#BCA #SaturdayStory: Laura Friedman was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 30, just seven months after the birth of her first son in October 1999. She felt the lump one morning as she lifted him from his crib to her chest. She thought it was a clogged milk duct but reached out to her gynecologist who ordered a mammogram and sonogram. The mammogram did not detect anything, the sonogram showed a cyst-like image, and a needle biopsy was inconclusive. Being young with no family history, she might have waited six months to follow up, but a second breast surgeon suggest she remove it as soon as possible. After the lumpectomy, Laura was diagnosed with Stage 1, grade 3 triple negative breast cancer, followed by a sentinel node biopsy. Dr. Alexandra Heerdt at MSK, a member of BCA’s Medical Advisory Board, a pioneer of this procedure, was Laura’s amazing surgeon. She confirmed no nodes were involved and Laura moved to to determine the best treatment plan, considering not only her current health but future family planning. It was a grueling year of treatments which were emotionally taxing, caused hair loss, and made her extremely ill. She fought through the moments of doubt with every ounce of positivity and courage she could find, with her husband beside her as a rock of a support. Today Laura is 55 years old and a 23-year breast cancer survivor. In the past 15 years, she was diagnosed with two other cancers but she agrees with the Tony Robbins quote: “life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” For 10+ years Laura has co-chaired “A Cure in our Lifetime” raising over two million dollars for cancer services and research. Though she doesn’t know what the future holds, she has learned to cherish time with loved ones, to redefine priorities and appreciate life’s little moments. “Every moment that is spent worrying is time not spent enjoying the time we have with our loved ones. I GET to have precious moments with my husband and three sons. I GET to inspire others to fight like hell through the dark days. I GET to spread HOPE.”