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LEE COUNTY, GA -- A Lee County woman has an extraordinary story.

Thanks to personal checks in addition to regular checkups, she was able to catch breast cancer still in the early stages.

Beth Smith was told a year ago she had breast cancer.

The cancer runs in her family--her sister was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Smith is celebrating survival this month by dying a strand of her hair pink.

Her daughters are supporting her as well, getting pink extensions for the month.

Smith says she feels very lucky to be alive.

“I was very fortunate that I did not have to have any treatments of any kind, it was caught very early. Always check and make sure the girls are doing good because your life can change in a matter of seconds,” says Smith.

Smith had a double mastectomy and just finished breast reconstruction.

She attends the support group meetings the second Thursdays of each month in the Radiation Oncology conference room at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

For more information, call 229-312-7161.