Pictured with the Gallery of Hope at The LifeCenter are (left to right): Robin Dawson, LifeCenter Educator; 2013 Gallery of Hope honoree Sharon Dapp of Muncy; and Jennifer Deemer, Grant and Program Specialist, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

MUNCY – Last month the Susquehanna Health’s LifeCenter in the Lycoming Mall recently welcomed Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 2013 Gallery of Hope, a traveling display to help spread the message of breast cancer awareness to the community. The breast cancer survivors whose stories are included in this year’s Gallery of Hope include Muncy resident Sharon Dapp. She is one of ten honorees.

Dapp, now 57, had two bouts of the disease. Much support and a positive attitude contributed to her survival. Fortunately, she regularly scheduled screenings and mammograms which helped an early detection. She noted that her first detection was caught after her mammogram at Muncy Valley. “The mammogram was ‘suspicious’, so Muncy Valley called my regular MD and recommended me to the Breast Health Center,” said Dapp.

A biopsy determined the outcome at Susquehanna Health’s Kathryn Candor Lundy Breast Health Center. In 2005 she underwent a lumpectomy to remove a malignant tumor, followed by weeks of radiation treatments.

She was determined not to let cancer take over at such an early stage of her life, especially since she had no family history of it. Unfortunately, in 2011 a mammogram revealed a red mark on her breast, and a biopsy confirmed it as cancer. The second time was more emotionally painful for her. She couldn’t understand why she could get cancer again.

But today she is glad for her life, and her supportive family, co-workers and friends. “I always try to appreciate the people around me,” she said. “I think I appreciate that I can get up every day and go to my job.” Dapp is a mother of two and general manager at the East Lycoming Shopper and Luminary office in Hughesville.

She encourages everyone to be sure to visit their doctor and conduct self examinations. Dapp also recommends to have a mammogram at least once a year after the age of 40. “Don’t be afraid to go to the doctor. It’s part of taking care of yourself.”

To learn more about this year’s honorees, including Dapp, visit www.bcnepa.com/hope. Individuals can also become supporters of “Gallery of Hope Blue Cross of NEPA” on Facebook and begin receiving regular announcements about BCNEPA’s breast cancer education efforts.

The Gallery will return to The LifeCenter in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Gallery of Hope was on display from Tuesday, June 4 through Monday, June 10.

For more information on breast cancer, visit breastcancer.org