Art for Cure, a non-profit organization, was founded by Jennifer Carr Patrizio, Jennifer Tisch, and Bob Stockfield. The two Jennifer's are my friends and fellow young breast cancer survivors. I was contacted by Jen and Jen to participate in the calendar by having a photo of me appear in it! How exciting!

Jennifer Carr Patrizio is a five year breast cancer survivor and a two year leukemia survivor. Jennifer Tisch is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Together, with freelance photographer Bob Stockfield, they have created a beautiful calendar called Life Blooms Desk Calendar.

The Life Blooms Desk Calendar is a month-at-a-glance format, features breathtaking photography of pink flora and motivational prose on one side, and candid photography of breast cancer survivors on the back. You can purchase the calendar for $20.

Jennifer is a young breast cancer survivor that was also faced with the diagnoses of leukemia after her breast cancer journey. Jennifer is surviving and living life to the fullest. She knows how precious life is and she wanted to share her story with us.

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I found my lump myself when I scratched an itch on the outer part of my left breast. Within the next two weeks I had a mammogram, ultrasound and needle core biopsy. On May 16, 2002, I was diagnosed with stage 2b breast cancer. It was an aggressive tumor; it was not detected on a routine mammogram four months earlier. If it was not for the urgency of the radiologist, who is a breast cancer survivor herself, my cancer could have been diagnosed at a later stage, and I might not be here today.