Two-time breast cancer survivor fights on

<span>CHESTER -- Local resident Kim Amschler has fought breast cancer twice now and </span><span>encourages other women to stay safe and aware.</span>

<span>Amschler shares her story in hopes to spread the word about breast cancer and just how much women everywhere should try to avoid it at all costs.</span>

<span>"Learning that I had breast cancer was devastating and terrifying at the same time," Amschler said.</span>

<span>Amschler said that the second time was worse, being that it was a lot more involved.The biggest struggles of dealing with it varied from the first to second time.</span>

<span>Amschler said the first time was very scary as it was something new, but the second time was hard because she had to tell her parents she had it again.</span>

<span>"Watching my father age 10 years in front of me was one of the hardest things," Amschler said.</span>

<span>Amschler said that having to watch her family watch her being so sick had to be one of the worst things. </span>

<span>When Amschler began to lose her hair, she decided that if she was going to lose her hair, it would be on her terms.</span>

<span>Amschler's sister and friends came over and had a hair erasing party, where they got rid of her hair as she wanted to.</span>

<span>Her son, who put off going to the Army to stay with her through her chemotherapy treatments, had three of his close friends come to their house and had Amschler shave their heads for her.</span>

<span>To help cope with having such a deadly disease, Amschler said she prayed often, and remembered how much she had left to live for.</span>

<span>"I have a lot to live for, and I was not going to let this take me," Amschler said.</span>

<span>Amschler took full advantage of her family's support to help her get through this, including her first granddaughter, who she knew she had to live for.</span>

<span>"And if I didn't have my husband, I would probably be dead right now," Amschler said.</span>

<span>To anyone dealing with breast cancer, Amschler said, "Stay strong in your faith and let your family and friends help you." </span>

<span>She has been over five years breast cancer free.</span>

<span>One major tip to avoid breast cancer is to always remember your yearly mammograms. </span>

<span>One in eight women get breast cancer, and even those without the breast cancer gene can be diagnosed with it.</span>

<span id="docs-internal-guid-358b5fa0-1645-2b75-7a1a-564e04779971"><span>"Take care of yourself," Amschler said. "This is a disease that doesn't discriminate."</span></span>