Tammy Lonsberry, South Elgin: I ‘fought like a girl’

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Tammy Lonsberry of South Elgin, a three-year survivor of breast cancer, credits the support of friends — including a fellow patient — for helping her through treatment.   Courtesy of Tammy Lonsberry

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This is my third year walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, and also the third anniversary since my breast cancer diagnosis.

I "fought like a girl" and I am a survivor! I walk as a way to show my support for the American Cancer Society and to give back to an organization that has helped me and millions like me.

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The first year (2010), I had a large team — more than 20 people. It was a blast; we had so much fun! Making Strides ran a promotion where you could get your team's name printed on the back of your T-shirts if you had more than 12 members, so I made it my goal to get those T-shirts.

I wanted everyone to know we were walking in solidarity and what we stood for. My teammates were friends, family and neighbors. Especially worth noting is one special friend that I would never had met if it wasn't for The American Cancer Society.

I had attended a Look Good, Feel Better session in December 2009. It was two weeks after my first chemo treatment and I was just starting to lose my hair. I was scared and nervous and didn't know anyone else going through any of this. I was only 44 years old when I discovered the lump, and I thought that breast cancer only happened to older women. But luckily for me, I have a very positive attitude and am not shy, so I make friends easily.

At the Look Good, Feel Better session, there was another woman, Lindi, who seemed just like me and we really hit it off. We told each other our stories and discovered we had the exact same size tumors, same diagnosis, same treatments, same chemo drugs and radiation plan — even our surgeons were associates from the same office.

We exchanged phone numbers and made a pact to get together regularly for dinner, which turned out to be our own support group of two, and we still get together to this day. The American Cancer Society helped me find a special friend for life.

Team: Tammy's Titty Committee

Walking in:Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Fox Valley