October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and local events will focus on breast health and encouraging women to get screenings.

Charlene Nakamura understands the importance of early detection. She found a tiny lump in her breast during a self examination in November 2004 when she was 47. The cancer was early stage and the outlook for beating it was good, so she opted for traditional treatment, which included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Nakamura, a Manoa resident, had two grown daughters and a 3-year-old son at the time she found out she had cancer.

"It was quite challenging to raise a 3-year-old and not be sick," she said. "At that age, they don’t allow you to be sick. They just want mom. He didn’t know what was going on."

Despite the difficulties, she found strength in caring for her son and her 6-year-old granddaughter. "It helped me to maintain a positive attitude each day. And, at night, I’d be quietly sick," she said. "I’d focus on them. It was good to forget about the sickness."

Nakamura said the treatments made her feel extremely achy. "I really felt junk," she said. "Even post-chemo, I need to take meds for the next 10 years and the side effects cause joint pain and muscle aches."

Seven years later, at age 54, she said she has a new appreciation for life. "I’m so grateful for every day," Nakamura said.

She’s always willing to talk to people who are in similar situations and acts as a confidant. "I just listen. They don’t really want advice. It brings comfort to someone and reassures them not to be scared and that it’s going to be OK," she said.

Family support, especially from her husband, and encouragement from the Women’s Cancer Center staff at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and children, helped her endure the treatments. Nakamura’s neighbor was going through a similar experience, so they also leaned on each other for support.

"They helped me keep my spirits up when I just wanted to give up."

One big lesson Nakamura learned was the need to make time for herself, a concept that was unfamiliar to her before her diagnosis. With the daily demands of her job as an executive assistant and human resources manager, along with her family responsibilities, she remains extremely busy.

"I had lots of things to take care of. I was a single mom for a while, was working two jobs. There just wasn’t enough time for me," she said.

"I do pamper myself now. I treat myself to massages to help with the joint pain. I get pedicures and go out and talk story with my girlfriends."

She added, "Going through treatments can be emotionally taxing. You need to take care of yourself so you can be strong enough to take care of everything and everyone else."

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“Be Well” features inspiring stories of people dealing with health challenges. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.