As a 19-year-old student at Purdue University, Adrienne Harlow was diagnosed with breast cancer after being misdiagnosed for 6 months. Adrienne was very insistent that something be done about her mass and finally found someone who listened and removed it. It was cancer. This is her personal story.
“We hear over and over again that breast cancer knows no boundaries. At the age of 19 that statement took on a whole new meaning for me. I was a sophomore at Purdue when I discovered a mass in my breast.
Physicians told me that I was “too young” to have breast cancer and instead diagnosed me with fibrocystic breasts. After six months, the mass had changed and my nipple became retracted. I insisted my surgeon remove the mass and twenty four hours later my world came to an abrupt stop when I heard the words “you have breast cancer.”
Many 19-year-olds are looking forward to their future, going to class, having fun with friends. Meanwhile, I was going through chemo and radiation hoping to make it to class, hoping even more that I would have a future.
Most women when diagnosed wonder if they will live long enough to see their children graduate from college. I was worried if I’d live long enough to graduate!
I wasn’t sure if my boyfriend at the time would want a girlfriend who had breast cancer. He proved me wrong by proposing to me shortly after I was diagnosed!
From Survivor to Advocate
Soon after my diagnosis, I participated in the Indianapolis Race for the Cure®. I remember many people were surprised, even astonished, that I was a survivor.
So was I.
I had just had my first chemo treatment and my hair was beginning to fall out, but standing beside me, supporting me, was an amazing group of friends and family. As I stood among the thousands of survivors at that Race, I knew that breast cancer was going to change my life, but I would not allow it to make me a victim.
I needed to be on a mission. I needed to make an impact.
I became an active volunteer with Komen Indy during my treatment because I realized that young women need to be aware of changes in their breasts and need to know that they must speak up for themselves and their health. We know our bodies better than anyone and it’s up to us to protect them.
Working with the Komen staff, I soon began traveling around Indiana visiting college campuses including Indiana University, Franklin College, University of Indianapolis and, of course, Purdue reaching out to young people just like myself who have no idea they could be at risk for breast cancer.
In 2009, I was an honorary survivor at Race for the Cure®.
Through Komen I’ve had the privilege of working closely with two of their grantees. I’ve been a speaker at awareness events of the YWCA of Greater Lafayette and work with the Young Survival Coalition on their Tour-De-Pink fund raising event.
I’m honored to have become a part of an organization that is reaching out to our community to save lives and end breast cancer. The journey of these last two years has been both frightening and wonderful.
I’m one semester shy of graduating from college and I’ve met so many other women who are survivors like me, worked with organizations dedicated to the cause and talked with young women who aren’t educated about breast cancer.
Please make an impact today
I ask you, how you will make an impact? How will you join the fight to end breast cancer? There are many ways you can become involved in Komen’s efforts around Central Indiana. Please take a few minutes to join me as volunteer or make a donation. Your impact may save a life.”
On Saturday, July 10, Adrienne was married in her pink wedding gown, while all the guests donned Pink Ribbons. Her efforts continue on behalf of Komen as Mrs. Adrienne Siddons.
If you’d like to have your personal story featured on KomenIndy.org or an upcoming newsletter, please contact us at info@komenindy.org.