A Letter from Marjorie Forshey

I am Angelee Decker’s mother and an annual supporter of your breast cancer fund raising event, Bowling For Boobies. For the past 2 years, I have watched my daughter and her friends put their heart and soul into raising money and awareness for Bowling For Boobies. While in the past I have found my role as a supporter of both my daughter and this worthy event, it is this year I find myself in the unenviable position of being diagnosed with breast cancer and embarking on the journey that all of that entails.

In July I celebrated my 46 th wedding anniversary with my husband, Hal. That evening during a routine self exam I found a lump on my right breast. On August 8, 2006 I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. I will be undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy, possible lumpectomy and possible modified radical mastectomy on September 15th at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, CA. The doctor's prognosis is good but cannot be certain of the outcome until the time of my operation.

Breast cancer does not run in my family, and this has been a shock to me and my family. I am left with feeling ‘what-if’ horror. What if I had not done that self breast exam? What if it was caught later? But I am pushing those negative thoughts out as I prepare for my surgery and not only beat this cancer but stay in my family’s lives for a very long time to come.

My husband and I both work in order to support ourselves have maintained a level of independence, respect and pride. We are however realistic of our situation and HMO for medical care.

The news of cancer has brought me to a whole new place – anxious, fearful, sad, angry, depressed… My husband and daughter have been extremely supportive and continue to be a source of strength. But we all sway emotionally. My husband has been so supportive but he is so strained with the approaching surgery, we almost saw him breakdown yesterday. Angelee told me “I think I've seen my Dad cry twice in my life - the first time when my sister died and once when Mathew [her son] was born.”

I’m unsure what will happen this Friday. I am scared for myself and my family, but I also believe a large part of my recovery will be from the love and concern of the people I have around me.

I am asking Bowling For Boobies to help me with my upcoming medical costs and subsequent living costs and lost wages as I embark on literally the fight of my life.

Please keep me in your prayers and well wishes this week!

Thank you for your support!