What were some of the challenges you have had to deal with in your life?

I feel my life has been very good in regards to challenges.

My only challenges have been getting through brain surgery when I was 47.  The result of this surgery is that the right side of my throat is paralyzed for life.  I have trouble with coughing a lot because of the damage, but I have learned to deal with it.  I was glad that I had such a challenge and not one of  my children or husband.

My second challenge came at the age of 59.  Breast cancer.  I had a lumpectomy, radiation treatment and chemotherapy.  It was stage one cancer but my onco DX test showed my tumor was medium grade for recurrence so the oncologist suggested I take the chemo.  It was horrible.  I am through it now.

My sisters and I have all the gene test for breast cancer and unfortunately my four sisters tested positive for the Check 2 gene mutation which means that their chance of getting cancer is twice the general population.  Sue and Patty both got breast cancer with two years of me.  I was the only sister that did not have the mutation but I have had the cancer, however at a much older age than sisters.