Day 138
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month quickly passes by, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to make a plea to you all. My message is short and simple. Like so many others, I always believed that I was immune to cancer. It wasn’t something that had made an impact on my family and I scoffed at the thought of getting mammograms.
Many years, the referral slips I got from my doctor spent some time on my counter – eventually ending up in the trash. This year, though, my doctor was insistent and I made an appointment at the womens diagnostic center to get him off my back.
Long story short, after 2 mammograms, an ultrasound, and a biopsy, a very small tumor was found. It was stage 1 (the easiest to treat) and was so small that even my doctors could not feel it through physical examination.
Even though it was small and at stage 1, pathology tests reported that the cancer was very aggressive. It’s been removed, I’ve gone through chemo, and will spend the next 5-10 years fighting it, but I’m confident that I am and will remain cancer-free.
My point is; if I had pitched that diagnostics referral in the trash this year, it would have surely had some very bad, maybe even deadly, consequences. I’m not ready to die yet, and thank my doctor and modern technology for helping increase my chances of a long, happy life.
Please let this sink in, make it personal, and realize that you – yes even you – are not immune to this insidious disease. I know it’s an inconvenience, and less fun than a day at Disney, but cancer screening is quick and easy, and could absolutely save your life.
By The Way – I’m speaking to you men as well as women. Please take care of yourselves and give your friends and family the gift of you!
In Love,
So happy to hear your prognosis is so positive! You have been so positive and inspiring through this ordeal. Your strength, I know, comes from your faith and trust in God.