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By Komen Denver, September 9, 2009 4:24 pm

My BEAUTIFUL family

by Monica Pacheco

My husband and I, both Allstate Agents, were invited to attend the Pink Tie Affair in November of 2008.  Allstate has been sponsoring the event for two years now.  It was a great event.  My husband and I talked about how we did not know of anyone with breast cancer.  When it came time to recognize those that have been impacted by cancer, I remember how it made me think twice because I was scheduled for a follow up ultrasound two weeks later. Little did I know the follow-up ultrasound would show the pea size lump in my right breast had changed.  I was concerned, but thought I would be fine as I DO NOT have a family history of breast cancer.  I was scheduled for a biopsy on December 16, and on December 17, 2008, I received the dreaded phone call from the radiologist.  I was told I had a very small tumor, ductal carcinoma, and next to it, I had ductal carcinoma in situ.  I was terrified, angry and sad.  My first thought was “oh my God, I am going to die,” and my second thought was “it can’t be true, I have 2 young children.”  I was told I would also have to have a lymph node biopsy.  The biopsy confirmed that the cancer had spread to one lymph node.  This was all surreal to me.

It is approximately 8 1/2 months later.  I made it through surgeries, 6 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy (TAC), and now I am going through radiation with reconstruction on the horizon.    As I look back on the past several months, I am amazed at how far I have come on this journey.  I survived surgeries and setbacks with surgery.  I survived doctors telling me it appears only one lymph node is cancerous only to find seven positive lymph nodes.  I survived with the help of my wonderful husband, 2 beautiful children, my friends and my Allstate family.

For me, my life is forever changed.  For Allstate, they have stepped up their sponsorship this year and will now be sponsoring not only Pink Tie Affair but Komen Denver Race for the Cure® in support of all those who are fighting and are survivors of breast cancer.  Allstate will also be donating $1 for every auto quote generated in Colorado to the Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure from September 15 – October 15, 2009.  I am grateful for being a part of a company who believes in this fight. I too am a fighter, and now I am a SURVIVOR!

My Angels

AllState Angels