Olivia B. Alston aka " Legs "  obalston@netscape.net   Originally from Benton Harbor, Michigan, Olivia B. Alston has resided in the Atlanta area for fifteen years. She and her twin brother are the youngest of her 3 siblings. She is single and does not have children. Olivia is a proud graduate of Lincoln University of Missouri, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Additionally, she received a master's degree at Clark Atlanta University. Olivia owns and operates Sugar N' Spice Parties for children. The journey through breast cancer began for Olivia in 2003 at age 33. She way lying on the bed and for no apparent reason felt her left breast. She, like most 30 something's, had never done a breast self exam. The no apparent reason was later attributed to God's divine intervention. She felt something unusual, a hard lump. The next day she made an appointment to visit and internal medicine doctor. This was her first visit to this particular doctor's office. The meeting could be described as rocky at best. She was left in the waiting area for over 1 hour before being put in a room. Upon getting in a room she then waited another hour. After deciding enough was enough Olivia put her clothes on and proceeded to leave, being followed closely by a nurse calling her name and telling the doctor Ms. Alston is leaving. The doctor immediately said "if you will stay I can see you now." This doctor would later become one of her biggest supporters and advocates. She referred Olivia to the Breast Care Specialist office. The mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy revealed the unthinkable (for her). You have breast cancer. Olivia underwent a lumpectomy and radiation to treat her cancer. When she returned the following year in 2004 for her annual mammogram she was told the cancer has returned in the same breast. She underwent a full mastectomy and a breast expander was implanted to prepare for reconstructive surgery later. Olivia describes her journey though breast cancer as the most life altering event of her life. She learned of her mental, physical and spiritual strength, faith, power, prayer and the love of family, friends and strangers. Email Olivia at:  obalston@netscape.net

Yolanda C. Lee aka " Double 07 " yodieclee@aol.com My daughter N'Keyma was born in August, 1993. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in November, 1993. My doctors believe I may have had it in January, 1992, when my daughter Alysia, was born and perhaps my estrogen level caused the cancer to accelerate. I joined BRA primarily because of my commitment to promoting breast cancer awareness. Secondly, I've always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle and riding a motorcycle just happened to be one of the requirements as a BRA member. Most teenage girls have a lot of things going on at this point in their lives. Being concerned about breast cancer is certainly not one of them because they think breast cancer is for older people. When I was 16 and a junior in high school, I discovered a lump in my right breast and had a myoectomy. I discovered a lump again in my right breast during my sophomore year of college. I had another myoectomy. Surprisingly, the breast cancer showed up in my left breast. I underwent a mastectomy, chemo, radiation and breast reconstruction. Therefore, if I'm able to persuade teenage girls to take control of their health at a young age and conduct breast self-examinations, then my commitment to BRA has been worthwhile. Email Yolanda at: yodieclee@aol.com

Patrice L. Crofton aka " Enforcer " survivedtwice@yahoo.com On September 21, 2001 at the age of 41, Patrice and her Breast Cancer journey began. Prior to going home to Louisiana to celebrate her 41st birthday with her parents and family, she regularly did self breast exams. She discovered a lump in her left breast around the 4 to 5 o’clock position and a lump under her left armpit. Being the strong person that Patrice is, she decided to schedule an appointment with her primary doctor after her trip back from Louisiana. Her flight back to Florida from New Orleans on September 11, 2001 was interrupted due to attacks on the United States. Patrice ended up driving back to Florida after staying a couple more days with her family in Louisiana. She saw her primary doctor a couple of days after returning back to Florida. Her doctor ordered a baseline mammogram after performing a routine exam in her office. The baseline mammogram results were negative and did not pick up on the lump in the left breast or under the left armpit. Patrice stopped at nothing and requested that her primary doctor order an ultrasound test because she knew that there was indeed something going on and she did not take the mammogram results lightly. The results of the ultrasound were positive and both lumps were found. She had a Lumpectomy and 6 months of Chemotherapy along with 3 months of Radiation Treatments after an Invasive Stage 3A Diagnosis. The tumor was more than 5 cm, the Lymph Nodes in the armpit contained cancer and were stuck together, but there was no further spread. Her parents were her caregivers along with her siblings, other family members and very close friends from near and far. Chemotherapy was very mean and aggressive, but Patrice fought back and won. Radiation Treatments were not as harsh, but made her very tried and weak. After a grudging 9 months, Patrice was back to work. She continued her love of traveling near and far and vowed to continue to Live, Love and Laugh as she did prior to her being diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the first time. For over five years, Patrice’s mammograms showed no sign of alarm until December, 2006. A mass was found in her right breast at that time. The doctor’s recommended that she return in six months for further testing. Testing began in June, 2007 and ended in July, 2007. Patrice was diagnosed with Breast Cancer again, this time in the right breast. On August 7, 2007 she chose to have a Bilateral Mastectomy with Breast Reconstruction Surgery.  Patrice returned back to work in January, 2008 after recovering for a total of five months.  She did not have to have Chemo or Radiation this time, but she had to endure other set backs from the surgery. Patrice is back on her motorcycle along with her BRA sisters in educating young women on the importance of Breast Cancer and learning to know their bodies. Patrice is the baby and the boss of four siblings (Parents are deceased) and is happily single with no children, but she adores her nieces, nephews and God-children. Email Patrice at: survivedtwice@yahoo.com

“Knowledge is Power”