Battle against cancer was 'horrible' but worth it: 'I'm a survivor living a good life'

Cancer survivor Annette Plaisted and her husband/caregiver, Don, shared their story during a brunch held at the Spaulding High cafeteria. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Annette Plaisted of Gonic is a cancer survivor, but it's been a long battle that is never over, she said on Saturday.
"It's been horrible," she said during a cancer survivor brunch held in the Spaulding High School cafeteria prior to the Relay for Life of Strafford County fund-raiser held at Hugo Bolin Field.
Plaisted, who was joined by her husband, Don, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years and ended up having one of her breasts removed.

Cancer survivors and caregivers walk an emotional first lap during Saturday's Relay for Life held at Hugo Bolin Field outside Spaulding High School.

She said the cancer spread into 14 of her lymph nodes, which led to many rounds of chemo and radiation.
"One thing about chemo, your hair starts falling out," she said. "I didn't like that. Another thing, I spent a lot of time in the bathroom."
She said at the time she was diagnosed she was part of a group of 12 women being treated locally for breast cancer.
"Most of them have passed," said Plaisted, who is a longtime Granite State Fair Arts and Crafts Superintendent.
She said while the effects of chemo and radiation still linger, she is proud to be a cancer survivor.
"I'm a survivor living a good life," she said.
Even so, she has to remain vigilant, noting she sees a cancer specialist every six month.
"The battle is never over," she said.
The Relay for Life brought together almost 100 cancer survivors and their caregivers, who walked the first lap of the Relay for Life shortly after noon, followed by theme relays throughout the day and ending with an emotional Luminaria Ceremony at dusk.
The brunch was prepared by Little Miss Sophie's restaurant of Rochester.
Major event sponsors included Phase Line Construction, Proulx Oil and Propane, New England Cancer Specialists, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Frisbie Memorial Hospital, MVSB, Hannaford, Somersworth Nissan and The Ridge. The Rochester Voice was a media sponsor.