>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

COMING UP, SAFETY CONCERNS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS MY ONE FIRE CREW HAD TO RELOCATE AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR RESPONSE TIMES.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEKEND.

SEE HOW ELECTION STAFF ARE TESTING THEIR SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST.

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

A SURVIVOR SHARES HER STORY AS WE LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE DUAL TECHNOLOGY HELPING DOCTORS.

WE START WITH A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY WITH A GROUP CHARGE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD.

HOW COMMUNITY ADVOCATES SAY IT WAS DISORGANIZED AND INCOMPETENT.

>> ORGANIZING AND PROVIDING LODGING FOR PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS BY THE JANUARY 22nd FLOODS BUT COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS OF THE HARVEY FAMILY FOUNDATION SAY THEY LOST FAITH IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> BEING SENT TO HOTELS THAT HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN COMPLAINING OF HAVING TO REPEATEDLY PROVIDE THE SAME INFORMATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOLLOWED BY THREATS IF THEY DON'T IMMEDIATELY COMPLY.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN HIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE SHE TELLS THE STORY OF ONE WOMAN IN THE FAMILY WAS STAYING IN A HOTEL THEY ENDED UP IN THE PARKING LOT SHE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCE.

>> SHE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH HER SIX CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND DOGS BECAUSE EQUIS FAILED TO RE-UP THEIR ROOMS.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITIES HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH THE RESPONSE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE SERVICE.

FOURTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR MONICA MONTGOMERY ALSO HAS CONCERNS SO SHE'S ASKING HER FELLOW SUPERVISORS TO APPROVE AN AUDIT OF THE CONTRACT.

I ASKED MONTGOMERY WHY SHE WAITED NINE MONTHS TO REQUEST THE AUDIT.

>> IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS FOR US TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING HERE AT THE COUNTY.

AND ALSO WOULD HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET A NEW CONTRACTOR ON BOARD.

WE WERE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO EQUIS FOR COMMENT DID NOT HEAR BACK BY THE DEADLINE.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS .

>>> DEMOLITION IS UNDERWAY ON PART OF THE OCEANSIDE PIER.

LAST APRIL A FIRE DAMAGED THE END OF THE PIER.

KPBS REPORTER TONYA JOINED CREWS AS THE WORK STARTED.

>> NEARLY 6 MONTHS AFTER A FIRE STARTED, FINALLY BEGINNING TO DEMO OUT SOME OF THE DAMAGED RESTAURANT.

IT WILL BE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THE PEER IS FULLY REOPENED.

>> WE ARE TAKING DOWN THE HEAVY PORTION OF THE BUILDING AND INSTALLING THE DEBRIS CONTAINMENT UNDERNEATH.

UP MY FRIEND THOMAS, THE CITY ENGINEER SAYS ONCE THE STEAL BEAMS ARE REMOVED, DEBRIS HAUL AWAY WILL BEGIN.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CLEAN UP EVERYTHING ONCE THE DECK IS CLEARED.

THE REST OF THE RAILING THEN AROUND IT.

>> Reporter: PREPARING THE PLATFORM UNDERNEATH THE PIER TO CATCH DEBRIS AND PROTECT THE OCEAN, THOMAS SAYS THE DAMAGE LOOKED WORSE THAN THEY THOUGHT.

>> AREAS WE THOUGHT OUR SAFE OUR LITTLE CHANCY AT THIS POINT.

WE DO KNOW UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING ITSELF MOST OF IT IS GONE AT THIS POINT.

>> Reporter: THE BEAMS THAT CONNECT AND SUPPORT THE PIER AND ARE CRITICAL TO ITS STABILITY.

>> WE ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS FOR WORK PROTECTION AND MARINE PROTECTION WHERE WE KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE AREAS FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES TO BRING IT DOWN SAFELY.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL BEGIN HAULING THE DEBRIS BUT IT WON'T CAUSE ANY CLOSURES, JUST ADDED PRECAUTIONS.

>> I HAVE A SPOTTER IN FRONT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT.

YOU CAN SEE VEHICLES MOVING STICKING TO ONE SIDE ALLOWING THE VEHICLES TO PASS AND CONTINUE WITH YOUR DAY.

FISHERMEN ARE OUT HERE.

IF THEY CAN PICK UP THEIR POLLS AND PUSH THEM CLOSER TO THE RAILING INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM STICK OUT 3-4 FEET, THAT WOULD GET THE REST OF THE PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAND ON THE VEHICLES PASS.

>> Reporter: IT REOPENED JUST WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE.

SEBASTIAN APPRECIATES THE CITY OPENING THE PIER SO SOON AND KEEPING IT OPEN WHILE WORK IS ONGOING.

>> IT WAS CLOSED -- WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD CLOSE IT FOR YEARS THAT THEY DIDN'T.

THEY ALLOWED US TO COME FISH.

>> Reporter: HE SEES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OCEANSIDE PIER PICK >> NO MORE RESTAURANTS .

JUST A SHADY AREA AND HAVE IT EXTENDED MORE OF A HAMMERHEAD SHAPE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PICNIC AREA, SOMETHING FOR FISHING.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE EXPECTED TO FINISH THE DEMO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR ONCE THAT'S DONE, STAFF WILL PREPARE PLANS TO REBUILD IT COULD BE 3-4 YEARS BEFORE THE OCEANSIDE PIER IS REBUILT AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC .

KPBS NEWS .

>>> SAFETY CONCERNS ARE PROMPTING THE CITY -- LOOKING INTO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THOSE WHO LIVE NEARBY.

>> Reporter: THE FIRE STATION IS OLD.

EVEN OLDER THAN THE CITY ITSELF.

>> IT WAS A COUNTY FIREFIGHTING FACILITY AND IT BEEN IN USE EVER SINCE.

>> Reporter: THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN THE 1950s WHICH MEANS IT'S PRONE TO COLLAPSE IN AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE RECENT SWARM OF EARTHQUAKES RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE BUILDING.

>> Reporter: THE CONVERSATION GOT STARTED ABOUT HOW THIS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED DID AND STARTED.

IT BECAME TIME TO TAKE ACTION.

>> Reporter: THE BUILDING WAS DEEMED UNSAFE WHAT STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH FIREFIGHTERS WERE MOVED TO STATION THREE ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF AWAY.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A RESPONSE TIME AFFECT TO IT.

>> Reporter: JOSH GORDON IS THE FIRE CHIEF HE SAYS STATION 1 IS THE CITY'S BUSIEST STATION AND THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIME IS MUCH AS POSSIBLE EVEN WITH THE MOVE, RESPONSE TIME HAS A STANDARD OF EIGHT MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.

THE TYPICAL RESPONSE TIME IS ONE AND SIX MINUTES.

>> WE ARE GETTING EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE RESPONSE TIME BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE LONGER.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO SEE HOW THE MOVE AFFECTS THE RESPONSE TIME.

A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING PRESENTED AT NEXT MONTH THAT HE COUNSEL MEETING INCLUDING TEARING IT DOWN FOR A NEW BUILDING.

KPBS NEWS .

>>> WASTING A LOT OF SEWAGE ISSUES AT IMPERIAL BEACH BUT THIS NEXT STORY OFFERS A DIFFERENT VIEW.

SHOWING OFF THE AERIAL TOUR OF THE RIVER NOW CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED IN AMERICA.

>> Reporter: FROM THE GROUND, THIS IS THE STATE OF THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY.

THIS WEEK AT THE NONPROFIT THEY GIVE A GROUP OF ADVOCATES NONPROFIT LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE AREA.

>> YOU GET A GLIMPSE OF HOW PRECIOUS THE SPACE IS AND HOW UNIQUE IT IS IN TERMS OF ITS CHARACTER.

THE CANYONS, THE HILLS, MOUNTAINS.

AND WHERE WATER FLOWS.

YOU SEE HOW ON THESE CANYONS ARE BEING CUT AND MOLDED BY WATER.

>> Reporter: THE NONPROFIT.

HE HOPES THE GROUP GAINS A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE WATERSHED.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.

HOW CAN WE CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE AND IMPACT WHAT WERE DOING ON THE GROUND?

THAT'S FOR WATERSHED MORE.

>> Reporter: SEEING IT FROM A BIRDS EYE VIEW SHOW THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT.

>> THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTEXTUALIZE THE GROWTH RATES AND THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PRESSURES WE ARE PUTTING ON ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD AND HOW WE ARE ALL CULPABLE IN TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET THE WORD OUT.

>> Reporter: DIAZ IS WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT.

SHE SAYS MANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS DO NOT HAVE PROPER SEWAGE MANAGEMENT.

>> THEY HAVE RUNNING WATER BUT NOT SEWAGE.

ALSO HERE AND IT'S DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THE PERMITS YOU NEED -- ONE THING -- >> Reporter: DIAZ SAYS SHE TRIES TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A SOLUTION FOR WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS A 30-YEAR-OLD PROBLEM.

>> WE'VE BEEN SEEING THINGS THAT STAY THE SAME WAY FOR 30 YEARS.

>> Reporter: MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS .

>>> SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK FROM SCHOOL FUNDING TO CLIMATE WARNINGS FOR PROJECT 2025 COULD MEAN FOR SAN DIEGO.

PUBLIC RECORDS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESIDENCY IN THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 75 ELECTION AND A NEW CALIFORNIA LAW OFFERS IN-STATE TUITION FOR SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO MEXICAN RESIDENTS IN THE REGION.

HEARS THAT STORY FROM SOUTHBAY REPORTER COREY SUZUKI.

>> Reporter: WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE.

AND CANNOT UP TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY SEMESTER.

JUST TO KEEP HIS COMMUTING COST DOWN.

BEING SAVVY AND EMOTIONAL.

THINGS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

LETS LOW-INCOME STUDENTS LIVE LESS THAN 30 -- 35 MILES TO THE STEWART -- AND GATHERED AT SOUTHWESTERN FOR A CELEBRATION.

THE SENATOR STEVE CO-AUTHORED THE LEGISLATION.

AND UNDERSTAND WE ARE -- THERE LINKED TOGETHER.

COMING UP SOCIAL.

WE HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND HELP STUDENTS TO BAJA, CALIFORNIA.

HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY KPBS NEWS.

THE PUBLIC MATTERS PARTNERS FROM VOICE OF SAN DIEGO EXPLAINS WHAT VOTERS WILL DECIDE.

>>> IF THEY APPROVE THEM, DISTRICTS WILL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND RAISE PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY THEM OFF.

LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS.

TAKE A TYPICAL BALLOT MEASURE SW IS A BOND FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT MEASURE A BOND FOR THE SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MEASURE A BOND FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NOW LOOK CLOSER AT THE LANGUAGE OF EACH OF THOSE BONDS.

LEVY THE ASSESSED EVALUATION.

LEVYING AN AVERAGE OF $25 PER $100,000 OF ASSESSED EVALUATION LEVYING $29 PER $100,000 AND ASSESSED EVALUATION.

IMMENSE PROPERTY TAXES GO UP BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

VALUING HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

HOMES ARE WORTH A LOT MORE THAN THAT HERE.

THEY DO NOT GO UP WITH THE MARKET.

THEY STAY PEGGED FOR WHEN THE HOME WAS PURCHASED.

ITS ASSESSED VALUE.

YOU HAVE A ASSESSED VALUE OF $500,000 AND THOSE THREE BONDS PASS, YOU WOULD PAY $420 MORE PER YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES.

MEANWHILE THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO MEASURED A BOND TO SUPPORT SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

IF IT PASSES AND YOU HAVE A $500,000 ASSESSED TOM, YOU WOULD PAY $125 MORE PER YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES.

UNLIKE OTHERS, THESE BONDS ONLY NEED APPROVAL FROM 55% OF VOTERS IF APPROVED DISTRICT IMMEDIATELY BORROW MONEY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BORROW THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE BOND RIGHT AWAY THEY MAY NOT INCREASE TAXES AT THE SAME RATE AT FIRST THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE STATE PROPOSITION.

THOSE ARE NOT TAX INCREASES THAT MEANS THE STATE CAN ABOUT $10 MILLION EACH AND PAID BACK THE STATE MAY LATER WANT TO INCREASE TAXES TO PAY THOSE BONDS OFF BUT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

RIGHT NOW ON THOSE PROPOSITIONS DO IS AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO BORROW THE MONEY.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND MOST OF THEIR MONEY ON TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, BUT SCHOOL BONDS CANNOT BE USED TO PAY TEACHERS MORE IT CAN ONLY BE USED TO BUILD OR REPAIR THINGS THAT'S WHY BUILDERS AND LABOR UNIONS LIKE THEM SO MUCH.

AND SCOTT LEWIS AND THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS.

>> PUBLIC MATTERS IS A PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH KPBS.

YOU CAN SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES AT KPBS.ORG /PUBLIC MATTERS.

>>> PEOPLE ARE ALREADY MAILING IN THEIR ELECTION BALLOTS BUT IF YOU WANT TO CAST A BALLOT IN PERSON, THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD BEGINS SATURDAY THERE IS NEARLY 40 SITES AVAILABLE YOU CAN SORT THROUGH THE LIST AT THE VOTER HUB.

MANY MORE LOCATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

COMING UP NOVEMBER 5th.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY HELPS VOTERS BE SURE THEIR BALLOTS ARE COUNTED ACCURATELY.

THEY ARE INVITING THE PUBLIC TO WATCH.

KPBS REPORTER JACOB SHOWS US HOW IT WENT .

>> ALL THE VOTES -- >> Reporter: IT'S CALLED A PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST AND WHAT IT IS, IS AN INSTANT LOOK.

IT'S AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY.

>> I DON'T HAVE A LACK OF TRUST BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WHY THEY CAN TRUST ELECTIONS.

>> Reporter: IT WAS SAN DIEGO RESIDENT KATIE'S FIRST PART TAKING PURCHASE PART OF A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS TAKING PART IN THE EVENT THEIR ROLE IS TO FILL OUT BALLOTS AND OBSERVE AS THEY ARE TALLIED.

>> THEY HAVE ALL THESE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED AND THAT SIGNATURES MATCH AND THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE FAIR.

>> Reporter: THE ASSISTANCE SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.

HE SAYS THE ACCURACY TESTING TO PLACE IT A FEW WEEKS BACK WITH OVER 150,000 BALLOTS.

BUT THIS IS A CONDENSED VERSION FOR ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PART IN.

>> WHAT WERE DOING TODAY IS CASTING BALLOTS ARE VOTING ON BLANK BALLOTS TABULATING THEM BY HAND.

TO COMPARE THE TWO.

TESTED TO ENSURE ALL THE EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED TO PROPERLY COUNT VOTES.

THEY ARE SHOWING THE ACCURACY AND VALIDITY OF THE TABULATION SYSTEM.

THERE WAS NEVER ANY DISCUSSION OF CANDIDATES.

THERE WAS NEVER A DISCUSSION OF POLITICS.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL COUNTED.

THEY OFFERED THE PUBLIC ACCURACY TESTS AHEAD OF OTHER ELECTIONS TOO.

COMING UP NOVEMBER 5th.

WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT HER PLANS FOR ELECTION NIGHT.

STARTING AT 10:00 AND STREAMING ONLINE.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT ON KPBS.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY 50 YEARS SINCE THE CITY COUNTY HOT COALS MOUNTAIN IT'S PART OF MANY SAN DIEGO AND DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINES.

HITS IN A WAY TO RAISE MONEY.

>>, FUN SAYING THAT SAYS THAT THE GOOD WAY TO CHANGE HER ATTITUDE IS TO CHANGE THE ALTITUDE.

>> Reporter: THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK SHE'S COME TO COALS MOUNTAIN TO HIKE.

SHE CALLS IT AN EASY HARD HIKE.

SHORT BUT STEEP.

>> YOU CAN STOP AND HAVE LUNCH IF YOU WANT TO.

THIS ANY OF SPOTS TO WALK AND STOP IT MAKES IT LOW-PRESSURE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME FOR, YOU CAN PUT ON A CAMEL BACKPACK AND SOME WEIGHTS IT'S A GREAT WORKOUT.

YOU CAN GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

>> Reporter: SHE HIKED WITH HER FAMILY DURING HOLIDAYS.

NOW HIKING HAS BECOME HER NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION.

>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE REALLY COOL BECAUSE YOU SEE FAMILIES WITH THEIR KIDS OUT HERE AND IT'S FUN IF YOU'RE NOT CLOSE TO YOUR FAMILY TO COME ON A HIKE SAY HI TO RANDOM PEOPLE WHILE YOU'RE WALKING.

YOU FEEL A SENSE OF FAMILY.

>> A RANCHER WHO MOVED TO SAN DIEGO IN 1877 THE COMMUNITY THAT GREW AROUND HIS RANCH WAS NAMED KOHL'S TOWN.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER HIS WIDOW SECOND HUSBAND.

>> ANNOUNCE COALS.

IS COALS MOUNTAIN.

>> Reporter: THE 1960s AND 70s SAW SUBSTANTIAL PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.

>> THE COUNTY READ -- PURCHASED IT FROM DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY WAS PART OF THE PURCHASING.

>> Reporter: THE MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK FOUNDATION IS PUTTING ON A HIKE-ATHON UNTIL MID-JANUARY.

THE GOAL IS TO RAISE $100,000 FOR TRAIL MAINTENANCE, HABITAT RESTORATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS.

>> IT SEES MORE THAN 800,000 HIKERS A YEAR.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR.

IF GOING TO MEET CONSTANTLY MAINTAIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF EROSION.

>> Reporter: THANKING HANK WHERE, WHEN AND HOW FAR THEY LIKE.

THEY CAN MAKE A ONE-TIME DONATION OR PLED PER MILE.

MILD TRACKING WILL END JANUARY 15th.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> ONE IN EIGHT WOMEN WILL GET BREAST CANCER.

IT'S THE SECOND MOST COMMON CANCER AMONG WOMEN.

AWARENESS HAS GROWN TO WHERE WE NOW KNOW WHY BASEBALL PLAYERS SOMETIME WORKING SHOES.

KPBS SITE REPORTER THOMAS TELLS US ABOUT THE HARD CHOICES THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE WITH ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY.

>> Reporter: JANEL HAS JUST RECENTLY RETURNED TO WORK AT HER HAIR SALON.

LIFE WAS NORMAL UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO WHEN SHE GOT A MAMMOGRAM AT THE AGE OF 41.

IT WAS NEGATIVE BUT SOON AFTER SHE STARTED FEELING PAIN IN HER BREATH.

>> I WENT TO MY GENERAL DOCK HER.

SHE SAID DO NOT PRAY.

THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

YOU HAVE NO SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER.

MAYBE JUST A MESS TOUCHING A NERVE.

EITHER WAY, WE WILL DO IT VIA SEE WHAT IT IS.

>> Reporter: SHE GOT THE RESULT OF THE BIOPSY FROM A PHONE CALL.

>> IT WAS MY KID LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.

I PICKED THEM UP AT SCHOOL, TOOK THEM TO DENNY'S AND I GOT A CALL BACK AND I ANSWERED IT THINKING IS NOTHING.

JUST SITTING THERE WITH MY KIDS AND AUTOMATICALLY MY OLDEST THAT WHAT'S WRONG.

IS THAT IT'S OKAY AND JUST ON THE PHONE WITH MY DOCTOR.

I IMMEDIATELY TEXTED MY HUSBAND AND THAT I CAN'T CALL YOU BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT OUT LOUD.

WE'RE GOING TO FINISH UP AND I'M GOING TO COME HOME.

>> Reporter: EVERY PERSON'S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT.

IN CANCER BIOLOGISTS SENT HE DEVOTED HIMSELF TO THE FIELD OF STUDY AFTER TWO OF HIS HEROES, HIS UNCLE AND HIS GRANDPA, DIED FROM CANCER.

HE SAYS CANCER IS A VERY GENERAL TERM FOR MANY DIFFERENT DISEASES.

>> WE HAVE TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER.

WE HAVE HORMONAL POSITIVE BREAST CANCER.

EACH OF THOSE HAVE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS THAT WORK SO -- THERE FOR, EVERY CANCER PATIENT ENTERS THEIR JOURNEY FROM A UNIQUE PLACE.

>> REPORTER:'S RETURN --'S RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON IMMUNE TREATMENT TEACHING MIMI SYSTEM TO ATTACK CANCER CELLS IN A ROBUST WAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO REST AND SOME OTHER CANCERS THEY ARE HARD TO FIND.

HE'S LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ACTIVATE THE CELLS, ANOTHER PART OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OFF OF THAT, SO THEY CAN DIRECT CELLS TO THE CANCEROUS TARGETS.

WILL THIS THERAPY BECOME THE BEST WAY TO TREAT CANCER?

>> EVEN THOUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY STRUGGLED TO WORK YET, IT'S NOT A FRUITLESS ENDEAVOR.

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE WAY IT GOES BECAUSE CANCER CELLS CAN DEVELOP RESISTANCE TO DRUGS BUT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM LOST ON.

THERE'S MORE HOPE.

>> REPORTER:'S RESEARCH MAY HOLD PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE BREATH CANCER TREATMENT.

IMMUNOTHERAPY WASN'T AN OPTION.

SHE MADE THE TOUGH CHOICE OF HAVING A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY.

HER DOCTORS DISCOVERED A CANCEROUS LYMPH NODE IN THE PROCESS SO SHE WILL BEGIN RADIATION TREATMENT NEXT MONTH.

SHE HAD NO FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER.

LOSING BOTH BREATH WAS HARD.

SHE SAID LOSING THAT PART OF HER AND HAVING TO WEAR BAGGY SHIRT HAS BEEN VERY TOUGH.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY A HUGE CHALLENGE.

I HAVEN'T REALLY GONE TO PARTIES OR ANYTHING.

I DON'T WANT TO GET DRESSED IN THE SORT OF WAY IT AT THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL SIDE HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST PART I TALKED TO LOTS OF WOMEN THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> Reporter: SHE IS PLANNING ON HAVING RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

AN IMPORTANT LESSON AND THAT EXPERIENCE IS THAT SHE WENT BACK FOR MORE DIAGNOSIS EVEN THOUGH HER MAMMOGRAM WAS NEGATIVE.

>> THE INTUITION SHE HAD TO GO BACK AND HAVE A SECOND LOOK IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU CAN MISS THINGS IN THE PERSON KNOWS THEIR OWN BODY.

IN HER CASE, GOING BACK AND HAVING THAT SECOND LOOK PROBABLY SAVED HER LIFE.

>> Reporter: SHE IS A LITTLE TO LATE WITH THE PICTURE OF HER FAMILY AND AN INVITATION TO ENTER BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISING RAFFLE OR GOOD REMINDER THAT OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

SPONSORING EVENTS THAT BRING ATTENTION TO THE CAUSE.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO BRING HER MESSAGE AND THE THERAPIES THEY UNDERWRITE TO WOMEN OF ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.

>> LaTINA WOMEN HAVE THE MOST DIAGNOSED CANCER.

40% MORE LIKELY FOR BLACK WOMEN TO DIE FROM THIS DISEASE.

REALLY LARGE DISPARITY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE PUTTING A FOCUS ON.

>> Reporter: OF THE NOMINATING EVENT WILL BE THE MORE THAN PINK WALK IN BALBOA PARK.

THE CELEBRATORY WALK TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd.

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.