family and friends, never wavered in their support and love.  Once chemo was done, I had 28 treatments of radiation from February through March 2012. 

I always told the wonderful doctors, nurses and medical staff that helped me through my journey….you are all  the best people that I wish I did not have the pleasure of meeting.   However, I am forever grateful for their dedication and knowledge. Their willingness to listen, explain, encourage and most importantly smile really helped me in this battle! 

Once school was completed in June of 2012, I had my 2^nd stage breast reconstruction surgery. At this point I am seeing doctors just for check-ups!  Nothing beats the feeling of hearing…I will see you back in 3 months, 6 months or 1 year…that will never get old! This is something that I hope will continue the rest of my lifeJ  With the support of our family and friends, Brian and I were able to stay positive even through the darkest days.   Our motto, was PUMPING the POSITIVITY… we used this motto when we did the Susan G. Komen Walk in May 2012 and the Avon 2 Day, 39 mile walk in October 2012.  We will continue to use it throughout our lives. 

I continue to share my story with friends, family and even strangers if they ask.  Knowledge is power and if I can help just one woman or man detect breast cancer early then I have done my part!