Kathleen Patterson

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this cause has become particularly important to me over the past few years. During my sophomore year of high school, my mom was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. With no family history, no prior risk factors, and a healthy lifestyle, her diagnosis was certainly unexpected. Despite the promising prognosis that resulted from early detection, my family and I still experienced an overwhelming amount of fear and uncertainty. After undergoing a double mastectomy, my mom has now been breast cancer free for six years. Although this family history now increases my risk of developing breast cancer, I find comfort in knowing that many new advancements have been implemented—even since my mom’s diagnosis six years ago—and many more will continue to be developed in the future. By supporting breast cancer research and development, I am hopeful that one day a cure will be discovered and this disease will be a part of the past.

Here is a link to an article written by Kathleen:

http://www.napervillemagazine.com/?q=node/737

Kathleen Patterson-NU Women's Swim Team Class of 2012