NEWBURGH, IN (WFIE) -
On the eve of Race for the Cure, we share another story of courage in the battle against breast cancer.
This is Carol Rogers' story, how the disease has impacted her life and the lives of those close to her.
Carol's is a prime example of breast cancer zeroing in on a family, and affecting multiple generations.
But, she wants everyone to know that just because your mother, grandmother, or aunt hasn't had the disease doesn't always mean you'll be so lucky.
Carol Rogers is a survivor, and when you hear what she's been through, it's almost unbelievable.
"My mother had died of breast cancer, I've had breast cancer twice and my daughter has passed away from breast cancer," Carol told our cameras.
Three generations of women, now left with just one voice.
"I just think it's so important to be able to do something toward hopefully finding a cure sometime in the future," said Carol.
When Carol's mother, Ruth, was diagnosed in her 40's, treatment was much different. She survived just two years, but the cancer wasn't done yet.
Carol's diagnosis also came in her 40's, then again seven years ago.
But the toughest blow came when she found out her daughter Sarah, then just 33-years-old, was about to begin her own chapter in their unwanted family history.
"You never want to see your child in a situation like that," Carol confessed.
Ironically, it was one day after a Race for the Cure that Sarah had the mammogram that changed her life.
Instead of waiting around for the drugs to take their toll, she had her head shaved and celebrated at the spa before starting chemo.
That bare head, Carol says, was something her daughter accepted, and never worried about covering up.
"She told me one day she was standing in an elevator and a lady came up to the elevator standing beside her and she said, are you going through chemotherapy? And Sarah said 'yes' and the lady pulled her hair off and she said, 'I am too!' So, her message got across that you don't have to have that wig on, necessarily."
Eventually, Sarah was able to run several marathons and adopt a precious baby girl from China.
Ann is now eight-years-old, and this Winter will mark two years she's been without her mother.
Sarah died the day after Christmas in 2010.
"You'll never forget the good times, of course you miss someone that's gone terribly, but on the other hand you have to look at the positive side of the situation in that you have great memories," Carol stressed.
They are memories Carol will carry with her as she walks Saturday at Race for the Cure.
Memories of a mother and a daughter who now rely on her and thousands of others to fight this battle against breast cancer.
So to Carol, Race for the Cure is much more than a parade of pink, it is hope for the future.
"Hope that the money raised will provide funding for either cure or prevention, one or the other, and that our next generation of daughters and people won't have to deal with breast cancer in the future," said Carol. "As we say, we'd like to put breast cancer in our history books."
There is so much to say about Carol, she is active with Komen and a few years ago, she was a big part of a huge blood drive that happened at Race for the Cure.
These efforts to support Komen and Breast Cancer Research run in the family. Her son David is also involved.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Three generations of women, now left with just one voice.
