In early September, we put out a call throughout the North of Boston region seeking stories from breast cancer survivors and others for our ninth annual special supplement.

As the daughter of a Gloucester fisherman, it wasn’t too much of a reach for Enza Iacono to launch a business called Lobster Trap Gifts.

For Parsons, the bond with other women who have or had breast cancer is a strong one. When she would see other women in head scarves, she would go up and hug them.

On April 21, during the initial surge of COVID-19, Maureen Aylward walked alone into North Shore Medical Center in Salem to have her right breast removed as part of her treatment plan for early stage 2 breast cancer.

When Linda Brunelle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, one of her goals was to live long enough to see her then-12-year-old daughter graduate from high school. 

Breast cancer didn’t run in Maria Allen’s family, but still, at age 52, she decided to get that routine mammogram.

By the end of a wide-ranging conversation about her breast cancer, our last question for Doreen DiSalvo was this: A penny for your thoughts?

Aurelie Alger has accomplished a lot in her 57 years. She’s a wife, mother, attorney, business owner, horse lover, avid traveler and more. 

Dawn Addison Burnham’s first encounter with breast cancer was with her mother-in-law, who was diagnosed more than 30 years ago.

Jeannine Pelkey set a goal for herself on Jan. 1, 2016, and she wasn’t going to let cancer prevent her from reaching it.

Anna Jaques Hospital and the Institution for Savings are teaming together to remember a community champion, while raising funds to support patient care in Newburyport in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Name: Laurie Jewett

A 22-year breast cancer survivor, Donna Carbone of Bradford is making her mess into her message.

When Helen Nadeau was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, she was “young and scared” and hoped to simply watch her two teenage daughters become adults. 

Linda O’Connell had gotten better about undergoing her routine screenings after her younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.

For newlyweds Linda DeCola, 62, and John Sheehan, 65, there was no way a global pandemic — or anything, really — could tarnish their wedding day.

Angela Tita Antonopoulos has faced many challenges in her life, including raising a son as a single parent and managing a career that has included working in event promotions and as a community coordinator for various nonprofit organizations.

Eva Korpi, of Rockport, recalls that her daughter had a lot of fears after being diagnosed with what was an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2016.

Three years ago, Joan Ayotte was in the shower when she found a lump in her breast.

Seanna DiStefano has always been disciplined about her health, nutrition and physical fitness regimen.

“I think it is essential that people pay attention to their health, to their breast health, and not ignore routine checkups or mammograms. And to continue to pay attention to their care by following up with providers.”