Nicolle Lochner had done all the right things to find breast cancer early. She started annual mammograms when she was 39 and performed regular self-exams. Having been in the healthcare field for 20 years selling imaging solutions, including digital mammography equipment, she knew a lot about the science and statistics behind the disease.

So when Nicolle was diagnosed with breast cancer last August, she was shocked and yet strangely prepared.

“Academically I knew what was coming, but I hadn’t had time to deal with it emotionally,” said Nicolle.

In just five months since her last mammogram, she had developed an aggressive cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. Within just a couple weeks she was swept into surgery.

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She and her husband Eric struggled to keep friends and family updated on her progress and treatment. That’s when Eric suggested that Nicolle start a website through CaringBridge.org to answer all of their questions and concerns in one place.

CaringBridge is a nonprofit web service that supports and connects family and friends during a critical illness treatment or recovery. About 150,000 families have created personalized websites through the nonprofit so far.

At first, Nicolle was resistant, so Eric took the reigns and set up the site for her. Encouraging messages from friends and family started pouring in on her site’s guestbook.

Soon after her surgery, Nicolle began posting journal entries on her website.

“At first it was just functional, then became more about therapy. By writing about my experience, it was almost like it wasn’t happening to me. Like I was writing about something that was happening to someone else.”

Responses came not only from friends and family, but also from strangers affected by breast cancer from Oregon to Maine. Each time Nicolle posted a new journal entry, her site got more than 200 hits.

“It was a great centralizing source,” said Nicolle. “I heard from people I had totally lost touch with. It was way better than when I was healthy. The act of love meant so much.”

Nicolle wrote her last entry on March 22nd, 2008, the day after her last radiation treatment. Since then she’s been healthy and cancer free.

An avid runner, Nicolle plans to attend the Race for the Cure this September to cheer on fellow survivors and supporters.