MADISON, Wis. -- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year alone, up to 40,000 women will die from the disease.

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But one survivor wants the world to know that if cancer doesn't end your life, it might make it better.

Connie Miley has been a long-time advocate of breast cancer awareness, but an annual screening of her own gave her a personal reason to fight.

"Originally, I found out that I had breast cancer when I went in for a mammogram," said Miley. "I didn't have a lump or anything."

Officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention say that aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.

"The estimates are that around 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008," said Dr. Amye Tevaarwerk, an oncologist at the UW Carbone Cancer Center.

Miley's cancer was diagnosed as stage 3 invasive.

"There may be some initial shock and anxiety, but people do what they have to do," said Tevaarwerk.

Miley rose to the occasion, working full-time as she began a treatment regime of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Now, Miley has a new outlook on life.

"She would never have let me or my brother do anything like this or color our hair or get tattoos and now she's coloring her hair and she's getting tattoos all for breast cancer awareness," said Miley's daughter, Casey.

"We got tattoos -– I love my butterfly," said Miley. "This makes you stronger, there's no doubt."

Every Sunday during the month of October, WISC-TV will explore a different aspect of the disease.