As you may know, October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. We are encouraged frequently to be ‘breast aware’ but how
often do you check for lumps or changes? I am going to be very honest and feel
a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have to confess that I frequently forget
to do this on a regular basis. However, I am going to make a commitment to
examine myself using the guidelines and information from the websites I have
listed below.
Many of us know someone who has had breast
cancer. Sadly we may have lost a friend
or family member to it and yet we can still (if you’re like me) be very
complacent in our attitude to our own well being. What would they say to us? I
think we know the answer to that.
We give all kinds of excuses: I’m too busy, I’m not sure how to check or
how often, it won’t happen to me I have no family history, I eat healthy and exercise
and anyway I’m too young!
Fortunately I have no personal experience of
Breast Cancer however a friend of mine had a diagnosis 25 years ago when very
limited testing was available. She found
a lump in her breast and knew there may be a problem as she had previously been
treated for cysts but this was different.
The doctor made her an appointment for further investigation under
general anaesthetic and she was told you’ll know if we have had to carry out a
mastectomy if you wake up on a drip. She woke up on a drip.
Devastated was the word she used when I asked her
how it felt. Treatment was to follow and the day before her first treatment she
felt that she couldn’t go through with it.
She did in the end as she decided cancer was not going to control her
life and the way she wanted to live it with her husband and family. Yes, there
were times, hard times, to go through and one of the difficulties was feeling
everyone knew she’d had breast surgery and was different from them. It was also hard going out to buy new clothes
or catching her reflection in the mirror.
Twenty five years later she lives life to the full
and loves life. She is an inspiration to
all of us!
Unfortunately others haven’t been so fortunate. So
why not use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a prompt to gather information (if
you need to) and start to become ‘breast aware’ to make sure that you notice
any changes as soon as possible.
The following websites offer help, more
information and support.
Take care
Florence
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