Author and breast cancer survivor Sherry Waldrip came to Midland to celebrate.
"I am really so excited to be here today," Waldrip said. "To celebrate — to celebrate survival."
Waldrip spoke at a luncheon Tuesday at the Midland County Horseshoe Arena hosted by the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health.
Proceeds from the Third Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon are used to provide no-cost mammograms for women in Ector and Midland counties. It is meant for women who do not have access to mammograms because their incomes exceed the limit allowed by Medicaid and because they are too young to receive Medicare benefits.
Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Midland Memorial Hospital and Medical Center Hospital teamed up to sponsor the event.
"(Last year) Medical Center Hospital was able to give out almost 40 mammograms to patients in need," said Anabel Spencer, MCH’s director of marketing and communications. "And that’s just for MCH."
Mayor Larry Melton and Robert L. Dent, regional dean of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin, proclaimed Oct. 27 as Breast Cancer Awareness Day in both Odessa and Midland.
"Breast cancer is the most common cancer in woman," Melton said. "Breast cancer can also be a men’s disease."
Melton went on to say that there was good news with 2.5 million-breast cancer survivors in the United States.
During the luncheon eight local women were recognized for being breast cancer survivors.
Waldrip told the crowd of how her close friends and a sense of humor helped her to survive the ordeal.
"I felt like a balloon that was about to pop from tension," Waldrip said. "When I laughed it felt like it released the tension."
Waldrip, a 19-year cancer survivor, had a type of breast reconstruction surgery where fat from the lower abdomen was transferred to her chest.
Waldrip said there was only one side effect to the surgery.
"When I get really hungry my boob growls."
2009 PERMIAN BASIN SURVIVOR CHAMPIONS
>> Peggy Dean.
>> Rhonda Lupardus.
>> Becky Billingsly.
>> Lisa Lossin.
>> Kathy Rhodes.
>> Jo Ann Sealy.
>> Adela Vasquez.
>> Vanessa Wynne.