Everyone reacts differently to a diagnosis of breast cancer and their sense of normalcy after the diagnosis is often defined by the experiences of the journey. Some retreat and spend a lot of time inward. Others adjust their lives to their new reality, defined both by themselves and those around them.

First let me give a shout out to the NBCC staff, some of the most dedicated and professional advocates I've met in the last eight years. They do so much with so little and from where I sit, have some of the best jobs in the world, making a colossal difference in people's lives on a minute-by-minute basis.

I was recently leafing through my monthly copy of "O", the Oprah Magazine and got to the Reading Room section, always one of my monthly highlights. I was reading about a book called The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan which intrigued me. Kelly, a wife and mother of two, was diagnosed with breast at age 36. The book chronicles both her battle with breast cancer as well as her father's battle with recurrent bladder cancer.

As luck would have it, for those of us in the Washington, DC area, Kelly is making an appearance for a book signing and proceeds from the sales at her appearance will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure as well. Here are the details:

Who: Author Kelly Corrigan and Thyme Out chef/owner Missy Carr, two longtime friends, are coming together to host a special evening that celebrates life, food, survival and the power of friendship and family – all while benefiting breast cancer awareness. Corrigan, a 36-year-old mother of two when diagnosed with breast cancer, has written a wickedly funny and insightful coming-of-age narrative that has been featured on The Today Show and in "O" Magazine and People, and will also be covered in upcoming issues of Glamour, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping and ELLE Magazine. Corrigan is currently on a national book tour to promote The Middle Place, which is now available at area bookstores.

What: Thyme Out is a gourmet meal assembly store that has helped thousands of Washington D.C. area families enjoy impeccably fresh, delicious 'home-cooked' dinners since opening last year. Thyme Out has earned rave reviews in publications ranging from Bethesda Magazine to The Washington Post. Customers can enjoy making meals in Thyme Out's state-of-the-art commercial kitchen without shopping, shopping, cleaning or cooking. At this special event customers will be able to sample Thyme Out's delicious food and sip wine while Corrigan reads excerpts from her book and answers questions. After the reading, customers can assemble dinners at Thyme Out's various food stations. Specially priced meals will be available, and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure. Books will also be available for purchase at the event.

Where: Thyme Out is located at 341 Main Street, in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg, Maryland. For more information please visit www.thymeout.com or call (301) 990-6440 to make a reservation. Space is limited. For more information about Kelly Corrigan, please visit www.kellycorrigan.com.

When: Wednesday, January 16th at 4:30 p.m

I spend a lot of time thinking about breast cancer fundraising because I know that is the fastest road to a cure. And a cure is what all of us who've been touched by breast cancer in any way are working and fighting for.

The Young Survival Coalition has come up with a very unique and pop cultural way of raising fund for breast cancer. Here is their latest endeavor:

Designers from Bravo's hit reality show Project Runway will be challenged to create a winning outfit from whatever they can grab in five minutes at Hershey's Times Square. Due to YSC's partnership with Hershey, Project Runway and the world's elite chocolate maker are collaborating and will donate the proceeds of this week's episode to the YSC. The designs can be seen on Hershey's Project Runway page or on the Project Runway website.

Details on viewing and bidding on these unique creations will be available soon at www.youngsurvival.org and at www.bravotv.com.

You can watch the "Eye Candy" challenge from Project Runway Season 4 at bravotv.com. Upcoming show times on Bravo TV include:

• Sunday, January 6th: Noon and 2:00 a.m.

• Monday, January 7th: 9:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, January 8th: Noon, 1:00 a.m.

• Wednesday, January 9th: 9:00 (immediately preceeding next week's new episode

"Eye Candy" will be shown throughout the season; see the Project Runway schedule for complete broadcast information.

This sounds like fun. I'll definitely be watching!

There's a lot of sadness in Amberg, Germany this holiday season. A family buried their mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and grandmother and many said farewell to a dear friend. Traudl was a ray of sunshine, bursting with energy and optimism for all that knew her and the lives she touched were so enriched for it.

Traudl is my dear friend Stephanie's aunt. Here they are together:Traudl She joins her sister, Stephanie's mother Lotte - one of the most amazing people I've ever had the honor to know – and her beautiful mother with the angels. I'm sure there was a warm and loving Pongratz reunion that day. Here is Traudl with her two sisters and Stephanie:

Added Added to the searing pain of the loss, Traudl died of breast cancer, undiagnosed until it reached the terminal stage. It feels like one of those stories where you want to declare it avoidable, a death that could have been avoided. A family that could have been spared so much sadness and heartache.

This is why we have to keep working for a cure. Breast cancer knows no boundaries – not race, demographics, geography, religion - it just doesn't matter.

So tomorrow, as we all join to close out a calendar year and begin the new year of 2008, please take add Traudl and her family and loved ones to your thoughts and prayers.

In closing, a passage from the Little Prince which was chosen as part of Traudl's obituary. I've left it in German to preserve the magic of the presentation and sentiment:

"Wenn du bei Nacht den Himmel anschaust, wird es dir sein, als lachten all Sterne, weil ich auf einen von ihnen wohne, weil ich auf einem von ihnen lache. Du allein wirst Sterne haben, die lichen konnen. Und wenn du dich getrostet hast, wirst du froh sein, mich gekannt zu haben."

Antoine de Saint-Expurey, "Der Kleiner Prinz"

Most people that know me will describe me as a generous person. And when it comes to breast cancer causes, I give not just money but my time and spirit. I guess part of me feels like the more I give, the closer we can get to a cure.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do my homework. Charitynavigator.com is a site I use often to help me decide which organization I want to partner with. And I am so excited, thrilled even, to know how my contribution makes a difference.

With that perspective, you can imagine my elation upon reading about the Young Survival Coalition's achievements this year, whose core mission is to increase the quality and quantity of life for young women affected by breast cancer. Let me share some of it with you:

• Co-hosted, with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, the 7th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, bringing together more than 800 young women diagnosed with breast cancer

• Distributed 5,000 ResourceLink Guidebooks to young women diagnosed with breast cancer, providing them with valuable information and hundreds of resources at their finger tips

• Launched the Spanish version of www.youngsurvival.org

• Organized the first annual retreat for young women living with Stage IV breast cancer, giving them critical peer support and information on living with breast cancer as a chronic disease

• Provided young women diagnosed with breast cancer with peer support matches through our Point of Contact program

• Increased the reach of our website by 10%, with more than 1,700 visits a day and more than 80,000 visits per month

• Delivered 1,000 Newly Diagnosed Kits to young women diagnosed with breast cancer through our grassroots affiliate and community volunteer group program

Wow – I LOVE knowing how my contribution has helped achieve results! It inspires me, as I sit down to formulate my giving strategy. And to inspire me further, the YSC arms me with additional information:

• Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15-54.¹

• More than 16,000 women under age 45 will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year.²

• The five-year relative survival rate for women under 40 when diagnosed is 82%, lower than the 89% for women diagnosed at age 40 and older.³

¹ NCI Fact Book 2006

²American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2007-08

³American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2007-08

Helping me understand what has been done and then what is left to be done gets my attention. Making it easy for me to understand how to impact the future gets my attention as well:

Your $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 donation will allow the YSC to continue to be the voice for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. You will help the YSC ensure that no young women feel isolated or alone, and they receive the needed peer support, information and resources to best navigate their breast cancer experience.

Showing your support has never been easier. Make your donation today by visiting www.youngsurvival.org or calling us at (646) 257-3000 , and we will be more than happy to assist you over the phone.

So whether it's this particular appeal that gets your attention, or another equally well crafted appeal, please let part of your giving strategy include addressing breast cancer's cure as you consider your year end giving strategy.

Thank you!

As my cousin Doug says, I'm busier than a one armed coat hanger (well, he uses that and another one that's not fit for publication). There are birthdays to celebrate, cards to get out, presents to buy, parties to attend and activities to enjoy. I'm out of breath just thinking about it, but loving every minute of it!

Yet, now is a time when we can all really make a difference. So, as you remember your mail carrier, your hairdresser, your sanitation workers and all the other people in your life who make it easier and more manageable, think about the people that work so tirelessly to help find a cure and consider making an end of year donation to the organization of your choice (like Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the Young Survival Coalition, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, etc.)

As the year ends and the spirit of holiday giving embraces all of us, make a difference in the lives of people touched by breast cancer. As my friend and fellow survivor Susan Sonley always says, "until there is a cure, we have work to do." She's absolutely right.

My baby turned one on Friday. The baby I wasn't supposed to have because I had chemo. He celebrated his first birthday with his 4 ½ year old brother, the baby born two years, 364 days and 21 hours after I took my first chemo treatment. The other baby I wasn't supposed to have.

I still marvel at the miracle of it all, the miracle of this life I live.

Yet my heart aches. My friend Patty Matthews – yes, our Patty on the blog – received the unthinkable news this week that she has cancer again. Thankfully, she has an amazing network of family friends to support her. But in my experience, there is never enough support. So please help me help her. Please send her thoughts of strength and healing and keep her and her family in your prayers. They need us right now.

By now you know there's little I won't do to help advance a cure for breast cancer. I just completed a rigorous and invigorating five day course called Project LEAD, conducted by the NBCC, which I'll write about soon.

Of all the things I have done, I've always wanted to do something physical and challenging, not just the National Race for the Cure. I started looking into the various walks and thought about doing one, but it was always something that took a priority over clearing my life for such a big commitment. The idea of a multi-day walk seems doable on paper. I can walk the distance, just don't ask me to run it.

Living in Washington, DC , we often are lucky to get many events through our city. A few years ago, we even had the choice of two breast cancer walks, one to benefit and one for Komen. For some reason, Susan G. Komen for the Cure pulled their 3 day event after the first year, much to the dismay of many of us.

I'm so excited to share that Komen has reconsidered and is now returning the Breast Cancer 3 Day to Washington, DC in October, 2008. I'm so thrilled that I'm signing up and participating!

I was encouraged to learn that although it's a 3 day walk of 20 miles a day, there is so much support by the company that stages the event. There is training, a single site for sleeping and eating and lots of pre-event interaction. I can't wait to experience it first hand.

Who will join me??

In my breast cancer advocacy work, I constantly meet extraordinary people. Bridget Mooney is one of those people. I can't wait to introduce you!

I first met Bridget, 24, in August at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Mission Conference. She introduced herself to me as the Co-Chair of Komen's Young Woman National Advisory Council, an initiative by Komen to focus on young women and breast cancer (and yes, that is the sound of all of us young survivors applauding). Her incredible spirit precedes her and fills the room as she walks in. She is bubbly and full of life.

Let me tell you Bridget's story. She was a carefree senior at Boston University , planning her future and enjoying her last year with her friends. She felt a lump in her left breast and went to see a nurse practitioner. Without a family history of breast cancer, she was assured by doctors that she had nothing to worry about. After finally getting a mammogram, it was discovered that while Bridget was out enjoying her senior year, her cancer had spread and metastasized to her liver. Stage 4. She learned all this the week after she graduated from college at the tender age of 21.

Now, any cancer survivor will tell you that it's not a solitary journey. And we're only as strong as those around us. Komen has a great term for these people that walk with us on the cancer journey - co-survivor.

When you meet Bridget, you realize quickly that she's a teeny, tiny person with the biggest heart you can imagine. Just when you marvel at the idea that she chose a career that focuses on breast cancer (she coordinates the Susan G. Komen 3 day walks across the country – a big passion of hers) and that she spends her free time working on young women's breast cancer-related issues, she raises the bar again by focusing not on herself, but her co-survivor. And so when Regis and Kelly made the call for stories about people you're thankful for, Bridget answered it as big and energetically as only she knows how. Let me let her tell you the rest in her own words:

A cancer diagnosis at a young age is difficult. Being told by doctors that they did not expect me to see my 30^th birthday at the same time all my friends are celebrating their limitless futures was just incomprehensible. Caitlin, with such strength and grace, stood by me through everything. Caitlin took me out for manicures when all of my other friends didn't know what to say to "the sick girl". The week after I started losing my hair happened to be my birthday, and Caitlin flew in my boyfriend and planned a special trip to the beach to celebrate. Most importantly, she started a team in the NYC Race for the Cure in my name....AND Team Mooney has raised $20,000 for Susan G Komen for the Cure! For a small group of young ladies fresh out of college I found this to be a huge financial accomplishment. We all know how committed I am to the breast cancer cause, particularly for young women. For Caitlin to share in my passion so wholeheartedly really tells you what a wonderful friend she is.

Regis and Kelly agreed with me that Caitlin is just absolutely fabulous. I was in NYC last week to surprise her with a "Thanks-for-Giving" Ambush Makeover. We ambushed her in her kickboxing class to tell her the good news. Many tears were shed. Now she gets to head out into New York and get all glamorous! Oscar Blandi is going to do her hair, she is being taken shopping. It is all so overwhelming and great for her. Even more importantly, I think it is absolutely wonderful that I can tell my breast cancer story to such a huge audience. I am so happy to show how young people can get breast cancer, and how young people can rally together and make a huge difference in this world.

From where I sit, they're both so fortunate to have each other. Thanks for reminding us about gracious survivors, incredible, can't-live-without co-survivors and the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Remember to check in with Regis and Kelly on Wednesday to live this experience with Bridget and Caitlyn.

With two children under the age of five, clothes shopping has taken a bit of a back seat in my life. Unless a retailer gets my attention by supporting breast cancer research and saluting survivors. Enter Ann Taylor.

October four years ago, I was asked to emcee the premier invitation only event called "Ann Taylor's Salute to Survivors" held as a Susan G. Komen for the Cure fundraiser. Not sure what to expect but always happy to volunteer for anything breast cancer-related any way I can, I immediately agreed. I arrived at the Washington DC store as directed to find a series of Ann Taylor outfits to select and a professional hair and make up artists to get me show ready. Turns out I was emceeing a fashion show of Ann Taylor's clothes modeled by survivors. And each and every one of us was being waited on hand and foot, with catered food floating by on beautiful trays and the Ann Taylor staff taking on the role of maids in waiting for us.

A bit of encouraging news about the great strides being made on the cancer research front is that there are now over 10 million cancer survivors – at least that's what I heard Lance Armstrong say on Meet the Press earlier this year. And every one of those cancer survivors, regardless of what type of cancer they've had, shares one common concern – quality of life – short, medium and long term.

Let's face it. No matter how strong you are, how much support you get and how awesome your self-esteem is, if you told me that your self-image doesn't take a hit after dealing with breast cancer, I wouldn't believe you. Well, the wonderful people at Ann Taylor know that and decided to dedicate an event each month to kick off their breast cancer awareness activities and make us all feel so incredibly beautiful and awesome. And each year since, Ann Taylor has raised their own bar on the program and the ways in which they raise funds.

Survivor models: Ellen Brewer, Patti Brownstein, Katie Garlock, Marianne Gearhart, Andrea Gill, Kathryn Loftis, Diane Mathis, Jane Shepard, Madeline Simpson, Susan Sonley, Beth Swanson, Jessica Tanner.

Stephanie Trachtenberg manages Ann Taylor's charitable initiatives. When I called her to thank her for another over the top evening, I asked her for more information on the charitable initiatives that Ann Taylor pursues. Turns out that the company doesn't just support breast cancer – but the things they're doing for breast cancer, both research and survivor quality of life intrigued me.

Ann Taylor has a partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Get this. There is an Ann Cares card that can be purchased for $25 that entitles the bearer to a 15% discount through the end of the year. All the net proceeds from the card go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), and for every $250,000 raised, a scientist is funded through the BCRF for breast cancer research for a year. Ann Taylor initially committed to a minimum of one researcher. This year they've already funded four BCRF researchers! They essentially doubled the amount of funds raised from last year. I'll bet they do it again next year (yes, that's a personal challenge from me to Ann Taylor).

Shopping my way to a cure with Ann Taylor. Now THAT gets my attention.

You've seen it. You might even have used it. I do – on everything I mail. It's the Breast Cancer stamp. And it's going away by the end of the year unless the Senate votes to reauthorize it.

The House already reauthorized the mighty stamp until 2011, thanks to the efforts of Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri.

It's a little champion, that stamp. Consider this:

• Issued in July of 1998, it has become the top-selling commemorative stamp in history with almost 800 million.

• The stamp sells for 55 cents and the net proceeds are directed to federal breast cancer research.

• By law, 70 percent of the net amount raised from the stamp goes to the National Institutes of Health, and 30 percent goes to the Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense for breast cancer research grants.

• To date, the stamp has raised more than $58 million for breast cancer research!

Source – Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Take the time to write to your senator and remind them how valuable this stamp is to breast cancer research and ultimately, a cure. Every penny matters and 5.8 billion of them is a lot for a colorful little stamp. Let's help that number continue to go up until we've done our job and there is a cure.

We can all participate in this every time we mail something. And as an added benefit, the stamp survives all the postal rate hikes, eliminating the need to keep track each time there is an upward adjustment.

Sometimes, being small makes you a giant!

One of the most exciting things about the Internet is how it's leveled the playing field in so many areas. Front and center is how it's poised to affect the next election. Of particular interest for anyone who has been affected by breast cancer (or any other type of cancer or illness), health care has become one of the key issues the candidates are being asked to address.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) recently held a Presidential Cancer Forum, where the candidates that participated had an opportunity to showcase their position on cancer treatment and prevention. Thanks to these extensive efforts by the LAF, cancer issues will remain at the forefront along the path to the White House.

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has taken this level of advocacy even a step further and asked the candidates to outline their positions specifically on breast cancer. The NBCC has identified four key issues that are front and center for a breast cancer victory:

1. Guaranteed access to quality health care for all

2. Department of Defense dollars to support breast cancer research

3. A national strategy to study the role of the environment in the development of breast cancer

4. Treatment for uninsured women with breast and cervical cancer

This is where you come in. If you've been affected by breast cancer, either as a survivor, a co-survivor, a family member, a friend, or anyone special in your life, you need to go to www.breastcancercaucus.org to listen to the videos and cast your vote.

Voting closes Friday, act now!

Those are beautiful words to a breast cancer survivor.

I went for my now annual mammogram and got great news that all is well, seven and a half years and two kids later. This is a big step for me since the diagnosis on my 33^rd birthday. I had my first mammogram at 32 and have had many, many since then (along with the supporting cast of sonograms, CT and bone scans as well as MRIs).

God bless Julie, my mammogram technician at Fairfax Radiology. She took my films to the radiologist and had them read immediately so I could leave that day with the most generous and precious of gifts, that temporary peace of mind that comes from "passing" all your latest tests. When I saw what tender loving care Julie used with me, I interrupted her very hectic and crazy day to ask her a bit about her perspective on all of us who come to see her (she works in the Fairfax, Virginia office).

Julie recognizes that we all generally don't view the annual mammogram as a joyous task and since her aunt is a breast cancer survivor, she might be a bit more aware of our anxiety. She sees her day as a way to nurture and comfort us through this often dreaded task, not as a "job". With her amazing bedside manner and invaluable sense of humor, Julie guided me through the obligatory mammogram process in such a way that I was able to relax here and there, something I've not been able to do before. I sensed that she genuinely cared about me and wanted to comfort me. She truly has a gift.

One tip Julie had for us – and one I hadn't yet heard before – was to note our technician's name. If we find someone with whom we have good chemistry and comfort, we should be sure to ask for that person when we make our appointments the following year. I'll definitely be asking for Julie again!

Prima, the absolutely angelic patient coordinator at Fairfax Radiology also wanted me to share a tip with everyone. She loves her patients and lucky for us, she is the first and last face we see. She thinks that we should all treat ourselves to something special after we get a mammogram. I thought that was such a great idea that I got a piece of pumpkin pecan cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory to share with my family to celebrate the good news! Her final reminder to all of us, "attitude is everything".

I thank everyone at Fairfax Radiology for making my "dreaded" experience a little easier. And I hope you too, go get your mammogram.

I admit it freely. I'm scared of it. It owns me. A week before, all I know is I'm a wreck – emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The night before, I can't sleep, dreading, wondering, anticipating.....fearing........

Yes, it's the Mammogram.

Don't get me wrong. Part of me loves the Mammogram. After all, it saved me (with a little help from its friend, Sonogram). Yet after hearing the words "you have cancer" once after a Mammogram isn't it just slightly, remotely, fundamentally possible that you could actually hear them again after another Mammogram?

Now, we all know that the Mammogram has come under a lot of controversy in the last few years, being attacked for giving people a false sense of hope and comfort (on the occasions where nothing is found when there really was something there). From my perspective, however, the Mammogram saved my life and because of that, I was diagnosed early enough to have a theoretically good prognosis.

In spite of being malinged so much of late, the Mammogram is still one of the best diagnostic tools we have to date (jokes about it being invented by a man and all), especially when the alternative for some people is not to go get one. Now, I know you're thinking that there is so much disparity within our healthcare system when so many people aren't getting them because of insurance and financial reasons. And in spite of all the work that the various breast cancer advocacy groups are doing to help fund mammograms to the underserved, there are still too many people who aren't getting them at least annually.

There is a lot to talk about on this subject – and we will.

In the meantime, be sure you remind those in your life who should be getting their mammogram to do so.

Then, please say a prayer for me that today's mammogram comes up just like all those since I was diagnosed. Clean.

You can't miss that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I personally, am glad about that! Each year, the media attention is more active and as a result, more people are educated on early detection and options, the things that empower us all. Each year, more and more creative opportunities become available for us to contribute and to make a difference.

This week, a mother at my son's preschool showed me the latest fundraising activity available this month. At some hair solons around the country, you can have a small strip of hair temporarily added to your hair for a $10 contribution (either fuscia, like Angie's shown in the picture, or a lighter shade of pink). Here's what hers looks like - she had it done in Manassas, Virginia at Hair I Am by Cathy Birog.

Are salons in your area participating?