almost five years ago, my life changed for ever. what i didn't know at the time, her life changed three years before and she didn't tell anyone because she hoped it would go away. she hoped it wasn't bad (but she was scared in the middle of the night). she didn't have insurance coverage when it first happened - she got it later on, after it had spread. three years she waited, until the problem was much to big to ignore. (and she never said a word)
the first year we were thankful and held her hand through it all. we prayed the surgery had 'gotten it all'. but, waiting the three years allowed those insidious cells to travel other places - silently working their evil magic, shaping pockets of wicked, wicked, wicked horror to be discovered later. it seemed we would fight one demon with three heads before the demon was victorious and we were bereft.
that demon was breast cancer. one of the most curable cancers there is, if it's detected early. it's been said, many, many, many times. funds are raised every year for research to find a cure. never think you are bullet proof. breast cancer strikes people from all walks of life, all colors, all races, all socio-economical status. odds are you know someone effected by breast cancer or you, yourself have been affected.
if you are in the risk group - have your mammograms, do the self exams - make sure your breasts are healthy. even if you're not in the group - do the self exams and have your baseline mammogram when your doctor recommends it. such a small thing for those you love. do you love them enough to give them this gift?
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part of christina's
pink october challenge
when the person you love has cancer, your world tilts on its axis. you can run through the stages of grief in the twinkling of an eye and air feels like it's sucked out of your lungs. then you have to start fresh.
