This month is Breast Cancer Month and to highlight it, a host of events have been taking place around the Island. But here, Lifestyle reporter Rene Hill, speaks to a woman who has suffered from and beaten the illness.

It was during a morning shower that Juliana Swan noticed that one of her breasts was limp and dull.

A self-examination told her told her what she instinctively knew, that she had breast cancer. Ms Swan was 52.

As soon as she realised she went straight to her doctor. "I actually said to my physician 'I have come in for a physical, but I know I have breast cancer'."

The following day she had an ultrasound and mammogram and then a biopsy. Nine days later she got the results that her tumours were malignant.

During those nine days of waiting, Ms Swan said she asked God 'why me'. "I had a hissy fit and even took up the Bible and cursed at it and threw it around the room.

"I asked God to forgive me for my actions and prayed that God would guide my doctors through this journey."

The thought of losing one of her breasts was upsetting, but the thought of not seeing her grandchildren grow up was something that she worried about more.

"I was scared at first, but I had two friends, who recently had a journey with breast cancer and they had reconstruction surgery right away," said Ms Swan.

"So that helped knowing that the breast could be replaced if the situation allowed."

Less than a month after diagnosis she had the first lumpectomy, but had to have a second operation to have more tissue removed.

She then went though chemotherapy on the Island and went to Boston's Dana Farber Cancer Institute for radiation treatment.

Ms Swan lost her hair after just 18 days of treatment, something she found devastating. She wore scarves and sometimes a wig to cover her loss.

But hair loss was only one of the side effects of chemotherapy. "I had constant nausea and tiredness. It feels like morning sickness and seasickness rolled into one. No energy, the sun burns your skin and your fingernails and toenails become dry and break easily and you develop ridges on them."

She added: "The radiation made me very tired. I had 37 sessions. I received a very bad blistering burn towards the end that had to be dressed every day by the nurse. I now have a burn scar."

While being treated in Boston, she also learned that as well as radiation treatment, she also had to have another operation.

"I was told that there was still some tumour left and that I needed a mastectomy. So I had a third operation."

Whilst going through her ordeal she was supported by her family, friends and the cancer charity PALS.

"My daughters Alvina and Erika took turns travelling back and forth to Boston to be with me during Christmas and to bring me home," she said.

On the day before her mastectomy, she received an unexpected call of support from a television personality.

"Robin Roberts, of Good Morning America, called me the day before my surgery to encourage me to have faith and be strong," she said. "I had written to her to say I had been following her journey with breast cancer and thanked her for sharing. I was so excited when she called."

She said her faith had played a big part in her ordeal. "I was anointed with oil at my church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, by the priest prior to going abroad.

"I have always prayed and truly realised that the power of prayer is a powerful thing. I give thanks every morning by saying, 'thank you God for the gift of life, because life is indeed a gift'.

"I also pray during the day and give thanks at the end of the day for all my blessings."

Her advice to anyone who has found a lump, but doesn't quite know what to do is to get to their doctor immediately and take someone with you.

She said: "Mammograms are recommended at age 40, so please go. If you have a family history, ask your doctor to schedule one for you. Both my daughters have been screened and are OK.

"My mom had beast cancer for ten years, but last September she developed bone cancer and was in Agape House."

Tragically her mother did not survive the cancer.

Her survival tips include: do monthly checks and have your scheduled mammograms; try to live stress free; take time out for yourself; surround yourself with positive people; have faith in the doctors, all the modern technology and the treatments they have today.

Ms Swan had her final radiation treatment on January 22 this year, and throughout her almost 10 month ordeal, she used positive affirmations to bring herself through.

"When I worked in the doctor's office I would say to patients, 'Positive thoughts give positive results'.

"Who would have thought that I would have to use that as my main affirmation? And I continue to use it today."