Carmen Pastoriza was no stranger to breast cancer. Her grandmother, two aunts and cousin had all navigated the journey long before she received her diagnosis on June 15, 2015. Regardless of familiarity, the news was crushing. With her family all living on the east coast, she chose to share the news first with a close friend who had gone through diagnosis and treatment only a year before. For Carmen, the most difficult part of her cancer treatment was the hormonal changes that followed. She was fast-tracked into an intense menopause due to the chemotherapy which significantly impacted her emotions. But Carmen actively pursued positive thoughts and focused on spending her time with positive people. Three years from her diagnosis, she is in remission and feeling better and stronger in many different ways. “I have always had faith, but my journey through cancer has made my faith even stronger,” said Carmen.