The irony of the situation doesn't escape 65-year-old Sue Covel. The Akron, New York resident has spent most of her professional career helping to educate women about cancer as coordinator of the Healthy Women's Partnership in Genesee County. So when she found an abnormality in her own breast in November 2004, she had no doubt she had breast cancer.

"I believe the Lord thought I needed to know both sides of this disease: as a health advocate and a breast cancer survivor," said Sue stoically.

The dedicated educator knew the value of a second opinion as she had personally counseled so many others to ask for one. So Sue followed her own advice and sought out the experts at Roswell Park.

Sue recalls, "I immediately felt comfortable with the physicians, nurses and the entire breast cancer team at Roswell. They were supportive and caring and yet clear and concise in providing me with information and treatment options for my particular cancer."

After biopsies, MRI and an ultrasound, physicians diagnosed Sue with an advanced cancer with lymph node involvement. Surgeons first removed the tumor using breast-conserving surgery. However, a follow-up evaluation determined some residual cancer in the breast She underwent another surgery. This time it was a total mastectomy, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy and 28 rounds of radiation. Sue is currently taking the drug tamoxifen, which helps to reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence.

"I'm feeling fine and would say I am back to about 90%," an upbeat Sue remarks. She plans to use her new-found knowledge as a breast cancer survivor to continue her work as an advocate for women's health. She currently serves on the New York State Governor's Breast Cancer Advisory Board and volunteers for the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization's telephone hotline.

"As a counselor I feel it is my job to let women know there is life after breast cancer.  Once they have gotten over the initial shock of the diagnosis, they need to know they can and should be partners in the decisions being made about their treatments."
 Sue also likes to pass along practical advice from one breast cancer survivor to another, what she calls tricks of the trade.

"I like to explain to them how drinking water can help keep someone hydrated during chemotherapy; that keeping a journal can help relieve the stresses of treatment; useful pieces of information often shared among breast cancer survivors."

Sue's message of hope for the holidays: "Find something good in each and every day. I call it a God sighting - finding something good in every day. Don't worry over the future but live life daily to the fullest. The future will take care of itself."