CANCER SURVIVOR SPEAKS ABOUT LEARNING TO COPE WITH, BEAT ILLNESS.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

When Heather Warrick was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, two thoughts came to mind - her funeral and whether her childhood sweetheart would dump her.

``I knew I was going to die, so I pictured my funeral and I knew my boyfriend would leave me, because it would be a bit much for someone so young to have to go through this,'' said Warrick, who was just 24 when she learned the small lump in her breast was cancer.

At age 28, she's very much alive and very much married to her first love.

The cancer was discovered early and a lumpectomy was successful. Chad Warrick, she said, was her most inspirational supporter during the days when she didn't know if she would live or die.

Heather Warrick, who lives in Newhall, has made it her mission to educate others about surviving cancer. She notes that since her breast cancer, she's also been successfully treated for melanoma, potentially the most serious type of skin cancer.

Warrick will be a keynote speaker today at the American Cancer Society's second annual Candlelight Walk, a Celebration of Life. The walk will begin at the Summit Park in Valencia.

``The message is pretty simple, early detection is the best protection,'' she said.

Chairman Arnold Mann said the program will feature the lighting of candles, followed by the walk and a brief program of songs.

``This is an opportunity to participate in a moving memorial ceremony in honor of a loved one who has been touched by cancer,'' Mann said.

Chad and Heather Warrick have known each other since kindergarten at Mitchell Elementary School in Canyon Country. A week after Heather's diagnosis, Chad brought her flowers.

``There were a dozen roses and one fake one and what she didn't know was the fake one contained an (engagement) ring,'' Chad said. The young couple married in March 1996.

``Chad has been great, he really helped me to relax,'' Warrick said.

Aware that chemotherapy treatments would cause her to lose her hair, Heather said Chad invited their friends to a hair shaving party to show their camaraderie.

``He thinks of things like that and it made the whole process bearable. He shaved my head into a Mohawk-style and invited friends to join in. It was so much fun and it took my mind off of the chemo,'' she said.

``It's been difficult but I knew right away what I needed to do. I asked her what she wanted me to do to help and she just told me to be there for her,'' Chad Warrick said. Chad, a stockbroker who has felt the effects of the recent Dow Jones roller coaster (``one of my clients lost a million bucks''), said he does worry sometimes about losing his wife.

``That's always a thought, as well as having kids, but the key is to keep being supportive,'' he said.

Heather, who works in a doctor's office, is often called on by schools, churches and community groups to speak about cancer and coping with it.

Speaking at Valencia High School on Monday, she relayed the emotions of someone diagnosed with the life-threatening disease.

``A person feels betrayed by their body when this happens. I tell people to be in tune with their body, to get checkups and not to wait for someone else to find a tumor. Most women don't do examinations and they should,'' Warrick said. ``You need to know when to examine yourself and what time of month and you'll be able to find tumors yourself.''

After her cancer was discovered, Warrick said she found it necessary to talk about with others who were going through the same thing.

She began volunteering for the Santa Clarita unit of the American Cancer Society and is now the vice president of local cancer control.

The Cancer Society can be reached at [phone].

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PHOTO (1--2--color) Heather Warrick, left, of Newhall has taken on an educational role since surviving breast cancer. She credits husband Chad, above, with giving support through her recovery.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News