A young Vernon mother battling an aggressive form of breast cancer is proof that this is not just a seniors害羞草研究所� disease.

At just 37-years-old, with no family history of cancer, Kyli Steck is fighting the disease that even doctors didn害羞草研究所檛 believe was likely for the healthy, physically fit young woman.

But in fact, it all started five years ago when Steck found a lump in her right breast.

害羞草研究所淚t took a while for them to even check it,害羞草研究所� said Steck, who was stressed about the hard, marble-like lump and insisted on an ultrasound and a biopsy.

害羞草研究所淔inding a lump in your breast is a little nerve-racking.害羞草研究所�

While the results were negative, that first scare made Steck much more aware of the potential 害羞草研究所� resulting in regular self exams. And it害羞草研究所檚 those self exams that caught the next lump, five years later, this time on her left side.

害羞草研究所淚 thought, this was different, it害羞草研究所檚 not moving.害羞草研究所�

An ultrasound revealed that it was most likely a fibroadenoma but wanted to check it out further due to irregular borders. Yet a mammogram was denied.

害羞草研究所淚 requested and pushed but radiology said, 害羞草研究所榥o because of your age,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Steck, who would later discover that she had aggressive invasive inductive carcinoma.

Her diagnosis was surreal.

害羞草研究所淎ll I heard was 害羞草研究所榓ggressive害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榖reast cancer,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said the dental assistant, who has been off work since she got the news in early February.

Thanks to her vigilance, doctors told Steck: 害羞草研究所淏ecause you were on it I believe we caught it early.害羞草研究所�

Only then was she finally granted a mammogram, but it turned out to be useless.

害羞草研究所淣othing showed up. Our first line of defence that害羞草研究所檚 being pushed says there害羞草研究所檚 nothing there.害羞草研究所�

But when the surgeon wanted to perform a full mastectomy, Steck put on the brakes.

害羞草研究所淲hy would you put me through a mastectomy if I害羞草研究所檓 riddled,害羞草研究所� she questioned, as her thirst for knowledge grew deeper.

Chemotherapy and surgery seemed to be the only option, but Steck wanted to see if there was more.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 scary, it (chemotherapy) is poison,害羞草研究所� said Steck. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 want to put that in my system.

害羞草研究所淚 was holding out hope. I needed to check all my avenues.害羞草研究所�

After learning about the Hoxsey Bio Medical Center in Tijuana, the lure of a full analysis and alternative therapies piqued her interest. And a week after being in her surgeon害羞草研究所檚 office, Steck was in Tijuana. But the doctors there came to the same conclusion that surgery would be necessary (although she was given a tonic to help her through the process).

She returned home, got a second surgeon and learned that there was an urgency to treatment as she was in grade three (the highest of the breast cancer grades).

Her new surgeon explained: 害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 do chemotherapy and you don害羞草研究所檛 take this as aggressively as it came on, I feel you害羞草研究所檙e not going to be here.害羞草研究所�

That was the game changer. Even her naturopath agreed that chemotherapy was the best option but was able to assist her in the process and educate her on it.

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e taking yew bark,害羞草研究所� the naturopathic doctor confirmed of one of the alternative therapies she was using. 害羞草研究所淲ell that害羞草研究所檚 a main ingredient in chemotherapy.害羞草研究所�

Taxol, a chemotherapy drug used in cancer treatment, is isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. But taking yew orally is poisonous.

So Steck is now undergoing treatment, which has resulted in the loss of her gorgeous blonde hair. But it has failed to dull her shine.

It has slowed her down 害羞草研究所� she害羞草研究所檚 only able to hit nine holes of golf, versus the 18 she used to. But after just two rounds of chemo, the lump in her breast had already shrunk. She knows the second half of treatment could be even harder on her, yet her smile remains as broad as ever.

To help Steck 害羞草研究所� a mother to 10-year-old Jakob and eight-year-old Isabelle 害羞草研究所� her partner of two years, Dennis Nickell, has been raising funds to take the financial pressure off, and has already generated more than $4,500. Friends have hosted bottle drives, and accounts are set up at both Chasers and Interior bottle depots where you can donate the money from your sorted empties.

A fundraiser is also in the works for . Featuring live music by the Noble Crew, the dinner and dance starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25. There will also be an online auction beginning May 21, where those at the event will have the chance to place the final bids on these and more items. For more information, search Kyli害羞草研究所檚 Fight on Facebook.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so grateful and overwhelmed by the support, it害羞草研究所檚 shocking really,害羞草研究所� said Steck, with tears welling up in her eyes over the generosity of friends, family and complete strangers.

But even more than the support, Steck hopes her story raises greater awareness about the vital importance of self exams.

害羞草研究所淭he day of it being a seniors害羞草研究所� issue is gone,害羞草研究所� said Steck, a 1997 Fulton Secondary graduate.

害羞草研究所淲omen of all ages need to get to know their breasts, as funny as that sounds.害羞草研究所�