Today, 65-year-old Novella Lyons of Germantown is a mover and shaker in cancer circles. She founded and runs Women of Faith and Hope, a support group for black women who have breast cancer. Because of Lyons, her two staff members and a cadre of 50 volunteers, more than 30,000 Philadelphia women with cancer have had a shoulder to lean on during their treatments since 1995 — and close to 100 healthy women each year have received mammograms that could save their lives.

That's today. Fifteen years ago, when she received her own breast cancer diagnosis, Lyons was a woman facing her own mortality like so many others whose doctors break the news, "It's cancer." She shared her anguish and the faith that helped her through it with Kirstin Lindermayer for the Daily News.

Her diagnosis: A lesson in persistence

"My first thought was death because my mother died of breast cancer. That was the immediate first thought. The mammogram results showed calcifications. The suggestion was that I wait six months and have a second mammogram. But I felt strongly that I didn't want to wait.

"I had a second doctor look at the film and examine my breast, and it was the same opinion. But I wasn't comfortable, and I sought out a breast surgeon. He reviewed the film, and it was the same thing.

"However, upon breast examination by the surgeon, there was a prominent lump in my right breast and under my right arm. So, of course they ordered an ultrasound and a biopsy, which confirmed cancer in the right breast."

Her treatment, at Fox Chase Cancer Center

"I had a choice between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, and I chose a lumpectomy and the breast reconstruction surgery.

"I went to the doctor for five weeks on a daily basis for radiation. I did not have chemotherapy. I have not had a recurrence since 1993."

Nasty weather, fine husband

"The year that I had the surgery was a very rough year as far as weather was concerned, and we had ice storms from December till almost February, I believe. There was always ice on the ground, so much so that I was frightened to visit my doctor because I had such a difficult time getting back and forth because of the ice.

"But my husband just pushed me every day, and we only missed one [radiation treatment]. I cried one day, and he didn't make me go. It was just such a task that winter, going back and forth. But we accomplished it."

A whole family to lean on

"My family was great. I have a nephew who said to me, when I was going through it, 'Aunt Novella, I don't know what to say. But I'm here for you.'

"That's very important: to know that he was there for me. Lots of times, people don't know what to say to a person who's been diagnosed with cancer. I've had many women say that it seemed they were deserted by family and friends because they don't know what to say or how to treat them. Try to act as normal as possible."

The power of prayer

"I went into prayer immediately when I got the diagnosis. And because of going into that prayer and connecting with God, it helped me to calm myself.

"I get a little fearful sometimes, a little nervous. My [yearly] checkup is coming up, so I get a little nervous then. But I just continue to pray and trust that it will come out OK."

On being a cancer survivor

"More than a survivor. More than that. When I think of a survivor, I think of the men and women who sleep on the streets in Center City by the warm grates. And I think of them as survivors. And I'm more than that. I'm conquering life. I'm living life to the fullest."

The birth of a breast-cancer advocate

"Prior to surgery, I was a very private person. I would not have told people about a breast surgery. But when I was asked, I surprised myself that I said, 'I'm having breast cancer surgery' or 'I had breast cancer surgery.'

"And right after I returned to work, friends asked if I would speak to someone they knew. It was one friend, and then it was several other people who asked, because I was speaking out about it. And I realized that other people were not speaking out about it. There was a silence in the community about breast cancer."

Women of Faith and Hope (WOFAH) is born, at Canaan Baptist Church in Germantown

"The first program that was held was in March of 1995. We had actually 47 women sign up and have mammograms that Saturday morning. We had another program on [another] Saturday morning. We didn't have any more mammograms that year, but we had an educational piece. Women were coming in great numbers to be educated."

On the agenda

"I'm a prayer person, so we had prayer before and after our meetings. We talked about other issues important to women. The benefit of a support group is that women don't have to feel isolated. They can feel connected to others and do get connected to others if they come.

"There's a bonding that takes place there. There's laughing. Our meetings grew in attendance because women said it helped them get through the month. The connections, the information, and the social aspect of it [all helped]. And we would have refreshments.

"Today, WOFAH has four monthly meetings in four different locations in Philadelphia."

Troubling inequities

"Along the way, I learned the incidence of breast cancer is not greater for African-American women. However, the death rate is greater for African-American women and that bothered me and added fuel to me.

"If breast cancer was killing African-American women at a greater rate, then I wanted to do all I could. I think of it as a war. You have to arm yourself to win this war."

In collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center, Women of Faith and Hope will offer free breast cancer screenings at a health fair on April 26. For details, call 215-849-7004 or visit www.wofah.org.