Survivor Stories

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Diane McCarthy
Greensburg, PA

Diane McCarthy lives in Greensburg, PA where she teaches ballroom dancing. She is the mother of two children - a son in California who also teaches dance, and a daughter who is in Africa doing research with chimps in the wild. While Diane was putting together plans for a party to celebrate the end of her chemo treatment for breast cancer, another lump was discovered and the process started all over again for her.

Her Diagnosis

Last year I had five surgeries; a lumpectomy, a mastectomy, reconstruction, surgery to have a port put in, and then another mastectomy. I lost my hair twice which can be very traumatic. My hair had just started to come back in when I had to go on chemo all over again. Still, I never once thought,“Why me?” I felt more like “Why not me?” After all, I’m no different than the girl down the street.

When I had breast cancer the first time in 1996, I didn’t tell anyone except my closest friends. At this stage of the game though, I really want to talk to people about it. It’s something you have to be optimistic about. Getting through breast cancer is a lot easier than you think it will be if you just keep a positive attitude. The negative thoughts and fears can be far more devastating than the reality is.

Dancing for Life

Dancing helped me get through breast cancer. I believe anyone can get through adversity through dance. I teach ballroom dancing, and I dance for my life. It’s so good for the soul. In 2005 I built a studio downstairs so that I could teach at home. Soon after the studio was completed, my son stopped to visit with me on his way to California. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my son and his wife stayed with me throughout my year-long treatment. He was the one who wound up teaching dance in that studio. It was kind of a miracle the way it all worked out.

I have two sisters who live nearby who never let me go to a doctor appointment alone. They were great. And the entire dance community has been very kind to me, even people I hardly knew, and I’m very appreciative of their friendship.

Life Goes On

My son Nicholas came up with the idea for the fundraising event “Dance for Life” to benefit the PBCC. Almost 200 people attended the Dance for Life event on October 20th at the Churchill Country Club. It was a lovely evening of dinner, dancing, and a demonstration of tango and salsa by Arthur Murray dancers, who donated their time. I danced that night too, which was part of the point …to show that life (and the dance!) goes on. With the support of our generous sponsors, we were able to raise $12,000 to fund the programs of the PBCC. I value life a lot deeper now than I did before having breast cancer. Even my passion for dance has become stronger, if that’s possible!