“No excuses, no drama,” is the personal motto of Independent Senior Sales Director Paula Johnson of Sioux Falls, S.D. Diagnosed at 33 with stage 4 breast cancer, Paula has inspired all of those who know her with her strength and determination.

In January 2005, she found a lump in one of her breasts and went to her doctor. She was told it was a cyst, and they would aspirate it (withdraw the fluid forming the cyst). There was no fluid in the lump, so Paula decided to seek a second opinion. The second doctor told her that it was a cyst, and they would aspirate it. Again, there was no fluid found in the lump. As a result, Paula saw a third and fourth doctor for opinions. When she saw the fourth doctor, she took his arm in her hand and said, “It is not a cyst.” A biopsy of the lump determined she did have cancer – stage 4 breast cancer. Breast cancer has five stages, zero through four, four being the most progressed and hardest to cure.

“During the first couple days, you think ‘I’m going die.’ I prayed – I cannot die. I am not ready. I have too much to do,” Paula reflects. “And then, after a week of crying, I had to be strong.”

In 2006, Paula underwent five surgeries and started very aggressive chemotherapy. The chemo and surgeries seriously impacted her ability to move her arms, and she was tired most of the time. When she felt well enough to work, her mother, daughter or husband would hold the phone for her.

“I had long hair, and when I started losing it, I cut it short,” Paula recalls. When she knew she could not keep her hair anymore, she and her three daughters cut her hair. And that night her husband shaved her head with her girlfriends standing nearby supporting her.

During her treatment, Paula continued her Mary Kay business with the help of family and Independent Sales Director sisters who helped with unit meetings and provided her family with meals.

Paula believes it is so important to give to breast cancer research, because only a few years ago there wasn’t a cure for her type of cancer. “Thank goodness people donated or there would be no cure,” she said.

May 2007 marked Paula’s last chemotherapy session. She is in remission and enjoying life. “We took the girls on a cancer-free trip. We went to Las Vegas and California. I wanted to see the biggest tree in the world, and we went there. We spent a good week and had a cancer-free party,” said Paula.