"My advice to women of any age is to pay attention to your body. If you are in tune with your body, it will tell you when something is wrong," says Kimberly Capps of Poplar Bluff.
A seven-year breast survivor, Capps says she has been pro-active in her health care.
"When my cancer was discovered, I had had a mammogram as part of my yearly check-up," she says, "and nothing showed up. I felt something, though, and requested another mammogram. That one revealed a tumor the size of a peanut M&M."
Capps turned to her faith to help her through this ordeal.
"My belief is strong and always has been," reflects Capps, a life-long Catholic. "Since God was already next to me, I did not fear the journey nor what lay ahead."
"I tried to maintain a positive attitude, and keep things as normal as possible for my family," Capps explains. "I didn't tell a lot of people, so it was not a topic of constant conversation. On the day of my surgery, I had the procedure that morning, and went to my son's ball game that afternoon."
A lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes were followed by six weeks of radiation.
"I had testing done, and my chances of a cancer recurrence were only 11 percent, so I feel that I am very lucky," she says.
Capps says while she has always tried to take care of her body, during the past two years she has become more conscious of what she eats.
"I have really made an effort to be more mindful of what I consume," she explains. "The food and drinks that we put into our bodies have such an impact on our physical, mental and social well-being -- many people do not seem to realize that."
Capps is originally from Jackson. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau, and Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and is executive vice president/chief operating officer at Southern Bank in Poplar Bluff, where she has worked for nearly 25 years.
Capps's advice to those embarking on a cancer journey echoes her own personal mantra, "Stay positive and believe that you will overcome this obstacle. We all come across hurdles now and then, and this is just one of those hurdles. Don't be afraid to accept help when it's offered, and don't be embarrassed to ask for help when you need it."