I never knew I was going to have to become an expert at breast cancer. I thought I was safe. I don’t have cancer in my family, I don’t smoke, I thought I didn’t have the risk factors so I didn’t have to worry about it. Boy, was I wrong.

I wish I could say that I am vigilant about doing self-breast exams and that is how I found my lump. That isn’t the case, though. I found it by accident. I have had mammograms and ultrasounds for several years, as I have very dense breasts that are “lumpy.”

I had a mammogram and an ultrasound last December that came back with no problems or abnormalities. Because of that, I was very surprised when I found a lump on my left breast that was relatively large. I did the right things and went to my doctor, who requested an ultrasound and a mammogram. I knew I was in trouble when they started doing an ultrasound in my armpit. For me, this was not usual protocol.

The radiologist was concerned and recommended a biopsy. I had a biopsy done and waited patiently for the results. On May 7, I received the results that I least wanted to hear: The lump that I felt was cancer.

Now, here I am in the midst of my journey. I had surgery in May, completed four rounds of chemotherapy in September and am currently going through radiation. This is the real deal. There is no hiding or holding back now. No one can do this for me; it is time for me to buckle down and deal with the fact that I am the face of cancer.

My family moved to Maple Valley just three years ago. We knew what we wanted when we made the decision to move. We wanted a good school district, a nice neighborhood and hoped to feel like part of a community. We thought that moving to Maple Valley, a town with less than 20,000, people might give us the opportunity to get to know some of our neighbors.

We have spent the last three years immersing ourselves in this community. Meeting people through soccer, Girl Scouts and school has been a pleasure and something that we very much enjoy. We have made very good friends here. We didn’t know how valuable our friends would be until I was diagnosed.

I thought I would get a few phone calls, maybe a card or two, and I would get on with the business of fighting cancer on my own with the support of my family. But Maple Valley is not that kind of community. This community supported us in ways big and small. They have arranged to have meals brought to our house several times a week while I struggle through chemotherapy and radiation. They have shuttled my kids to and from school, soccer, birthday parties and sleepovers. They have sent flowers and cards and made many phone calls.

They didn’t stop there. When I was disheartened with the thought of losing my hair, they came together and donated money to buy a wig that I could wear while my hair grows back. The loss of hair is one of the most emotionally devastating side-effects of chemotherapy. But these friends weren’t going to let this get me down. They joined me while I had my head shaved and accepted my bald head as beautiful and even found fun hats for me to wear to make the best of being bald.

Some were so determined to help that they chose to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. They raised money for the breast cancer cause and walked in my honor. When a teacher from Rock Creek Elementary School decided to ask friends to give her names of people to keep in her thoughts and prayers while she was walking, she told me that my name came up over and over. I was overwhelmed with the thought that people who knew me well and not so well were so gracious and caring as to keep me in their thoughts and prayers.

Maple Valley is a small town still. Our population, though growing, is still relatively small. The heart and compassion in this community is larger than life. Cancer isn’t going to win this fight. It doesn’t know that it is up against all of Maple Valley, a small town with a very big heart, lots of determination and plenty of love.

Tracy Kudrna lives in Maple Valley and is chronicling her fight against breast cancer at http://tracy-breastcancerandme.blogspot.com. She can be reached through her blog.