Just 3 weeks after her 43rd birthday, and after discovering a lump on her left breast, Megan Knight learned that she had breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. In 2016, more than 245,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and an additional 2,600 new cases will be diagnosed in men.

Karen Rice offers her reaction to her cancer diagnosis.

Dorothy Hamill. Some people may adore her charming smile, others may think of her perfectly styled bob hair; most, however, remember her grace on the ice, and more recently, her fight with breast cancer.

Postmastectomy pain syndrome is often described as “burning, tingling, pins and needles, stabbing, constricting, or a constant dull ache” in the breast, armpit, or both. The pain usually begins immediately after surgery but can also begin more than 6 months later.

Melissa Eppard tells her story of dealing with her children amidst a breast cancer diagnosis.

A moving message by Ginger Modiri, a breast cancer survivor.

During the time Chef Ryan Callahan served as his mom’s caregiver, he helped her appreciate the taste of food again, and, in the process, learned that he had the makings of a cookbook that addressed an often overlooked side effect.

The following section features a selection of patient stories submitted to the 2015 Hero of Hope^™ Patient Award. These stories illustrate the range of extraordinary patient profiles submitted by patients, family members, friends, and healthcare providers.