She's a cancer survivor and Desert Cancer Foundation (DCF) volunteer. She gives her time because she's grateful for DCF's help during her second bout with the disease.

"I speak at Foundation events like the golf tournament luncheon, and I was glad to appear in the new video," she said. "I also take brochures to doctors' offices so they will tell patients about DCF."

In addition, Bentley talks with other DCF patients if they need someone to lean on. "I help them learn how to ask questions (about their care) and be comfortable and okay with what's going on," she said. "I would like to empower cancer patients. I know that I can help them because I understand what they are going through."

What Bentley has been through began with breast cancer in 1992, when she was 34 and newly married. There was no history of it in her family, and she was fit from bodybuilding and dancing. At that time, she had health insurance.

"I had two lumpectomies, chemotherapy and radiation and went on with my life," she said.

Determined not to let the disease get her down, she decided to learn more about breast cancer. So, she went to work for her physician, Dr. Philip Bretz of the Desert Breast and Osteoporosis Institute in Rancho Mirage. "He taught me a lot and I asked a lot of questions," she said.

Then she volunteered to help a 21-year-old woman with a rare type of cancer—but no health insurance. The woman was receiving treatment from Riverside County in Moreno Valley . Bentley drove her to appointments. Through a relative who knew DCF President Cory Teichner, Bentley heard about the Foundation's work to help uninsured or under-insured cancer sufferers.

"The Foundation paid for some of the tests the woman needed, and I became good friends with Mary Gates, not realizing that I was going to need their help myself," she said. At that time, Gates was DCF's administrative coordinator.

In 2000, Bentley came down with cancer again after going through a divorce. This time in her bones, lymph nodes and lungs. "My whole sternum was eaten up, and I had 14 tumors in my lungs," she said. "The first doctor told me I would die in six months, but I didn't want to accept that."

She had met Dr. Sebastian George, DCF co-founder, at a Foundation dinner.

"So I went to him, and he was willing to try a non-standard treatment," she said. "All you need is a doctor who is optimistic and willing to try, and a patient who is willing to try."

Marvin Schurgin, vice president of volunteer development for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS), is one of Bentley's friends. "When she was diagnosed the second time, a large circle of friends at ACS and DCF were very, very worried about her," he said. "I told her I was concerned. Bentley looked me in the eye and said ‘Marvin, for me, death is not an option.' Her determination has stuck in my mind ever since."

The strong-minded woman was working part-time to keep her health insurance. Eventually, chemotherapy treatments made her too ill to work, and she went on disability. But that meant she didn't have enough money to pay for health insurance costs of $300 per month.

"I kept working until I couldn't stand it," she said. "When I couldn't work any longer, I didn't know how I was going to pay for my health insurance."

That's where DCF came in. "I went in and filled out an application. The Foundation paid my insurance premiums and co-payments for a year while I was finishing my chemo treatments."

The treatment worked. That was five years ago, and Bentley said recent tests show her clear of cancer. She remains optimistic and positive.

"Some of the wonderful things are not only the doctors I got to meet, but all the stuff I learned and all the people I have helped," Bentley said. "The hardest thing was the loss of Dr. George. I realized how blessed I was to have such an excellent oncologist. Because of him, Dr. Bretz and Desert Cancer Foundation, I am here today and helping others."