The most recent article on Jenn Lyons , Jenn is courageous and I believe that she needs everyones support to help her through this time, so if you haven't done so please drop Jenn a note and let her know we are all thinking about her and pulling for her and praying for her .
She really is a true Survivor ]&] .
also there is a video link
here .
November 20, 2005
'Survivor' finalist from The Dalles battles breast cancer
A KATU News Exclusive
By Kara Mack
and KATU Web Staff
THE DALLES, Ore. - You may know Jenn Lyons as a finalist on the television show 'Survivor - The Palau Series,' but what you may not know is that Jenn is from The Dalles and has returned home to face her biggest challenge yet.
It was more than a year ago that the 33-year-old competitor discovered something abnormal in her breast.
She let it go and went on to win fourth place on the Survivor show, never knowing that something terribly wrong was happening with her body.
Now she finds herself in a real battle to survive, facing stage 3 breast cancer.
"My sister was there with me (when I found out), so we broke down together," she said. "It was just sad knowing things were going to have to change."
Jenn took a radical step for a young woman, choosing to have a double mastectomy.
"In my mind it made more sense in the long run to get rid of it and then in the future, not have to worry so much about it coming back," she said.
After reconstructive surgery, she returned to her parents' home in The Dalles for chemotherapy.
"There are days when I just don't want to do this any more and then there are days that I'm just fine with it," she said. "I'm just like, well, this is the way it's going to be for a little while and then it will be over."
This is not the first time cancer has touched the Lyons family. Her sister-in-law Jami died just this month of brain cancer.
"It was just easier to understand a little bit what she was going through," she said while wiping away tears. "You have no idea exactly what that is like and how much it disrupts your world."
Jenn said her family has been a huge support, but she also credits her Survivor cast mates with lifting her spirits.
For example, Cobe, a hairdresser, flew from Texas to cut Jenn's hair before she lost it.
"He is just someone who just appreciates life so much," she said.
Besides finding friends, Jenn also learned life lessons on the island, lessons that will help her battle cancer.
"(It taught me about) being tough and hanging in there. Things will always get better," she said. "There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Survivor really brought that home to me."
http://www.katu.com/stories/81270.html