It’s October…and that means it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I swear more and more people seem to be developing breast cancer. Maybe it’s because it hit close to home so it seems like it’s everywhere. I’m really not sure of the reason, but it doesn’t really matter. We should all be vigilant with our health, so each year, I will jump on the bandwagon to promote awareness for this disease (even though I sell jewelry online).
Maybe you can say I’m lucky in that breast cancer doesn’t run in my family. I know there are both genetic and environmental influences for this type of cancer, and well, it just doesn’t exist in my family…or at least it didn’t. In the fall of 2011 (I think on Halloween to be exact), my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She apparently had a red spot on her right breast that she didn’t really pay much mind to. By the time she was diagnosed, she was at Stage IIIC (which is the last stage before it’s considered to have metastasized).
She opted for a double mastectomy and it was not an easy road. At the time of the mastectomy, she chose to also do reconstruction. She was a true warrior going through chemo and radiation (working the whole time!). Sadly, almost a year later dealing with all of this, her body started rejecting the implants for the reconstruction. The surgeon said they were going to go in and just remove the 1 side even though I asked for both to be removed (he said the infection had not crossed the mid-line). And I kid you not…no sooner than she had the one surgery, she had to go back in to remove the second implant! Sometimes we just know better than our doctors.
Through all that craziness, she was done with both surgeries and able to spend Christmas with family (and not in the hospital) that year. And really ever since then, she has been a true trooper. When she passed the 10 year mark and was taken off the post cancer meds, I was truly grateful. And then last year when I took her to her annual oncologist appointment, he said she didn’t really need to come see him anymore. So yes, you are assuming correctly that I’m fortunate to still have my mother with me today, 13 years later. 🥰
When I first started dating my now husband, his father was just 2 years past a breast cancer diagnosis himself. Yes, men can and do get breast cancer too. His diagnosis was in 1999 and he received a new procedure called sentinel node biopsy. While it may be thestandard today, it was cutting edge back then.
My father in-law was not one to do things just a little. Or to just take others’ words as how things should be done. He did research and advocated for himself. He even started a breast cancer research partnership with his surgeon, Dr. Nathanson. And every year he would be part of the Team Angels Foundation fundraiser.
As I age, my brain gets a little foggy on dates, but sometime around 2009 or 2010, my mother in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her’s was found early and only required a lumpectomy. She was very lucky and didn’t need chemo or radiation.
In 2018, my sister in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. There have been many advancements over the years from our parents’ diagnosis to hers. She had true angels working their magic with her double mastectomy and reconstruction. To this day I am in awe of her strength and so blessed she is here for her children and our family.
Just 2 days ago (from the time I’m writing this blog post), someone I know was just telling me that she lost her sister to breast cancer in April this year. Her sister was only 33 years old. My heart was breaking for her.
We had only gotten into that conversation because of what I just went through. In August, we were at our summer cottage and I felt a little knot in my right breast. A year or so ago, in that same spot, I had gotten a red bump and had my doctor check it out during my annual physical. She said it felt like a zit/cyst and not to worry about it. It did go away and I thought nothing of it until feeling this little knot in the same spot. So I didn’t want to dismiss it and went in for a mammogram and ultrasound. It did end up being a sebaceous cyst, and I am beyond thankful. Had it not been a cyst, I’m glad I’malways on top of my health and would’ve caught anything nefarious early.
Be on the lookout in the next week or so for us to drop some new Breast Cancer Awareness pieces in the shop. Any items from this collection sold through the end of the month (10/31/24) will have 50% of the profits donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
As a society, we will devote specific days, weeks or months to bring awareness to various diseases (with October being for Breast Cancer). One day we will have the technology to nip cancer in the ass with a simple shot or zap of a laser, but until then, we must all be aware of changes in our bodies. Therefore, we should ALL be checking our breasts for lumps, knots and any new things that pop up. Women AND men alike.
Until next time....
Dianna