Heather Jose: It's Time To Stand Up

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It is time to stand up, that’s right, STAND UP 2 CANCER. On Friday September 5th ABC, NBC, and CBS will be airing a huge, celebrity packed, event to raise money for research for cancer. It is on at 8 pm ET/PT and 7 pm CT. Every year since 2003 our government has decreased the amount of dollars that are available for researchers. Look out though, because people are ready to take a stand.

Thanks to Living Beyond Breast Cancer I am attending the event as a representative for them. Hello to Hollywood! LBBC’s mission is to “empower all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life.” Their programs and services are offered to all ages and stages of breast cancer, many of them with low or no cost. When they asked for people to go to this event I jumped right on board. What a fantastic opportunity!

In December it will have been ten years since I was told to ‘get my affairs in order.’ I was only twenty-six years old then. I remember thinking that the longer that I could fight the more time doctors and researchers have to find new medicines and ways to kill cancer. I want to always have options in my back pocket if I need them. I do not want to die of a disease that we could cure in our lifetime.

There has been progress in ten years time. Some great things have happened to make treatment more manageable and increase survival. Overall the rate of women dying from breast cancer has decreased. But that is not true for young women.

I am going to Hollywood to stand up for young women like myself. They are women who want to see their children grow up. Women who have chosen between having breasts and having life. Women who are fighting each day to kill cancer. Women who have learned how precious a normal day really can be when you realize that life is not a given. Women who are living with advanced disease and know that they will never be completely rid of cancer unless there is a cure.

I am going to stand up for oncologists like mine who are in need of money to fund their research. My doc, Sofia Merajver, is one of the best in the field of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It was almost a year ago that we had a conversation about dwindling funding. Because of that conversation I decided to launch a campaign to raise 1 million dollars for her lab. She is one of the reasons that I am here today, and I am honored to help her in any way that I can. The Power of Ten Campaign is ready to go, to say thank you for ten years of life that most people didn’t believe I would ever see.

So please, if you are able, tune in on Friday night. Stand up to cancer anyway that you can. Invite your friends and make it a party. This survivor thanks you.

ABOUT HEATHER JOSE:
Diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at 26, Heather Jose, chose to fight the cancer head on putting together a plan to battle cancer on a daily basis. Nine years later Heather is healthy and using her experiences to reach healthcare providers and patients about how much their actions and words can impact success.

Heather is the author of “Letters to Sydney: Every Day I am Killing Cancer” and a contributing writer for the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine. Heather also blogs at www.GoBeyondTreatment.com and www.Mlive.com/health. Jose lives in Michigan with her husband, children, and pets.

For more information or to Share your on story, go to www.EmpowHer.com/share.

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