For Anna M Cluxton, marrying her husband, Brian, in 2001 was a bittersweet encounter. Mere days after returning from their Jamaican honeymoon, Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer, changing the course of her life forever.
“Brian has been nothing but supportive,” Anna says. However she worried that after going through chemotherapy, which has disabled her from ever having children, and having had to undergo disfiguring surgery, that her marriage wouldn’t be what the both of them had hoped for. Brian couldn’t be more proud of Anna though, and continues to support her in her journey and even helps by volunteering for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), an organization which aims to provide support for young women who are battling breast cancer.
Anna began getting involved with the YSC six months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, the organization was still in its infancy and growing only because of its website. In 2003, Anna was asked to serve on the national YSC board. Upon her joining, the yearly budget for the YSC was $350 thousand, and now the budget has grown to $3.5 million in 2011.
After five years of marriage, and five years of battling breast cancer, Anna and Brian made their way back to Jamaica as a gift to themselves. This had been a promise that they made to each other after their honeymoon and one that they didn’t want to put off for fear that they would never have the opportunity. “We were crying when we landed in Jamaica,” Anna says, “we were scared that we wouldn’t have enough time.”
Anna is currently serving as president of the YSC and will serve a two year term as pass president after her presidency is up in 2011. Her desire to continue helping to raise awareness of breast cancer, especially that in women younger than 40 years old, will not be diminished after her candidacy ends. Anna wants to continue helping for as long as she is able to make a difference.
It isn’t without continued inspiration and support that Anna has been able to continue in her fight to end cancer. Perhaps her biggest source of inspiration is her friend Jamie Pleva. Jamie, younger sister to the late Tracey Pleva who was diagnosed with breast cancer about the same time as Anna, has become a like little sister to Anna. Jamie is fearless in her battle with cancer and has even had her eggs frozen, enabling her to have children at some point in the future.
The motto of the YSC is “Action, Advocacy, Awareness,” and that’s certainly something that the organization continues to strive toward. Its members are among thousands of other supporters around the world, spreading awareness of breast cancer in young women through conferences, federal legislations and health fairs. Based out New York City, the YSC currently has 27 affiliates throughout the country.