In 1978, at the age of 17, my grandad was diagnosed with lung cancer.  At this time, cancer was a death sentence.  Every weekend for the next year, I drove my mom to my grandparent’s home to help take care of my grandad.  He passed away before my 18th birthday.  I picked up an American Cancer Society flyer discussing lung cancer and smoking.  ACS has been part of my life since then.

My 2nd child, Drina, was 10 months old when she was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Sarcoma.  This was not an easy time for us.  Our oncologist was in Kansas City, a 400-mile trip from our hometown.  After several surgeries, months of chemotherapy and study drugs Vincristin and Actinomycin, Drina is a thriving mom with two children of her own.

Years later, at the age of 50, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Then years later, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer.  During these years, I had cousins, aunts, and uncles diagnosed with cancer.

October 24, 2016 I was told those words, “you have cancer”, by the doctor I was working for.  Yes, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy on the left side.  Reconstruction was unsuccessful, as my body rejected the tissue expanders, and I became septic.  After the second one was removed it determined by biopsy that my body had a 50% chance of rejected them again if I attempted again.  A year later I underwent another surgery to revise my incisions. And during both surgeries I also fought lymphedema, first the left side and then because of the surgeries I also was diagnosed on the right side.

My name is Denise Mohlman.  I live in Hastings, Nebraska.  After being a caregiver and then a survivor, I believe in the mission of the American Cancer Society.  I’m an advocate and a proud member of the Voices of Hope, Class of 2015.