Breast Cancer Awareness

July 20/2011

Today I will go with my sister-in-law for her last chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.  Although radiation will follow, we must celebrate each step in the journey to conquer this beast.

Several years ago, I went to a ladies meeting at my daughter-in-law's church.  The guest speaker was a breast cancer awareness advocate.  The meeting included lunch, and eight ladies were at each table.  At the end of her presentation, the speaker asked one woman at each table to stand.  With around 300 women present, almost 40 stood.  The speaker told us that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.  I had no idea the odds were so high, so the visual example as I looked around the room was shocking.   

At that time I didn't know anyone with breast cancer.  In the past five years, four women that I am close to have been diagnosed.  My son's mother-in-law, Kaye; Martha, a dear friend from work, my husband's cousin, Barbara; and in February of this year, my sister-in-law, Pat, was diagnosed.  Sadly, Barbara, lost her battle against a very aggressive form of breast cancer. 

One in eight..these are frightening statistics.  Although none of us like mammograms, or remembering to do monthly self-exams, they are currently our only way of detecting a cancerous tumor early enough to be treated successfully.  If you are 40 or older and have never been screened, call and make an appointment.  If you are 40 or older and it's been more than a year since your last screening, call and make an appointment.  If you are younger than 40, do monthly self-exams, and if you have high risk factors, talk with your physician about when you should begin screenings. 

I waited seven years between screenings.  I probably would have waited even longer if my sister-in-law had not been diagnosed.  It was a foolish risk I shouldn't have taken.  In April, I got an all-clear, but only after a call-back scare, and a second more intensive screening.  The reality of it is, I could have waited too long.  Don't make the same mistake. 

Thirty minutes of your day could save your life.  Get screened and pray for your sisters that are in the fight of their lives."


Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney