Diane Parker....Founder of Journey of Hope, says ask around and someone in your immediate environment is likely to know someone with breast cancer.

She recently went on a motorcycle ride across the country that raises awareness of the disease, which affects one in every 27 South African women.

In 1996 her cousin died of breast cancer after being diagnosed at a very advanced stage of the disease. At the time Parker was involved with the Ladies of Harley USA, a club for women Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts, which had decided to spread awareness about breast cancer.

“I couldn't believe it when I too was faced with this diagnosis later but because of my awareness I was able to pick up my breast cancer at an early stage,” she says. “The illness and uncertainty in my life certainly took its toll on me, but somehow I found the strength to be positive and get through it all. After going for regular mammograms it had somehow gone undetected. I went for a second opinion, and a biopsy confirmed my worst fears.”

Diane had HER2-positive breast cancer. (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) She says it is essential to clearly understand one's diagnosis. “This is because HER2-positive tumours tend to grow and spread more quickly than tumors that are not HER2-positive and the treatment is different. I had to go onto a targeted IV drug called Herceptin. Herceptin is different to chemotherapy in that it is a biological drug and has fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

I was still on treatment when I participated in Changing Gears in the States and was able to even go to gym regularly while on my 12 months of Herceptin treatment”.

“Knowing that there are now many different treatments available, also gives one confidence and hope that you can overcome this dreaded disease and become more enriched because of it,” she says.

In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer has overtaken that of cervical cancer and it cuts across race and class barriers.

However, with early detection and appropriate treatment, the survival rate is 95 percent says Diane, who was diagnosed in November 2004.

This year, Diane celebrates her fifth year of surviving breast cancer.

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