Susan is our model for our 2007 Merlot-Shiraz.

May 13th, 1998... Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer

May 5th, 2005... Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Again.

“You have breast cancer.” This was not the diagnosis Susan expected to hear in 1998. Shock merged into fear which soon morphed into fight mode. When she was told that her breast cancer had returned in 2005, she was filled with sadness at the prospect of leaving her children too early in life.

"I was fortunate,” notes Susan. “I was blessed with an incredible support system with my initial diagnosis. It truly made the difference. Family and friends rallied around me and that meant the world to me. A breast health nurse connected me with a wonderful support group of other women who were undergoing treatments for breast cancer. They were the best resource. We shared experiences about procedures and doctors and medical facilities. Mine was a very pro-active group. We were all doing our research through books, the internet, medical professionals, homeopathic clinics – you name it, we checked it out.”

Following her first diagnosis, Susan had a lumpectomy. The procedure did not result in clear margins. She underwent 4 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. Ultimately, she had a mastectomy with a tram-flap reconstruction.

“Having the mastectomy was an extremely difficult decision to make. It was emotionally gut wrenching. I carefully weighed my options and hoped that I was making the best decision for my return to health.”

When surgeries and treatments were completed, Susan began taking Tamoxifen which she did for 5 years.

It was 7-years later that a suspicious lump in her armpit turned out to be cancerous. Originally thought by Susan’s oncologist to be scar tissue, it turned out to be one of 3 places where cancer had returned in the residual breast tissue left behind from her earlier mastectomy.

“I just could not believe that I was getting this diagnosis again. I had mustered all of the fight in me to battle the first bout of breast cancer. This second diagnosis deflated me. It felt more like a death sentence. All I could think about was not wanting to leave my husband and daughters so early.”

Susan endured more surgeries, trying to get clear margins around the cancerous area. Additional chemo treatments of Taxotere and Xeloda were administered. Six weeks of radiation treatments followed. Chemically induced menopause and an aromatase inhibitor were used to stop the production of estrogen which would feed cancer cells.

“I came through the darkness of cancer twice. I now live my life one day at a time. I live more in the moment. Every healthy day can build on another healthy day. I can’t control what I can’t control, but I can appreciate the riches in my life. They are my family, my friends, my passions. These things sustain me and help me to continue.”

Susan is actively involved with a variety of events that support breast cancer awareness. She co-chairs a black tie diner dance for the To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation called Stepping Out to Celebrate Life. She volunteers for Casting for Recovery, an organization that provides all-expense-paid weekend retreats for breast cancer survivors where they learn to fly fish.

“My life is full. My outlook is positive. I am aware of the types of foods I am putting into my body. I have incorporated a regular exercise schedule into my life. I actively try to avoid stress and am quicker to just let things go. I also practice yoga when I can. Every day is a gift.”

About Susan

Susan and her husband Keith enjoy life in Marin County, California with their 2 daughters, Sabrina and Sophia. Hikes with their yellow lab Raider, riding their 2 horses, walks on Stinson Beach, and fly fishing are favorite pastimes.