Cancer Does Not Discriminate

     I have to admit, like so many women, I always knew there was a one in eight chance. But like so many women, I never thought it would be me. When I was with a group of women, I was always number five or six...I was never number eight. I never thought I'd hear those devastating, life changing words: "You have breast cancer". Having breast cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not have had to belong to.

     In a sense, having cancer takes you by the shoulders and shakes you. Cancer puts things into perspective. 

    For years, I heeded the warning: Do monthly breast self-exams. Like most women, I did them on a 'sort of' basis. Every few months I'd sort of do a quick check, but never as thoroughly as the doctors urged. I didn't want to go looking for trouble. If you look for it, you might find it. Looking for cancer is unsettling. Ironically, my cancer never formed a lump. It was just an "area" that had cancer and it could not be felt. That's why mammograms are so important. A mammogram saved my life!

    When a doctor diagnoses you and the word 'cancer' comes out of his mouth, it changes your life. It's changed my life. Cancer has allowed me to be a lot more open. Open to change, open to trusting medical personnel with important medical decisions, open to new physical challenges, open to slowing down (not willingly, mind you!!!), and open to receiving help.

 

     One of the things I've always tried to do is help others. Now, by telling my story in such an open, public way, I am hoping to help someone else in a very small way. I'd like to turn a negative into a positive and if I can help others by sharing my story, then it's worth it! I'm holding onto the hope that by telling my story, I might be helping someone else through this scary experience.

     People used to say everyone knows someone who's had breast cancer. In the past few months, I've learned something else: Everyone has someone close to them, family or friend, who has had breast cancer. You hear about people your whole life, "So-and-so has cancer," and you think, "Wow, that's too bad," and then most people tend to go on about their business. But when someone tells you somebody in your family or a close friend has breast cancer, that doesn't tend to go away so quickly and easily. When a person has breast cancer, the whole family suffers with her, as do her friends. My family and friends have been my lifeline throughout this venture, helping me remain positive and upbeat. My family and friends have been my Golden Thread and I thank you for that!

     Healing is hard work, as is any change one must make in one's life. When I went public with my breast cancer diagnosis eight months ago, the overwhelming outpouring of love, prayers and support helped me heal faster, both physically and emotionally. Thank you for being part of my healing process.

     I never thought of having cancer as something that was unfair. I just braced myself and tried to get through it. I took on cancer like I take on everything else...like a mission, a job to accomplish. Beating cancer is a personal battle, a personal mission. It is one of the toughest opponents I have ever faced and I think I have done reasonably well, so far.

     I am healing...