Breast cancer support group gathers in Arroyo Grande

October is breast cancer awareness month and a local support group marked the occasion by making a difference in the life of a local woman fighting the deadly disease.

For breast cancer patient Nina Esquivies, it was the first time she had a chance to meet and thank the people involved in the breast cancer support group at a special reception Thursday night.

“I’m not used to receiving help, I’m used to giving it”, Esquivies said at the reception, “its just the thought of somebody else willing to help me out, its touching.”

Esquivies is recovering from surgery as she continues treatment for Stage Two breast cancer.

“The cancer had spread into my lymph node, they weren’t sure of the extent of it”, Esquivies said, “luckily and thank God, God has been on my side through this all with prayers, it came back, they were able to get all of the cancer with clear margins, I still have to undergo chemo.”

Reception co-host Stacey Kreitz said she will be donating most of the commission she makes from selling Arbonne health and wellness products at the reception including foot baths for Nina Esquivies and others in attendance.

“We’ve had a few scares and so its really close to my heart”, Kreitz says about her decision to participate in the support group.

33 year old Nina Esquivies has some advice for other young women and fighting breast cancer.

“Self-exams, I’d never done them, I’m really bad about going to my yearly physicals”, Esquivies says, “I think I have that trait from my grandma, she was afraid of doctors and she actually passed away from ovarian cancer, so its extremely important to get checked up.”

Esquivies says she had a lumpectomy two weeks ago and doctors have told her she is cancer-free while she continues her chemotherapy treatments.