Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles spotlighting area cancer survivors and families affected by the disease. These stories are an effort to raise awareness and promote the annual Relay for Life-Dallas County.

Gripping the microphone tightly, Alisa Smiley-Simpson closes her eyes as tears roll down her cheeks. As notes begin a melodic stream from her mouth to the listener’s soul, every word echoes sounds of triumph, gratefulness and redemption.

Singing is Simpson’s sanctuary — her encouragement during a difficult bout with breast cancer more than five years ago. Local doctors diagnosed Simpson back in 2005 with stage II breast cancer, which can spread to lymph nodes into the armpits.

“I was just laying down one day and I sat up and felt sharp pain and noticed a lump,” Simpson said. “For some reason, I just knew it was cancer.”

Simpson said her doctors ran tests and took x-rays on the affected area.

“Dr. Delp was my doctor at the time and told me things didn’t look right, so he referred me to my oncologist, Dr. Stephen White,” Simpson said. “He told me I had too much estrogen in my breasts. I take medicine to help the estrogen distribute evenly throughout my body. My last dosage is in August.”

Born and raised in Selma, the 38-year-old caseworker, takes her therapeutic sessions to Selma High School every day. She first revealed the news to her students a couple of weeks ago when promoting the Relay for Life.

“The students were shocked, they just couldn’t believe it,” Simpson said. “People have a misconception that you have to look a certain way or be a certain age to get cancer but I looked healthy and I was only 33 when I was diagnosed.”

Simpson, who was involved in sports and music growing up, was surrounded by education. Her parents, who were retired educators, pushed she and her three siblings to excel academically and work hard.

“My dad never wanted me to work, just to focus on my school work,” Simpson said. “I played basketball in middle school and high school, but singing was my passion.”

Simpson went through three months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation and has since been in remission. The survivor said prayer and support from her best friend Darryle, are what brought her through the darkened skin, massive hair loss and surgery.

“Cancer runs in my family and I was paranoid,” Simpson said. “I used to ask myself, ‘why me?’ but God allows us to go through things so we can come through on the other side and help someone else.”

Simpson said a healthy lifestyle can lesson odds for cancer.

“Exercise and eat right,” Simpson said. “And don’t forget to pray.”