Breast Cancer Story               A Story In Progress:   Hi my name is Karen and this is my breast cancer story.  My journey with breast cancer of how I truely felt from the inside.  As my story progressed I thought it may be of help to others.   Remember! We are not alone..

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Former beauty queen's inspirational story   Published Date: 18 July 2008 By Kate Mason         HELPING OTHERS: Karen has set up a website documenting her breast cancer journey to help people in similar situations.   ""You just think when you are young that you are immune to it"" Karen Roberts   A FORMER beauty queen is hoping to inspire others with her story of how she is battling breast cancer.   Twenty years ago Karen Roberts graced the pages of this newspaper as the very first Miss Free Press. Now, 40, the former Moorends woman has created a website to tell exactly how she has felt since the devastating diagnosis just over a year ago. Karen, an administrator who now lives in Nottingham, struggled to open up to her family and come to terms with her situation so she decided to write it all down. "It started off because all my family kept saying how well I was coping, but I hid a lot from them. I wanted to give them an insight into how I was feeling so I decided to write it down in my own words how I felt. Then I thought if I put it on the internet it could help someone else who was going through a similar situation," she explained. Karen's website called 'My Breast Cancer Story - A Story In Progress' documents everything from the anger she felt on the day she was diagnosed to some more comical moments through her treatment. "There have been lots of funny episodes and that is one thing that I am grateful for, there was a lot of laughter. I think this kept me going, like my partner joked about my bald head, it might sounds strange to people that don't know us as a couple but it was things like this that kept me going. It's better to laugh then cry," she said. "One woman contacted me after reading the site and said I had the best medicine about in the form of my partner Lee. He is so supportive," she added. Karen is now making a good recovery and although she is still undergoing treatment, is positive about the future: "In my eyes at the minute I'm all clear - they can't say that officially but it's looking more positive." And Karen has fond memories of her reign as Miss Free Press. "I was shocked. I didn't think I would win, but I was really pleased and I had a fantastic time. The people at the Free Press were all really lovely to me. "I went through a few years entering other competitions. I was a Butlins' Holiday Princess and was in the rounds of Miss UK and Miss England, but I think I'm a bit too old for all that now," she laughed. Karen is now focusing her attention on the website and helping others. "People are getting younger and younger and you just think when you are young that you are immune to it. I hope the website will raise awareness too to be breast aware, about self examinations and what to look for and help other people with cancer and also help their families cope." * To read Karen's story click here to visit http://www.breastcancerstory.co.uk/