Cancer Awareness

#Cancer Awareness: No History, No Warning @ShieldsAlly #RLFblog

Cross Keys 
From Kayelle Allen: This week on Romance Lives Forever I’m sharing
stories by authors who have faced cancer either in themselves, or a family member.
The importance of friends and family, and having a support system is vital. One
key to success is being able to ask for help — and then being willing to accept
it. It’s a lesson I’ve had in my own life during various times. I don’t accept help
well. It’s something I fight with all the time. I’d like to think “I’ve got
this” but sometimes I don’t have as good a grip as I thought I did. I have
a friend who’s dealing with cancer right now. A friend’s brother died from cancer
last year. Cancer affects all of us. I hope I’m even half as good a friend as those
you’ll read about in this series.
I’m presenting these posts as an opportunity for the authors
to share their real life stories, as well as their fictional ones. There’s a short
list of ways you can show your support at the end of each post.

No History, No Warning, by Ally Shields

The diagnosis of breast cancer came
out the blue. No family history, no warning. I was too young. But the moment I felt
the lump during a shower, I knew what it was. The news went downhill from there.
Seventy-five percent of the nearest lymph nodes were involved. Prognosis guarded.
Three months of chemo later, they found spots in my lungs. It appeared the cancer
had already spread, and I was reeling when I heard the words…four months.
But I was scheduled to begin immediate
training at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy for a course on identifying and
rescuing abused children. My friends, my cop partner, and employer encouraged me
to go, and I did. I was determined to live up to their faith in me that my time
there wouldn’t be wasted, and it helped me stay positive. I met an incredible group
of people. When they learned of my diagnosis, they went out of their way to make
sure I stayed positive throughout training.
Upon return to Des Moines, my cancer
doctor recommended a lung biopsy. There was a one in a million chance it was something
else. He thought I might be that one. The biopsy revealed the spots were scars from
an unrelated prior illness. The cancer hadn’t spread after all, and I went into
additional chemotherapy believing I could beat this thing.
Twelve difficult months later-with
friends and family beside me all the way- I was cancer free, and have remained so
for 25 years. Of course the medical team was fantastic, but I credit my recovery
to everyone who was around me at that critical time. The effects of friendship on
our minds and bodies can be a powerful thing, a little touch of human magic.

About the Author

Ally Shields grew up in the Midwest and currently resides near
Des Moines, Iowa. Writing has always been a part of her life, but in 2009, after
a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time writing. Her first
urban fantasy novel, Awakening the Fire was published in 2012 and that series continues.
She loves to travel in the US and abroad and incorporates many of those settings
into her books.

Buy This Author’s Book

Cross Keys, an Elvenrude novel
Genre: urban fantasy/paranormal romance
Conspiracy, murder and magic… A dark elf hunts the streets
of New Orleans.
Etopia Press Bookstore http://www.etopiapress.com/cross-keys/
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cross-keys-ally-shields/1120425394
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cross-keys
ARe http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crosskeys-1640257-143.html

Author Social Media

Ways you can show your support

Cancer Awareness Week 
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Follow the author on Twitter, Facebook, or other sites where
you’re active
Encourage the author by sharing what they share
Purchase the author’s books
Review the author’s books
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