When Leslie Mouton was a little girl, she used to practice reading the newspaper in front of a mirror.

"I guess I always knew I wanted to do this when I grew up," she said.

But now, Leslie understands that her job as anchor on "Good Morning San Antonio" requires more than just the ability to read the news.

"Anyone can read," Mouton said. "But a really good journalist knows how to truly connect with the audience, so they remember, understand, and appreciate what you're telling them."

Leslie started at KSAT in 1999 as the morning reporter and even when she would have to get up at 3 a.m., she says she always loved her job.

"I feel privileged to be trusted with the responsibility to inform and educate our viewers about what's going on in our community, and in the world. Stories that are important to their lives."

While Mouton has always enjoyed her job reporting the news, she never dreamed she would become the news.

In October of 2000 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "My first instinct was to hide it. Then I realized that would eat me up faster than the cancer. I decided the best way to beat it would be to face it, share it, and try to help others," Mouton said.

She discovered a lump through a self-exam and now tries to educate and encourage even young women to do their exams. "I was only 35 when diagnosed. I wasn't old enough for mammograms and had no history of breast cancer in my family. If I hadn't been doing those self-exams, I wouldn't have caught it, and my prognosis would be much different," she said.

Leslie shared her story with viewers every step of the way. She did news stories on everything from the diagnosis and surgery, to chemo and hair loss, to radiation.

She even made the ultimate statement in support of cancer patients, by anchoring one newscast without her wig. "I believe it was important for people to see the reality of cancer. I also know the heart wrenching fear of losing your hair," Mouton said. So, I wanted to inspire women not to be ashamed of their bald heads, and hopefully ease the fear of being bald."

Leslie even started a diary on this web site, called "Leslie's Diary" where she documents her feelings and experiences for others to read.

Leslie is now involved in several cancer organizations, frequently gives speeches on the subject and hopes her experience can have a positive impact on others. "Attitude is everything and I want women to know that cancer doesn't necessarily mean death," she said.

Leslie has also been involved with KSAT's promotion along with Half Price Books to raise money for the Santa Rosa Children's Hospital's Half Pint Library.

"We asked the community to donate new and used books to help fill the shelves of a library just for kids and they responded!

I believe children are our most precious resource and every child deserves a chance," she said.

"We must feed their minds with knowledge and their souls with love so they can reach their full potential, and programs like the Half Pint Library help provide them with the resources they need to grow and thrive."

You can E-mail Leslie at lmouton@ksat.com.

Leslie Mouton can be seen on KSAT 12 (Time Warner Cable Channel 13) Monday through Friday at 5 a.m.

KSAT 12, owned and operated by Post/Newsweek, is the San Antonio affiliate for ABC-TV. The station airs live news, weather, and sports broadcasts at 5:30 a.m., noon, and 5, 6 and 10 p.m.

Its call letters, KSAT, stand for San Antonio, Texas and symbolize the station's commitment to the people of San Antonio as the local resource for fair, accurate reporting and a means by which residents have a voice with which to be heard.

Click here to learn more about other KSAT personalities.