She should have been preoccupied with preparing for the holidays with her family. Instead, she was blindsided by the news. I was devastated when I heard that I had it. I had absolutely no idea that I was even a candidate. But as McNair learned, breast cancer plays no favorites.
Family history plays little, if any, part in who gets the disease.
Most women with breast cancer have no significant family history or other known risk factors. McNair credits much of her success in her bout with cancer to her husband. I don't think I could have made it through without him. For many years after beating the disease, McNair didn't want to think about it. But in recent years, I have come to realize the value of talking about it, that it's helpful to others.