Pink Week

Breast cancer survivors celebrate life at 3rd annual Q2 Survivors Breakfast

Posted: Oct 26, 2012 11:14 AM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Oct 26, 2012 11:14 AM

BILLINGS - It was a sea of pink at the Q2 studios Friday morning as breast cancer survivors gathered early for the third annual survivors breakfast.

The breakfast is the culmination of Pink Week on Montana This Morning, in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

Complete with pink balloons, a pink breakfast and pink door prizes, breast cancer survivors spent the morning celebrating life and each other.

"This is a good opportunity, not only to meet with old friends, but to meet with new friends and hear their stories and how they've succumbed to move on in their lives," said breast cancer survivor, Louise Schmang.

Her sister, Myral Yanchisin agreed.

"It's pretty exciting to see how this group of people were interacting and how excited they are about being survivors," Yanchisin said.

When Schmang was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, Yanchisin became her sister's greatest supporter.

"I'm a cancer survivor supporter, I help people out when they are in need," explained Yanchisin. "My sister's had cancer."

"It's very important to have a support network because sometimes you just need somebody to talk to and somebody to help you do a few things," Schmand added. "And just to be there with you."

That kind of support network was necessary to overcome the battle these women fought.

"There's a two year mark, a five year mark, a seven year mark, so I'm coming up on twelve years," beamed Kellie Gardner, another breast cancer survivor who attended Friday's breakfast at Q2. "It's not a death sentence and attitude is everything."

"I'm at year number three," said Schmang. "It's a cancer that can be beat if you catch it. The idea is to detect it and get it early."

Dozens of women turned out for the annual pink ribbon event at Q2; an event that many look forward year after year.

"This is the third year that I've been here and I really look forward to it," said Schmang.

Gardner agreed.

"Each experience is different, but it's still a common experience. So, it's just fun to be around people that are happy to be alive."

A big thank you to all those who joined the Q2 team Friday morning!