Portland Woman Survives Breast Cancer and Attends Walk

SURVIVING A POTENTIALLY FATAL DISEASE TAKES MORE THAN JUST MEDICINE.

THOSE BATTLING BREAST CANCER .. OR WHO HAVE SURVIVED IT .. WILL TELL YOU SUPPORT FROM OTHERS TRANSLATES INTO STRENGTH AND HOPE.
TONIGHT...A STORY OF A PORTLAND WOMAN WHO TRAVELED TO MUSIC CITY WITH 75 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS .. TO WALK.

ALL THIS .. DESPITE JUST HAVING A BREAST REMOVED FOUR DAYS BEFORE.

IN TENNESSEE THIS YEAR, NEARLY 37-HUNDRED WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED AND NEARLY 900 WILL DIE FROM THE DISEASE.

ON THIS DAY ... TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE HOPE TO CHANGE THAT.

THEY ARE HERE TO TAKE PART IN THE MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK.

THIS TEAM OF 75 .. FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PORTLAND ... ARE WALKING FOR SUSAN GRIFFITH .. DIAGNOSED IN JUNE.

SUSAN GRIFFITH / BREAST CANCER PATIENT: "Im here today because of these people I had to be here because they have committed to be here to support me and if there was anyway humanly possible I was gonna be here today."

SUSAN IS FOUR DAYS OUT OF SURGERY .. A MASTECTOMY TO REMOVE HER BREAST.

WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WILL WALK .. SUSAN WILL ROLL IN A WHEELCHAIR.

Becky Jennings: "we just love her and we want her to know that we support her. she's a steel magnolia .. and we love her!"

SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE OVERWHELMED BY THIS SHOW OF SUPPORT.

STEVE GRIFFITH SAYS THIS DAY IS ABOUT REALIZING WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO FOR EACH OTHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

"we celebrate our friendships .. celebrate those who love us and care for us .. and I think thats what get you through the really difficult times."

THOUGH SUSAN'S DIFFICULT TIMES ARE NOT OVER .. SHE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR HER FUTURE.

Susan Griffith: "I hope my future holds a very long long life .. one that will see breast cancer completely cured and done away with and one that allows me many years with my family and friends.

laura says: "you're not ready to go yet, are you?"

susan says "no im not ready to go."

SUSAN HAS THREE MORE MONTHS OF CHEMOTHERAPY TO GO.

HER BREAST CANCER HAS UNFORTUNATELY METASTASIZED TO HER HIP BONE .. AND RADIATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

DESPITE THIS .. SHE CONTINUES TO TEACH SCHOOL .. SUNDAY SCHOOL .. AND SING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR.

SHE AND HER PORTLAND TEAM HELPED RAISE 425-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LAST WEEKEND'S MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER EVENT