Walking to remember and to educate in the Pittsburgh More Than Pink Walk
This year's Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh More Than Pink Walk is right around the corner. It's an effort to fund research, increase access to care and support our community.
They came to walk for years and then it hit home.
Ashlyn Machi said, "Just that I miss her. I miss her. I wish she was here with me. She just was a wonderful human, so it's hard."
Linda Machi, a wife and mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought for six years.
"It was kind of a shock because she was always the strong one of the family. So it was kind of a very impactful moment for all of us. But because we were so close, we just bonded together and got through it the best we could," Ashlyn Machi said.
Now her family comes to the More Than Pink Walk in her honor and to help others going through the same thing, like Pamela Austin.
"I was terrified. I'd never had an irregular mammogram and I didn't know what to expect and your mind goes to the worst-case scenario of course," Austin said.
Austin's breast cancer was found one year ago through a routine mammogram.
Thankfully, it was caught early.
"In all cancers, the answer is early detection," Austin said. "So I understand it's scary, but not knowing doesn't mean it's not there. So getting to it early is so important for your outcome, and if you do it early, then you'll be like me, and you'll be ready to go for the rest of your life, and good things will happen."
She had a partial mastectomy and five radiation treatments and will be on drug therapy for five years.
Austin will be joining the walk for the first time to emphasize the importance of getting a mammogram and doing self-exams.