Is there an 'International Breast Cancer Day'?

Don't know how to deal with the pressure related to breast cancer surgery/chemo and day to day expenses.

• I am a 54 yrs. survivor of domestic violence. Just three months after police took him out of the house I was diagnosed with left breast cancer. It was already spreaded to the lymph nodes. I underwent surgery and chemo. Now Im in a treatment with a pill once a day for the next five years to prevent recurrency. I live alone and feel like I am walking on thin ice. Not only for the emotional effects but for the financial ones as well. I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico and has been hard for me to find help on this ordeal. Any suggestions as to where to look will be really appreciated.

• Answer:

  I also ended an abusive marriage after 23 years and found out about a year later that I had BC. That was 2 years ago and I recently went through a recurrence. I know that the stress of the life we have lived contributes to health problems. The most important thing for you right now is to reduce stress and you can do this by finding women to talk to who have or are going through what you are. Reach out. Don't be afraid to tell people you have had BC. You will be surprised how many other lives have been touched by it and someday, you will be able to offer comfort and information to a woman newly diagnosed. Here are a couple of sites I have found helpful: http://www.y-me.org/ http://www.bcaction.org