After being diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer and Stage 2 metastasis to her lymph nodes last April, Encinitas resident Claudia Bitterlin will be this year’s Honorary Survivor for the Susan G. Komen More than Pink Walk in Balboa Park on Nov. 3.

Bitterlin was 39 and four months removed from giving birth to her third child when she received the news. She has since undergone a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

She and her friends, family and other supporters on team Claudie B. have raised more than $28,000, which will go toward breast cancer research and services, as part of the walk.

This interview has been edited lightly for clarity and conciseness.

Q: What was it like on the day you were diagnosed and how did you move forward?

Bitterlin: I was devastated, shocked. Obviously the worst day of my life. It’s been a very challenging year for myself and my family, but I do feel that I’m coming through on the other side. I went through a double mastectomy, four months of chemotherapy, I’m currently in active radiation treatment and I also receive immunotherapy, and I will be on endocrine therapy for anywhere from 5 to 10 years. It’s a long road, but it’s a very hopeful one. I am grateful to be living in this time, where my kind of breast cancer, although very aggressive, is extremely treatable.

Q: Tell us about your team and the fundraising you’ve been able to do so far.

Bitterlin: We currently are at over $28,000 and my team name is Claudie B. I’m fortunate to have a lot of support from family, friends, the medical community, scientists who have all backed me, supported me, and they have been very wonderful. The group of people walking with me have stood by me through this fight, including my husband, and I just want to be able to give back to the incredible team of people who have helped me through this process. As much money as I can raise to support research moving forward and support other women who are going through this, especially other women, that’s my goal now and forever. Every dollar raised is another dollar toward beating this. I’m hopeful in my lifetime we don’t have another mother who has to fear this.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most about the walk in Balboa Park on Nov. 3?

Bitterlin: This will be my first walk with Komen, and my first breast cancer walk in general. I have no idea what to expect, but I’m assuming it’s going to be a lot of support and a lot of women who want to fight the same fight. I look forward to standing with them and also sharing my story with them that I really hope resonates and gets somebody to get their mammogram when they should, and to let somebody know who’s going through treatment that if I can do this with three kids, waking up in the middle of the night to feed a baby and get through chemotherapy, they can do this too. I want everybody to know they’re stronger than they think they are when they need to be.

Q: What other advice would you give to women who are also fighting breast cancer, especially now during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October?

Bitterlin: The first thing I would say to them is you got this. There is such a huge community behind you that supports you. It’s incredible the amount of resources and connection that you’ll make through this process. I believe that every bit of this is beatable and that you’ll get through it.

For more information on the Susan G. Komen More than Pink Walk in Balboa Park on Nov. 3 visit www.komen.org/sandiegowalk