“The worst part was finding out I had it,” said Helen Simonson about the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Simonson, a Monarchs MVP since 1998, was all alone the day she found out in 1984. “I was afraid, and I cried a lot.”

Finding out about breast cancer wasn’t any easier for Debbie Carlson. “I was 33 and pregnant,” she said. “The long term prognosis was not good. The worst part was worrying about having a baby, and not being there to raise her.”

For both women—and thousands just like them—being diagnosed with breast cancer was terrifying. Breast cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer in women. More than 203,000 cases will be diagnosed in the next year.

Simonson discovered a lump through a self examination, purely by happenstance. “I was in the shower and felt it,” she said. “The lump was about the size of a quarter.” She went to the doctor’s office the next day. After the examination her doctor told her it wasn’t anything to worry about. The doctor suspected it was just a cyst and thought it to be benign. Within a couple of days though, the doctor’s office called her back, wanting to investigate further. It was cancer.

Weeks before, Simonson had just completed a mammogram that didn’t show any signs of cancer. “Self exams are so important,” she said, stressing the need for women to routinely check themselves for lumps. “They are so important!”

Carlson also was diagnosed in 1984, and she found hers through a self exam as well. “It felt sore,” she said. “Whenever my arm would rub against it I had pain.” The doctors also figured hers to be a cyst at first.

Back then, chemotherapy was only used in the most severe circumstances, after it was found that the cancer had spread throughout the lymph nodes. Neither Carlson nor Simonson went through chemo. Both of them, however, did have reconstructive surgery after getting double mastectomies.

“Physically the worst part was getting rebuilt,” said Simonson. “But I have an upbeat attitude, so I tried not to worry about it. That’s what I try to counsel people on, staying positive. Life does go on.”

“My toughest decision at the time was whether to have the lumpectomy or a mastectomy,” said Carlson. When she went to the doctor’s office, she asked the nurse if there were pictures of each procedure she could view to help her make her decision. In 1984, awareness of the disease wasn’t what it is today, and useful information such as photos weren’t readily available. “She just turned white, like she was embarrassed that I even asked,” Carlson said about the nurse’s reaction to her request. “She was able to provide a couple of drawings, and that’s it.”

Both Carlson and Simonson agree that awareness is the key to finding a cure. Carlson used to work for the post office, and has worked with the Monarchs in the past to promote the U.S.P.O’s Breast Cancer Survivor stamp. “The awareness programs bring in to focus the funds needed to find a cure,” she said. Like Simonson, Carlson counsels other women who have breast cancer.

Simonson looks forward to the Monarchs annual Breast Health Awareness night, and especially the pregame Survivor Reception. “I think the Maloofs have done a great job of bringing awareness to the forefront,” she said. “I get really excited about the reception. I’m taking a young woman with me this year, a former student of mine. She was diagnosed a couple of years ago. Simonson said she’s been touched in prior years from the support she gets from the fans seeing her in her pink survivor shirt. “The row I sit in is very supportive,” she said. “They clap for us, and always compliment us on how good we look. It’s a very nice experience.”