One in seven women is diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime

Contact: Don Otis, 719-275-7775, interviews@veritasincorporated.com

YORKTOWN, Va., Oct. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- One million people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with cancer every year. Another one in seven women is diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. While many people beat cancer, some do not. For those who do survive, there is always the possibility they will come out of remission and have to go through the nightmare of uncertainty again.

Yvonne Ortega is a survivor. She is also a licensed counselor and the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer. She describes her own pain-filled experience of being alone and helps others with advice that comes in the form of five core points.

Ortega's advice is first to avoid isolation. Join a cancer support group and allow others to help you. Second, nurture your spirit by listening to music or leaning on God. Third, keep a journal of gratitude that highlights the positive instead of dwelling on the negative. Fourth, maintain as normal of life as possible by scheduling treatment around your life and hobbies. Lastly, reach out and serve others.

Breast cancer, or any cancer, affects everyone it touches. "God's desire is to meet us exactly where we are in spite of the hopeless of our circumstances," says Ortega. "When I discovered the lump in my breast two weeks before Christmas, I was in denial," she explains.  "Some people considered it their duty to tell me why I had cancer."

She explains the four responses we have when discovering we have cancer. These are denying, negative, angry, or hopeful. Sometimes we go through all four. "Some of us feel as if our lives are out of control, and they are," explains Ortega. "We are no longer in control of our lives, although we never really were. Cancer has ruined our immediate plans. We have to put some things on hold. We're forced to make other plans, but even in the worst moments God is with us."

Finding Hope is designed as an encouragement to those who have cancer or who have a loved one who has experienced it, Ortega is realistic and practical offering hope and encouragement even in the worst of circumstances.

To schedule an interview with Yvonne Ortega call Don Otis at Veritas Communications 719.275.7775 or email: interviews@veritasincorporated.com.