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West Michigan woman celebrates 25 years of life after breast cancer diagnosis, thanks 13 Friends for Life

On Oct. 13, 1998, Val O'Brien found a lump in her breast after seeing a Friends For Life reminder, featuring 13 ON YOUR SIDE's Juliet Dragos, to do a self exam

MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich — Friday was a significant "Friends for Life Day" for one Muskegon woman.

On Oct. 13, 1998, Val O'Brien found a lump in her breast after seeing a Friends For Life reminder, featuring 13 ON YOUR SIDE's Juliet Dragos, to do a self-breast exam.

It turned out to be an aggressive form of breast cancer that was caught just in time.

"On the 13th of the month, Juliet did it (13 Friends for Life) on TV, and I have no idea why I did a self breast exam, I'd never done one before," O'Brien said.

It's been 25 years to the day that Val O'Brien saw a 13 Friends For Life reminder to do a self breast exam.

After finding the lump in 1998, she went to get it checked out the next day.

Later, after getting the mass removed, it was found to be an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Now, with her family and friends by her side, Val is celebrating.

"I'm not having a funeral when I die," said Val. "I'm celebrating now while I'm alive, and I can enjoy it. I'm going to party and we bought food drinks for everybody, and we're here to celebrate living."

Through her journey, it's where she's found a once-in-a-lifetime support system.

"I have a lot of friends here tonight that are breast cancer survivors. And you find yourself in a group that they really appreciate when you say, you know, this is wrong, or that's why and you can talk it through and you can really get get the answers that you need."

For Val, 13 Friends For Life means so much to her.

"I want to thank Juliet and everything that she has done," she said. "She saved my life. This little person you see her and she's so bubbly, and she's fantastic. She's amazing. She has saved more lives. And all I hope is I get to save one person's life, which is why I do these uncomfortable interviews."

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