Cancer has spread from my nose down to my toes.

I'm Michele Hyra, mom to two little girls, ages 3 and 7, wife to Matt, and fighting breast cancer every day. This is my story.

In May 2006, my Primary Care doctor found a lump in my right breast. I had a mammogram, as well as an ultrasound. Then I met with a breast surgeon to confirm that the scans were clear. No one caught my breast cancer then. So many people tell me I should sue those doctors, but I just don't have the time. A year later, I was told I have 11 months to live.

In July 2007, when doing my monthly self-exam (gals, it is time to start doing these -- sign up at http://www.CheckYourBoobies.org and get a monthly email reminder.) I found a lump under my left armpit. I immediately saw my doctor and she identified two lumps in the armpit and one in the breast.

My mammogram/ultrasound was scheduled for July 9, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. The diagnostic radiologist was concerned, and asked that I stay for a Breast MRI. The preliminary results from the mammo-ultrasound-MRI warranted a needle biopsy that same evening. What a day.

I have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer with lymph node involvement and extensive metastasis to the skeleton (the mets are from the top of my femurs, through hips, pelvis, rib cage, sternum, spine, collar bones, skull, shoulders and neck. While scanning, I look like a Christmas tree lit up with radioactivity.)

Soon afterward, I got into a car accident. Parts of my cervical spine were injured and I could barely move. I was in excruciating pain and my life became unbearable.

In September, had hysterectomy and wasn't given HRT because it would have helped the cancer spread. I sunk into severe depression. I was so despondent and so lost, and sunk into deep, dark place I thought I'd never come out of.

Thankfully, God and the love and support of my husband helped pull me through, and I came to know God in a very powerful way.

My husband is a police officer with the Seattle Police Department. They and the Seattle Police Officer's Guild has supported us every step of the way.

I'm self-employed at Aflac, an insurance company. Since I was diagnosed, my team there has covered for me. Every quarter, they do a fundraiser for me. They have been incredibly supportive – even the CEO, Paul Amos, called me to see if there is anything he could do.

The good news is that my cancer is very responsive to hormone treatment. So much so that we started with hormone therapy first, rather than chemo. I still haven't had chemo or radiation.

I get bone builders and a hormonal treatment every month. I take an aromitase inhibitor every day to inhibit the production of estrogen. I've also had a hysterectomy and every possible intervention to remove estrogen from my body. My cancer is feeding on estrogen.

I have hope for the future, and am so blessed to have supportive friends and family. I am the most fortunate woman who happens to have Stage IV breast cancer.