Gwinnett Daily Post

Breast cancer survivor Margaret Leeper, 60, retired elementary school teacher

Today marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which brings awareness to the disease that is estimated to affect 230,000 new women this year. With that in mind, the Daily Post sat down with four Gwinnett breast cancer survivors, each with their own story of fear, pain and hope.

Margaret Leeper, 60, retired elementary school teacher

“People are so compassionate and willing to help. What we’ve got to do is take advantage of them. You’ve got to be willing to accept the help, to know that they’re reaching out and to reach back. You’re not alone and there’s no one person or group of people who can get you through this. But there’s a whole community to help us.”

Nila Dunehew, 47, mother of four

“I found a lump, and just thought well, it’s a cyst, there’s no history in the family ... I ended up waiting two or three years, I don’t even remember. There were times when I would get really scared, and just say, I could be fooling with my life here.”

Dinh Thi Nguyen, 54, proud grandmother

“I didn’t know what to do. I was scared. I’m still scared now. I never thought I would be in this situation. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to say.”

Blossom Harvey, 65, faithful Christian

“It was the darkest day of my life, honestly. I never felt like that before, and I started to cry ... Sometimes I’m really feeling down, but God said, ‘I’m here to protect you.’ So I just keep going.”