First, may I say that being diagnosed with Breast Cancer is not a fun thing. It is scary and sometimes one can feel alone. I was fortunate to be placed in the hands of the Hillman Cancer Center. From the first person I met Radiation through the nurses, I was greeted and directed through the whirlwind that would soon become all too commonplace. This was not just an unfamiliar place or people but words and experiences which I never thought I would experience. Each step of the staff was kind and caring helpful, and understanding not only was it new but very scary.

From that point on I was part of their family that they have created in this center. Each day I arrive I am greeted with the same kindness and respect as the first day. I came not to be recognized just as a patient but as an individual with interests, and they recognized I am as a person outside of the clinical world.

In conclusion, as I said from the start, it is a scary thing to go through, but the group of people from the start put me at ease with everything I was going through and have helped me like I was one of their family. They treat people with respect and concern for their well-being. I couldn't have been luckier to be directed to the UPMC staff. Whether by accident or luck, I am grateful to have been put in their care.