When Lee Ann Bailey found out she had breast cancer last May, there were many low moments -- the shock of discovering that she had the devastating disease, losing the long, flowing hair she once had to chemotherapy, the loss she felt at losing a part of herself from electing to have a full mastectomy.

One of the tougher times was having to tell the news to her husband, Danny, and son, Cody.

Her family were rocks for her through it all, always knowing the right thing to say, making her laugh when she was feeling low, and just giving her the support she needed.

"They were the strong part," Bailey said.

Now, as the first anniversary of Lee Ann's diagnosis approaches, Cody, now 17, is still doing what he can to support his mom -- and to thank the people who have cared for her during her ordeal.

Cody, a street stock car racer, had a large pink ribbon decal made to be placed on the hood of his number 38C car. He plans on racing with the decal on the car all summer to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Today, the Baileys are bringing the car to St. Peter's Hospital so Dr. Thomas Weiner and the nurses and staff at the Cancer Treatment Center of St. Peter's can sign the decal.

"He wanted to do something special," Bailey said. "He wanted to show his support, thank everyone for what they've done, and what they do for everyone."

Lee Ann said the people at St. Peter's -- in addition to the care they gave her -- were almost as big a source of support as her family and friends.

"The nurses there are just wonderful. They just make your day," she said. "Every time you go in, they have a smile on their face. They'd sit there with you and take your mind off things. I don't think I could have done it without them."

Lee Ann always figured she had a high chance of getting breast cancer.

There is history of the disease in her family, and when Lee Ann was a child, an aunt of hers died of breast cancer.

She was always diligent about keeping on top of her health -- routinely doing self breast examinations and receiving yearly mammograms.

Women 40 and above should get a yearly mammogram, and below 40 if there is a family history, Weimer said. Self breast examinations are important because a large percent of tumors are found through self examination, he added.

Many women who have breast cancer survive; "it's not a death sentence," he said.

It was during a self-exam last May that Bailey found the lump. Doctors later determined it was cancerous, and on June 19 she had surgery.

That was only the beginning of the battle. While recuperating from surgery, she developed an infection and needed a second surgery.

The long recuperation process from the two surgeries was a challenge for her because she's always been an active person.

"It's hard for me to keep still," she said. "It was rough. I was laid up for a month and a half. It was a long haul."

After her recovery, came chemotherapy, which she received every other week for three months.

Her nurses referred to the chemo drug -- a red liquid given intravenously -- as "the red devil."

It lived up to its name, leaving her feeling drained for almost a week after every treatment.

She was prepared for the fact that the drugs could cause her to lose all her hair. She thought it would make it easier to take if she cut her long hair short before starting chemo.

But that didn't stop the shock when her hair started coming out in clumps the day after the second treatment -- a Friday.

"On Monday, I went to the beauty shop and had it shaved," she said.

Bailey still struggles emotionally from her bout. She's going in soon for her yearly mammogram, and she's keeping her fingers crossed that cancer won't turn up in her remaining breast.

The scars from her surgery have affected her more deeply than she ever imagined. She was given a choice between a lumpectomy and a full mastectomy -- removal of the entire breast. She chose the mastectomy in hopes it would prevent the cancer from returning.

She decided not to have reconstructive surgery, but she's now reconsidering that decision.

"To this day, I can't even look at myself in the mirror. I don't want to look at it," she said. "It's going to be a long process trying to get over it.

"You learn a lot from the process," Bailey said. "(You learn) what family and friends are there for -- support."

Race for the Cure

- The Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure is Saturday at the Capitol. Registration is $22 for adults, $12 for children, $5 for toddlers.

- Registration and packet pickup is at the Capital Hill Mall today from 4-8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday schedule

7-8 a.m.: Registration and packet pickup

9:35 a.m.: Aerobic warmup

10 a.m.: 5K run/walk

10:15 a.m.: 1-mile fun run

11 a.m.: Awards, survivor photo, food and beverage tent

Click here for more information on the Race for the Cure.

Reporter Joe Menden: 447-4087 or joe.menden@helenair.com