EMMETT - Breast cancer affects thousands of women and their families every year. Thursday kicks off breast cancer awareness month and for one Emmett woman this year it takes on a whole new meaning.

Nicole Cassity is not going on a trip but her suitcase is packed with pink for a purpose.

"I am just ready to be on the other side of things. I am ready to be on the road of recovery," she said.

Early Thursday morning Cassity will under go surgery to remove both her breasts. At just 23-years-old she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She says she won't forget that phone call from her doctor.

"You can never really prepare yourself for how heavy that type of news really is, it just really makes your whole body fill like a million pounds," said Cassity.

The doctors caught Cassity's cancer early but in order to decrease her chances of seeing it reoccur they've recommended the mastectomy.

A wife and a mother Cassity says being diagnosed has shifted what she believes is important.

"You realize that things that once might have been a big deal to you really at the end of the day don't matter. Just family matters," she said.

Cassity says at such a young age she never thought about getting such an illness but like dozens of other women she is fighting back.

"Cancer is beatable. I have it and I will beat it."

And that's her message especially to young women who may never think something like breast cancer could happen to them.

"It makes me really just want to get the word out to let girls know that it's very important to be aware about what's going on with your body and to take care of it," she said.

Cassity's family and close friends are organizing a benefit to help raise money for the young woman. The event is October 9th in Marsing. To learn more go to our newslinks and click on "Fight Like A A Girl."
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Editor's Note: Family said Thursday that Cassity is now out of surgery and is recovering