Lions Club of Tropical Gardens share a light moment with breast cancer survivor Becky Olson (front, centre).

Becky Olson of ‘Breast Friends’ and her husband, Bill, had joined members of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens (LCTG) in their month-long observance of breast cancer awareness in the Cayman Islands.

The couple attended the Bodden Town and West Bay District Awareness Nights where Mrs Olson gave her experiences as a survivor and shared the Bodden Town platform with Dr Sean Forrester to educate attendees about the disease.

In addressing the West Bay audience, Mrs Olson urged members to check their breasts on a monthly basis, follow up with their clinical breast exam and make use of the vouchers for free mammograms being distributed by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens.

“It only takes one cell,” she said, “and believe me you don’t want it to multiply or spread into any other part of your body.”

Diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer at 43 years of age, three months after going back to school to get a college degree, she was given a 60 percent chance of surviving past five years.

Today, 12 years later, she proved her prognosis untrue, completed her college degree, wrote a book, formed a national support group and travels the country as a motivational speaker.

Mrs Olson jokes that it was a good thing her doctors were wrong because it took her seven years to graduate. With a vivid sense of humour and true believer that laughter is the best medicine, she wittingly provided her audience with what to look for and do to reduce the risk of breast or any other cancer; along with ways to support survivors.

While undergoing treatment for her second battle, she spoke at a Susan G. Komen survivor luncheon where she received a standing ovation as at the end of the speech, she took off her wig and surprised the audience with her new diagnosis.

In her presentation to students at the John Gray High and George Hicks High on Friday, 17 October the motivational speaker suggested to and asked them for ideas to support survivors.

Lion President Ann Hunte, Breast Cancer Awareness Chairperson Lion Judith Witter and Lion Liz Smith witnessed the positive responses from the students to: “Fix her something to eat”, “take her for a walk”, “give her a hug”, “not tell her things that will make her mad or upset’, “buy something nice for her”, and “keep the house clean”.

Mrs Olson’s book “The Hat that Saved My Life” inspired by a hat she received from a friend, after deciding not to leave her house until her hair returned because of an unkind statement by a restaurant diner, is in its second printing.

As president and co-founder of the eight-year old US Breast Friends® network of family and friends for support and inspiration, she is donating 25 percent of its Cayman sales to the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens to support the prevention of breast cancer to its Cayman residents by early detection.

Persons interested in purchasing “The Hat that Saved My Life” may contact Lion Liz Smith at askliz@candw.ky.