Here is my Multigenre on my Mom, a Cancer Survivor. Within my project you will find 5 styles of writing: A Narrative, an Interview, Lyric Reflection, Informational Piece, and a Persuasive Piece.

1. HOPE
A Survivor

2. SOMETHING IS WRONG
Something‟s wrong, something‟s wrong. I remember whispering
those words to my sister, Alison, in our small cluttered room. The feeling
had been eating me up for days now. Alison nodded her head
confirming she had been having the same feeling.
We both sat in our room staring at one another as if one of us
held the answer. We sat silently, listening for any sign that might give us
a hint at what might be going on.
Down the hall we could hear mom and dad talking. What was
going on? I peeked out of our door, listening hard. I started down the
hallway. Alison followed me step for step, careful not to step on the
squeaky spots on the floor that would give us away. My palms were
sweaty as I took my sisters hand. At the end of the hall we laid down on
the floor, trying not to breath heavy.

3. SOMETHING IS WRONG
Mom seemed to be on the phone. Who was she talking to?
Grandma? Aunt Sharon or Connie? It sounded as if she had been
crying. Why was she upset? My first thought was maybe grandma
had another heart attack. Was she alright? Mom‟s voice sounded
shattered and full of fear. Alison seemed to look at me for answers
and sadly I didn‟t have any. Tears began to run down her chubby
cheeks. I squeezed her hand in reassurance.
I worked up enough courage to look around the corner and
into the kitchen. Mom was sitting at the kitchen table on the phone.
Dad stood close behind her with his hand on her shoulder offering
what comfort he could as she sobbed on the phone.

4. SOMETHING IS WRONG
My suspicions had been confirmed, something was very
wrong. I was anxious to know what it could be to upset her so much.
Was it me? Was it us? Our room did need to be cleaned. Was it
grandma? Was she okay? Why won‟t anyone tell us what‟s going on?
Alison and I exchanged looks of concern as if we were carrying on a
whole conversation with only our eyes.
I heard a sudden squeak. Alison and I both whipped around to
find Luke standing in the hallway behind us. He looked confused,
too young to understand but old enough to know something was
going on. He sat down beside us as we put our fingers to our lips
with a shhhh.

5. SOMETHING IS WRONG
Our attention was drawn back to mom as we heard her cry out, “I love you too, I
will, I have too, bye.” No one seemed to breathe as we listened in close. Tears
continued to roll down Alison‟s face. I had to be strong, I had to find out. Not
knowing what was going on was making me sick and upset. I had to find out for
Alison‟s sake and my own.
I worked up the courage to step out into the kitchen. Alison and Luke each took
my hand. Mom was drying her eyes. The sadness and fear was apparent in her face.
I couldn‟t wait any longer Alison and Luke started to cry. I began to cry right along
with them as I murmured, “Mommy why are you crying?” I then blurted out, “What‟s
wrong is Grandma okay?” She nodded and a weight seemed to be lifted from my
shoulders, Grandma was okay.
Mom led us into the living room as Dad followed, all the weight seemed to return.
My question still had not been answered. What could be wrong? My mom brought
us in close, as tears ran down her face. She choked out the words, “I have
CANCER.” We all began to cry.

6. SURVIVOR'S INTERVIEW
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer
A: June 16th, 2004
What stage was your cancer?
A: It was stage one
Which breast was affected?
A: The right one.
How old were you?
A: Thirty-eight
What scared you the most?
A: What scared me the most was dying and leaving my three children to grow up
without me.
When did you find the lump?
A: April of 2004

7. SURVIVOR’S INTERVIEW
What was your first thought when you were told you had breast cancer?
A: My three kids.
What procedure did you decide to have?
A: The lumpectomy.
Why?
A: It sounds kind of stupid but I thought about what if I had Gang Green on my little
toe, I wouldn‟t chop off my whole leg at first. So I decided I would have the
mastectomy if it came ever came back.
Is there a history of breast cancer in your family?
A: No, not one case.

8. SURVIVOR’S INTERVIEW
What precautions do you take now to better protect yourself and stay healthy?
A: I had none of the usual risk factors, there was no family history, I wasn‟t
overweight, and I exercised and ate fairly well. So I guess just going to the doctor and
doing regular follow ups.
Do you still worry?
A: Not really, I get a little anxious the day before my annual checkups.
Since you caught it so early, what are your chances of the cancer returning?
A: The doctor‟s said I have about a 15% chance of it coming back.
What would you do to make young women more aware of breast cancer and their
risks?
A: I guess just tell them to get checked out and do self-breast exams every month.
With me being your daughter how much more at risk am I than other women at being
diagnosed with breast cancer?
A: I‟m not sure the exact percent but you do have a higher risk.

9. HOPE
My Mom, Hope and Buddy
Thanksgiving 2011

10. “I’M GONNA LOVE YOU
THROUGH IT”
“I‟m Gonna Love You Through It” – Martina McBride
She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don't discriminate or care if you're just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, "I know that you're afraid and I am, too
But you'll never be alone, I promise you"
When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I'll be there to dry
your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it.

11. “I’M GONNA LOVE YOU
THROUGH IT”
My mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2004 at the age of 38. I
was 12 years old, my sister was 10, and my brother was only 7. Martina
McBride‟s single “I‟m gonna love you through it” released in 2011, 8
years later. Her lyrics related to my mom‟s own story and expressed her
same fears as a mother fighting cancer.
“Cancer don‟t discriminate or care if you‟re just 38, with three kids who
need you their lives.” -- My mom admits to having the same fears when
she was diagnosed and battling cancer. I even remember staying up at
night and thinking who will take care of us (my sister, brother, and I)
while Dads working if something happens to mom? The words in the
song were real experiences for my family.
Now, as a survivor, the song is my mom‟s own anthem that, in a way,
expressing and sharing her story. Our family finds comfort in the song
knowing that „we loved her through it.‟

12. MY SURVIVOR
Mom and Dad, Christmas 2011

13. A MOTHER, A SURVIVOR, A FRIEND
Alison’s Graduation 2012 My Graduation 2010

14. RISK FACTORS
Internal Risks
Internal risk factors of breast cancer are not within an individual‟s control.
They are genetic and hormonal. There are two known breast cancer genes - BRCA 1
and BRCA 2. BRCA 1 is only found in women but BRCA 2 can be found in both men
and women. The cancer genes are passed from generation to generation. These
families normally have a higher incidence of breast cancer and it usually occurs at a
young age and in both breasts. If a mother or a father carry the gene then their
daughter has a 50% chance of having the cancer gene also. However, this does not
mean the daughter will definitely develop breast cancer. Genetic testing for the BRCA
genes have been developed and have helped many take control over their health.
We know that hormones are a big internal factor in the development of
breast cancer because breast cancer is so common in women and rare in men. A
woman‟s breasts go through changes that a man‟s breasts do not. Women‟s breasts
are particularly sensitive to carcinogens during the time between puberty and their
first pregnancy. Studies show that a woman is at a higher risk of breast cancer, the
longer she is able to reproduce. If a she menstruates for more than 40 years, her risk
is definitely greater. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding actually seem to reduce
the risk of breast cancer. Pregnancy hormones mature the breast tissue but to be
beneficial the pregnancy must be full-term. Breastfeeding for at least 1.5 to 2 years
suppresses ovulation and reduces one‟s risk.

15. RISK FACTORS
External Risks
External or environmental risks are factors that can cause a
cancer-causing mutation. Luckily, we do have some control over these
factors. Our diet may have an effect on breast cancer risk. Foods high
in fat have been thought to increase cancer risk for many years. For
instance, breast cancer is less evident in Asian countries where they eat
less fat. Fat cells make estrogen and an oversupply of estrogen is
believed to increase a person‟s risk for breast cancer. In contrast, a diet
high in fiber and antioxidants is considered to ward off breast cancer.
Another theory is that it isn‟t the type of food one eats, but the
chemicals, pesticides and hormones in our food that are the problem.
Another factor to consider is how much alcohol one consumes.
It appears that even small amounts of alcohol may increase one‟s risk.
Countries such as, France and Italy, where wine is consumed regularly
have higher occurrences of breast cancer than in the United States.

16. RISK FACTORS
External Risks
Hormone medications have also been linked to breast cancer. These include birth
control pills, hormone replacement therapy and fertility drugs. The total number of
months of use is the key to risk. The longer the use, the higher the risk. Women on
external hormones for more than ten years have the highest risk. Studies have
shown that breast cancer cells in a lab do not grow well without hormones being
added to them.
A known risk of breast cancer is radiation. Studies have shown that
exposure to radiation, especially at a young age, increases one‟s risk. Unfortunately,
radiation therapy is used to fight other life-threatening diseases such as Hodgkin„s
disease. The benefits have to be weighed against the risks. Many years ago, the
risks of radiation was not well understood and patients were exposed more often.
Patients with tuberculosis and scoliosis were exposed through numerous x-rays.
Benign illness, such as, postpartum mastitis, an enlarged thymus gland and chest
acne were previously treated with direct radiation therapy to the breast and chest.
Pesticides have also been thought to increase an individual‟s risk for breast
cancer. DDT and PCBs, although not used legally anymore, have contaminated the
environment. Evidence of these have been found in wildlife, human tissue, milk,
waterways and the soil. One medical study compared the breast fat tissue of women
with breast cancer and those without. The fat tissue with breast cancer showed
considerable higher levels of these pesticides. It is believed that once DDT and
PCBs enter the human body, they are broken down into weak forms of estrogen and
cause breast cancer just as normally produced estrogen can.

17. FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
Because of my Mom’s experience my sister has chosen to go to school
to become a nurse. My Mom also returned to school, they each are
currently licensed CNA’s.

18. FIGHT YOUR FIGHT, GET INFORMED
My mother has inspired me to never give up a fight. She is by far the
bravest person I know. I look up to her and couldn‟t imagine life without her.
I am so thankful for the time I have had with her and look forward to the
future with her. I am lucky enough to share the future with my mother. She
is a proud cancer survivor and I love her for it, she is my hero. As a
survivor she has volunteered to take part in studies to help research the
risks and causes of breast cancer. She stresses the importance of regular
checkups and self-breast exams. My Mom has increased my own
awareness of my personal risks of having breast cancer and she has also
shown me to never fear it.
Most everyone has a friend or family member who has been
affected by some form of Cancer. If you don‟t already know of someone, sit
tight you will. I encourage everyone to take part in a community event that
creates awareness, such as Relay for Life or Susan G. Kolmen‟s Fight for a
Cure. Also women and men should take steps to become aware of their
own risks. There is always something that can be done to help spread the
word!

19. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi my name is Ashley Dutton. I am a
Junior at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte studying to
become an Elementary School
Teacher.
My mom was diagnosed with Breast
Cancer when I was 12 years old. This
really impacted my life at a young age.
I remember staying awake at night
worrying about what would happen if
my mom died.
My purpose for my project is to create
awareness and reflect on a influential
event from my childhood. My
intended audience is my Mom and
close family. I also would like to share
my story to generate social awareness
on the risk factors of Breast Cancer.