MILLWOOD, VA - Millions of women each year hold on tight, hoping their battle with breast cancer will soon end.
It can be a nightmare, but a group of local women survived it and they are now giving back.
"It's just never really over, it's almost like post-traumatic stress syndrome, you know, I won't ever be the same person again," says 58-year old Lynn Hillyer who recently finished her treatment in May.
Like many of the women at this retreat, she found hope and support, but what ties these women together is a strong bond and it is their victorious fight with breast cancer.
"I finished my cancer treatment in May and everybody goes, 'Oh, so you're cured now, your cancer's through, how wonderful' but you don't really understand it's kind of never over, this cancer journey," adds Hillyer.
They pampered themselves through a luncheon, massages, photo journals and simply the chance to share stories from a common ground.
They say no one understands it more than those who went through it. Debbie Denitto, a survivor of ten years, wanted to give back.
"We all have to have that hope. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people that are going to help you through this. Think about nutrition, think about exercise, those are all part of this healing process," says Denitto.
Many people believe breast cancer only targets older women, but that has now changed. They are now saying younger women are more likely to get it due to a variety of factors.
That's what happened to 23-year old Eliza Snyder-Hewitt, something she could not believe.
"When they showed me the screen, all I could see was this big, black dot just right smack dab in the center of my ultrasound and I kind of knew that because there's nothing that looks as sinister as cancer," says Snyder-Hewitt.
While their battle was nothing but painful, they say not only are they a different person now, but Eliza Snyder-Hewitt has this message for women.
"When you start to get towards the end, when you reach the summit, you have to turn around and grab the hand of the person behind you and help them up so that they can see how beautiful it is to be at the top of that mountain and know you've gottten yourself that," advises Snyder-Hewitt.
These women strongly advise everyone, even males, to do their monthly check-up because it can happen to anyone at anytime.
It can be a nightmare, but a group of local women survived it and they are now giving back.
"It's just never really over, it's almost like post-traumatic stress syndrome, you know, I won't ever be the same person again," says 58-year old Lynn Hillyer who recently finished her treatment in May.
Like many of the women at this retreat, she found hope and support, but what ties these women together is a strong bond and it is their victorious fight with breast cancer.
"I finished my cancer treatment in May and everybody goes, 'Oh, so you're cured now, your cancer's through, how wonderful' but you don't really understand it's kind of never over, this cancer journey," adds Hillyer.
They pampered themselves through a luncheon, massages, photo journals and simply the chance to share stories from a common ground.
They say no one understands it more than those who went through it. Debbie Denitto, a survivor of ten years, wanted to give back.
"We all have to have that hope. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people that are going to help you through this. Think about nutrition, think about exercise, those are all part of this healing process," says Denitto.
Many people believe breast cancer only targets older women, but that has now changed. They are now saying younger women are more likely to get it due to a variety of factors.
That's what happened to 23-year old Eliza Snyder-Hewitt, something she could not believe.
"When they showed me the screen, all I could see was this big, black dot just right smack dab in the center of my ultrasound and I kind of knew that because there's nothing that looks as sinister as cancer," says Snyder-Hewitt.
While their battle was nothing but painful, they say not only are they a different person now, but Eliza Snyder-Hewitt has this message for women.
"When you start to get towards the end, when you reach the summit, you have to turn around and grab the hand of the person behind you and help them up so that they can see how beautiful it is to be at the top of that mountain and know you've gottten yourself that," advises Snyder-Hewitt.
These women strongly advise everyone, even males, to do their monthly check-up because it can happen to anyone at anytime.
