Robyn Smith, 52, was

shocked to find out she had breast cancer. Her mother had

breast cancer in her 60s, and Smith had mentally

anticipated the possibility, but not so early in life.

She said, "When I first found out it was very

unsettling. I said, `Why me?' Then I said, `Why not

me?'"

She was diagnosed with

cancer on a Thursday in 1998. On Monday, feeling that

there was no point in waiting, she went in for surgery.

She said, "I was a wreck emotionally. I couldn't see

past the next few days. I wrote my obituary, did a lot of

things in preparation."

With breast cancer, a

section of lymph nodes is removed in addition to all or

part of the cancerous breast. Breast cancer frequently

spreads through the lymph nodes, thus removal to

determine the extent of the cancer spread is important.

In Smith's case, four of the 13 lymph nodes the doctor

removed were cancerous.

For the year following

surgery, she took chemotherapy, taking one type for four

months, then switching to another for the latter months.

Smith's mother had a mastectomy, and her father had

prostate cancer. But nothing prepared her for the

experience of chemo and her own cancer.

She notes, "The worst

part of everything was being nauseated from the

chemo." There are "miracle drugs" which

alleviate the nausea, but the cost can be prohibitive for

some at close to $30 per pill. She laughed and said,

"When you're going through chemo, if it will help,

no cost is too high!"

A positive attitude is

important for every cancer survivor. "For me,"

said Smith, "thinking about those who were worse off

than I was, those who had to suffer through polio years

ago or children who are suffering from cancer, helped me

put things in perspective."

During the chemo, she took

the "one day at a time" attitude. She would

tell herself that "this time next week, I'll feel

better."

Currently, Smith works with

the Relay for Life fund-raiser and is in charge of

publicity. Her sister participated in last year's walk to

raise funds for cancer research and was able to raise

over $5,000. Smith is proud of the support from her

sister, husband and 27-year-old son.

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