BOSTON -- From the moment I was diagnosed, I have been blown away by the willingness of survivors to share their breast cancer stories. Early on, friends and family put me in touch with survivors to help take the fear out of my diagnosis. They talked to me about how they coped with a variety of concerns during their treatment.

If I had to get cancer, breast cancer at least comes with an incredible amount of public awareness and support. I know now, not every cancer patient feels the vast network of survivors that I have come to know. There are so many organizations that are dedicated to making sure women get information and support after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.

In going public, I have also received letters and e-mails of support from so many viewers. I profile three of those viewers in my latest video diary. You will meet Shirley, a 75-year-old widow living north of Boston. She did a self-exam after watching one of my first reports and found a lump that turned out to be early stage cancer. The former nun explains how her faith has helped her cope with the diagnosis and treatment. Shirley lives alone but blew me away with her positive attitude about cancer, treatment and life. I asked her if losing her hair was traumatic and she said everyone seems to like her wig better!

I received an e-mail from a woman who told me I just had to meet her friend Michelle. So I did. Michelle is a 40-year-old single mother of three living in Boston. She invited me and photographer Steve Colvin to attend a church service and brunch celebrating her birthday and fifth year of being cancer free. Michelle cut her hair so other African American women going through treatment might have easier access to a good quality wig. She is a bubbly, energetic woman who lights up a room. I loved spending the day with Michelle and was so impressed with the love I felt around her.

After our "Chronicle" special aired, I received an e-mail from Kelly. She is a 27-year-old wife and new mother of 9-month-old, Mia. She wrote to tell me how reassuring it was to see a story about a young woman dealing with breast cancer. Kelly has found it isolating to be dealing with a disease that statistically usually hits women later in life. We met Kelly at a benefit to help her young family pay for medical bills. Kelly is plugging along with a long road of treatment and is getting ready for a second surgery. I think about her family a lot and pray for Kelly to conquer this disease.

Those are just some of the amazing people I have come to know in the past six months. I really wish I didn't have cancer, but I'm blessed to meet so many people on this journey.

I had acquaintances who became friends after we realized we belonged to the same "club." Elisha and I now go on walks where we share our fears and tips on getting through treatment. Mary inspires both of us as she prepares to celebrate her fifth year of being cancer free. A woman named Nancy reached out to me through e-mails. She too is five years cancer free. She loves to point out that she had 14 out of 18 lymph nodes with cancer and she is still here. I'm not sure if Nancy knows how much it helps me to read and re-read that. Fourteen out of 18 nodes and she is still here. That gives me (and I hope some of you) so much hope. People tell me my story is "inspirational," but I hope you all know how much others truly inspire me.

And I need that inspiration. I've been a little down lately. The weekly treatments have taken a toll on me mentally and physically.

On Monday, I arrived at Dana Farber for treatment No. 10. But who's counting? Hah! The orders for my drugs were not in so I waited. Then we got the IV in, but that vein didn't work. Then the nurse (despite her amazing efforts) could not find a vein. After nearly six months of chemotherapy, my veins are spent. We had to put hot packs on my arm and then try again.

I had to bite my lip to keep from crying as they probed around my arms trying to draw blood. I was so happy my two friends were there to keep me distracted. A wonderful assortment of my friends and family has helped me pass the time during my 14 chemo sessions.

Uninterrupted conversation with another adult is hard to come by in a house with two toddlers. Those conversations have definitely been a positive part of my cancer experience. Still, chemotherapy can be trying. Two hours after my appointment time, we finally got things going. Four hours later, I was finally free to go home to my children.

As I struggle to keep the fear out, I also fight giving into frustration. I was having enough trouble juggling the kids, the marriage and the career before cancer. I need to beat this disease, and I believe I will.

I try to keep everything in perspective and know all this treatment is part of a massive effort to keep me alive. I'm certainly grateful to my doctors and nurses for their hard work. But I'm aching to be me again. This week I will be at Dana Farber three times -- once for chemotherapy and twice for pre-radiation appointments. These appointments will likely take more than eight hours.

I feel more like a cancer patient this week than the Kelley I used to know. I just really want my life back.