BOSOM BUDDY

By Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter

October 21, 2008 01:46 pm

— Diane Williams was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer six years ago after finding a lump in her left breast. She was just nine months from retirement with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office when she got the news. Williams was working as a school resource officer and said due to job-related stress, she had been considering a healthier lifestyle the year before the diagnosis.
Williams, 62, had her first surgery -- a lumpectomy -- in 2002, just five days before Christmas. Doctors later had to perform a full mastectomy.
During chemotherapy Williams faced sickness and exhaustion. She even had an allergic reaction to treatment so severe she couldn't finish chemo. Radiation followed.
The worst part for Williams was losing her hair.
"That was more devastating than losing my breast," she said.
Her hair started coming out in clumps in the shower one Sunday morning before church.
"I had already purchased a wig, so I plopped it on and went to church anyway that morning, pulling and tugging at the back of it all day," she said. "But it was kind of nice not having to fix my hair every day. I didn't have anymore bad hair days."
Williams relied on her faith to get her through the tough times.
"It was a faith-building experience," said her husband of 15 years, Al Williams, who was Suwannee County sheriff at the time.
A verse of scripture that Williams said gave her strength was Isaiah 41:13: "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'"
Williams said God prepared her for the turn her life would take. Just a few months before her diagnosis, a mammogram revealed no signs of cancer. It was the self examination in the shower that alerted her to the problem.
Williams had only begun conducting regular examinations after obtaining literature on the importance of breast exams.
"If I had to wait until my mammogram the next year I might not be here," she said.
Williams attended a Christian women's conference in Orlando with her daughter-in-law Amy in 2002. In a room of about 16,000 women the speaker asked for breast cancer survivors to stand.
"At least half of the women stood up," Williams said.
Then the speaker told the crowd that one in four of them would get breast cancer in the next year. She found the lump three weeks later.
Cancer-free for about five years now, Williams encourages women to get healthy and conduct regular breast exams. She is also involved with Bosom Buddies, a local support group for breast cancer survivors. Through the group she offers encouragement and helps take women to treatment.
Bosom Buddies displayed pink ribbons on the lamp posts throughout town to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Members are also conducting fundraisers during which they sold pink ribbons and scented candles. The funds raised will go to assist local women who have faced financial hardship while enduring treatment. The group is selling its candles through Oct. 28.
The group's founder, Lisa Mills, said 12-18 ladies attend the meetings regularly. Mills, an eight year cancer survivor, started the group three years ago.
"When I was going through it there was nobody there to talk with," Mills said.
Referring to the group's slogan "We're on this journey together" Mills said, "Whoever's going through this we're there for them. We will help them through the journey."