Survivor Diary: Diane Cimine

I was diagnosed in...
"June 2002. It was two days after my son's high school graduation. I had felt a tiny bump on the surface of my right breast and instinctively knew something wasn't right. Ironically, I had had a clear mammogram only six months earlier."

My immediate reaction was...
"Disbelief. I was in great shape, eating well, and running races. Rather than fall apart, though, I went into high gear and learned everything I could about the disease. I interviewed doctors and took control of my cancer care. This ultimately inspired me to help others by teaching yoga."

Now, breast cancer means to me...
"A wake-up call. It was a sharp reminder of how short life is. In a strange way, it was a blessing that put priorities into perspective."

I'd tell someone recently diagnosed with breast cancer that...
"It can change your life for the better. Let go of psychic garbage and let your diagnosis challenge you to do what you love and live each moment to the fullest."

I'm inspired by...
"The challenge of each new day. I love discovering new ideas, seeing new places, trying new things, learning, and growing."

I'm inspired by...
"Rolling with the punches, and seeing the bright side in the face of adversity. I'm also pretty good at helping others explore new possibilities, too. I try to bring this mentality to the weekly yoga classes I teach to survivors at Gilda's Club NYC."

The things that keep me strong are...
"Yoga, my friends, family, and living a healthy life. As my chiropractor says, "Eat right, think right, move right."

I unwind by...
"Cooking—whether for two or a crowd—photographing anything, going on mini treks, and taking long holidays. Creating and discovering new things is what fuels me."

I get stressed out by...
"Whiny people, complainers, nay-sayers, and manipulators. While empathetic, I have little patience for those who insist on staying miserable and taking others along for the ride."

I first felt comfortable in my own skin when...
"I started getting older. Aging is an evolution. It’s all about changing what you can, accepting what you can't, and realizing that imperfections are only genetic stamps that make us all unique. Most importantly, we are not only our body, which is ephemeral, but our spirit, which is timeless and everlasting."

Breast cancer is...
"A game changer; the ultimate challenge. Your perspective is far more important than your circumstances. And you have everything you need within you to live the best life you can."