I will never forget the day that I sat in the doctor's office and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and in such defeat.

"You have breast cancer".

I was immediately thrown into a whirlwind of emotion that I had not prepared myself for going into that office on this particular day - my god, I had told my employer that I had an appointment and that I would be back in by the afternoon. I didn't return to work for 6 months. I was 32 years old and it was December 2002. It was the day that my whole life changed.

My story begins with a pain that I felt in my breast after the birth of my one and only son Tyler. I had had a case of mastitis while nursing in early 2000 and recall that my breast didn't seem the same after. I had visited my family physician but we couldn't feel a lump so she had just said to monitor for any changes and to keep doing BSE's on a monthly basis. I soon began to notice that I was favoring that breast and almost seemed to be protecting it from the leaps and bounds of my active 1 ½ year old. Another trip to the doctor in 2001 to discuss the pain again and let her know that I thought I could feel a lump when I put my arm above my head or when I laid on my back did not lead to any further testing or concern.

1. You have lumpy breast tissue.
2. Cancer doesn't hurt.
3. You are too young for breast cancer.

I remember the little picture she had drawn in her notes; there were 2 U's with a "X" to mark the spot where I had complained of pain.

I have always been a good advocate for myself and my health care but in this case, I trusted my doctor's analogy and returned to my daily routine. I tried to ignore the fact that this nagging pain seemed to feel like more to me. My husband Marty is the only person who truly knows how many times I asked him to push on a certain spot to see if he could feel anything.

The lump was 3 cm. and the surgeon felt under my arm and told me that there was a mass under my arm and that it was actually larger than the one in my breast. He told me to expect that the cancer was in my lymph nodes and that I would need chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I couldn't believe it when he told me how long these treatments would continue for.

On December 23, I had a lumpectomy and an auxiliary dissection to determine if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, the mass under my arm was approx 10 cm. that was removed and had both positive and negative nodes for cancer metastases. They were unable to determine exactly how many nodes were positive as one mass that was 4 cm. had a number of nodes and tumour intertwined. Clearly, and my surgeon further reinforced this - the cancer was of a very aggressive nature.

My first cycle of CEF was at the end of January 2003. My treatment regime was supposed to be 2 weeks on with a treatment of 1A on the first day and the 1B on the first day of the second week. I experienced horrible mouth sores after the 1st (1A) treatment and lost 14 lbs because I couldn't eat or drink anything. I was very sick after the 1st treatment and remember thinking the worst. When I returned to my oncologist she switched me to FEC, the same treatment but once every 3 weeks. I was surprised and asked why I couldn't have the next part of the treatment. She told me that she couldn't make me sick by trying to make me better.

My hair fell out on exactly the 14th day after my first treatment. I had already been out to buy a wig for the occasion. My friend Gil and I had made a pact that once my hair started to fall out we would shave it down. I remember shopping with my friend Melanie and suddenly running my fingers through my hair; my hair pulled out easily into my hand. I shaved my hair that night. My husband and son giggled when I came home sporting my new look. I think it made it a lot easier for all of us to handle.

I often wore kerchiefs at home but would usually wear my wig if I went out. I remember the first nice day in Spring that I decided to put only my kerchief on and walk through the neighbourhood. It was so liberating after spending the last few months cooped up at home.

When chemo finished, my husband threw me a huge party to celebrate my birthday and the end of chemo. 100 of my friends and family surprised me at our home. I was so relieved when it was over and the most wonderful support system was there waiting for me to celebrate. I turned 33 on May 30th.

Radiation treatment was a walk in the park for me. I'm not sure if that is because I had such a hard time with the chemotherapy or if I was excited that the next portion of treatment was about to begin and I was that much closer to the whole ordeal being over!

My 33 treatments were given at Sunnybrook in Toronto. I stayed with Marty's parents and would come back on the weekends. His Aunt Mary Ann would drive me everyday to the hospital and wait while I got my treatment and then drive me back home.

Its funny how people bind together to help you when you need them the most.

It really became obvious to me that I wanted to do more when my husband signed up to walk in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a 60 km. walk through Toronto streets. He had convinced himself that there was nothing he could do to help me with the disease but he could walk and raise money to help find a cure. He raised over $2000 and I was there to greet him at the end of the walk, bearing my stubby hair and tears streaming down my face. Tyler had a little sign that said Congratulations Daddy.

I was so proud of Marty and Tyler that day.

I had crewed the first year because the walk, held in September, was too close to the completion of my radiation treatments and I didn't think I should take the risk of complete exhaustion. The next year I decided to walk myself. I figured this was a test of my determination to beat this disease.

Our team Ali's Alliance of Angels raised $12,500.00. Our teammates included my sister in law Robyn, my best friend Tassy and my friends/co-workers Nancy and Alison.

Together we organized our first Golf Tournament to raise money for the walk. I named it Pink Strokes for Building Folks. I knew from that day on that there was a lot to be done in increasing awareness that young women DO get breast cancer. I wanted to share my story with everyone! I wanted to scream it from the roof tops:

I continue to network with many survivors and work with several people to address the lack of community information for young women affected by breast cancer. My presentation tells my story but sadly similar stories are told again and again by many other young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

I have friends who continue to fight this disease and I am inspired by them everyday.

I lost a friend last year and every time I think that I should put this whole breast cancer thing behind me I stop. Because she didn't have the opportunity. I do. And I will keep on walking, running and doing cartwheels until we find a cure for this disease.

The daughters of tomorrow are depending on us.

My little boy Tyler asked me when we finished the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. "Mommy is Breast Cancer over yet?"

I told him that some day, breast cancer will be over.

SOME DAY.

Allison is currently 7 years cancer free. She's participating once again in this years Weekend to End Women`s Cancer . Taryn, who she considers her miracle post breast cancer baby, will be celebrating her second birthday this spring and will enjoy watching Tyler move from rep hockey over to rep baseball for the summer.