You heard me correctly. There is an idiot, yes an Idiot in the Government that is saying women can wait till age 50 to get a mammogram for breast cancer and be safe. I know this blog is not supposed to be about politics but I am a survivor and I will not shut up. If some idiot from a President I did vote for I would say the same thing. This statement will allow women to die an unpredictable early death, that could have been prevented.
Why do I think I am an expert? Well experience, frankly. As is often said in my neck of the woods, “anyone with half a brain” would know better. I was 46, I met only met a breast cancer patients that were 18,23,28,34. Did they deserve a fighting chance at life? Yes! Does every woman out there with breasts need a mammogram at age 40, well at least at age 40. The death rate before 40 is not in a woman’s favor. I did have symptoms that everyone had told me was not breast cancer. I had pain, I had this uncomfortable feeling in my breast, it would throb. Do I think it was the beast? You betchya!
Do whatever you can to fight this before any woman in America actually thinks this idiot has at least “half a brain”.
I had a tough day yesterday. Whenever I think I am having a no good day, there are people in my path that have and are enduring great amount of pain. This song goes to Nicki and Gina. My breast cancer buddies, who are in H*(& on earth today. The pain they are in is almost unbearable. I love them both, and seychelles to for reminding me what song I love from Elvis.
Nicki and Gina you are not alone! We are here holding your hands.
I never thought I would see the day when a football player wore pink turf shoes, but it has happened. Not only has it happened, you can own the pair of pink twinkle shoes. NFL has joined the American Cancer Society to auction off items and gain money for research, programs helping those battling the beast.
There are two camps in the October Breast Cancer month.
Me I was a pink loving gal before my journey with the beast began. My Aunt Helen had a mastectomy and one of the first complete reconstruction surgeries with implants in the seventies. At the time it was a brutal surgery but her willingness to endure a great deal of pain to try the new implants has helped countless numbers of women who now have the much easier procedure I had called mastectomy with expanders, they slowly stretch your skin and allow your body to recover before the implants are placed. It is important to note she had a reoccurance of the beast a couple years later, but felt it in time to catch the beast. My mom being a sister to a beast patient was one of the first group on the double blind study for Tamoxifen. She took Tamoxifen in an effort to stop the beast from growing. For her body, the beast was delayed, she endured Tamoxifen for five years only to battle the beast two years later. The best answer I heard from an oncologist is Tamoxifen may have delayed her cancer but did not stop it. My other aunt, sister to Helen and my mom chose mastectomy and reconstruction. Mom chose simple mastectomy.
Research is what kills the beast, and I would be the first to tell you watching my mom endure five years of a chemo drug that did not in the end help cure her beast was hard. Research is the backbone of finding an actual cure. It is not done cheaply, or easily. We need the funds, buy the stinking pink stuff!
All that I have written about the beast would be amiss if I failed to mention that in my lifetime breast cancer has become something anyone and everyone will talk about. My Aunt Helen did not enjoy the openness of the disease when she endured it twice. It was only with my other aunt Doris, mom and me that we were able to freely say the details. Without Pink October month none of that would be possible.
Pink October Month started by one woman with a check and a mission. Nancy Brinker, her sister lost her battle with the beast. Nancy being married to Norman Brinker had a check and an idea, to do whatever she could to raise awareness. Hence the Susan G Komen foundation. Hence the pink month of October.
Do I agree with everything Nancy has done, nope not at all. Do I have a lot to think her for, well yes I do. Research is murky, it takes bold people willing to stand up for whatever happens. Nancy has partnered with Planned Parenthood to get out information and help to low income breast cancer patients. Obviously being pro-life that is not the perfect partner in my mind, but then again do I expect those women to walk into a posh local clinic like I did, no. Nancy has done a great job, and regardless of politics many women today are alive because of it. Including me.
Are too many breast cancer patients dying? Heck Yes, and the pink October month for their families is difficult to endure. I fully understand that argument.
In this issue I take all the good with the bad, and hope that more research money will help more women and men survive the beast.
I thought today I would do a look back at some of my best posts. Bloggers in the know say over 500 words is a waste of time. With my chatty self, 500 takes mucho editing. If you are new enjoy, if not take a moment to glance back.
I started the blog in 2007. But until 2008 it did not really get rolling.
Four years ago I was recovering from my mastectomy and beginning my reconstruction journey. Four years ago I began my journey as breast cancer survivor. I pray that my sisters in the circle all reach that mark. Some say it is five years, some say four years is the magic year when your survival rate goes up. What I can tell you is that the day you know four years is coming you hold your breath. I did not want to announce it, even mention it to my family for a deep fear I would not make it. Silly as it seems, the Beast is never far from your deep down emotions.
I am still the woman that wants to share every moment I can with my family. I still want to spend more time with the goats and cows than people, people can be such a pain. A goat will love you no matter what unless you are medicating them. Every moment I have is precious here on earth, because I know first hand many moms and wives left far too soon. As my Gator told me last night, “Mama you have goats that you love”. Everyday I get to watch them is a better day! Every day I can spend with my boys is a better day, even Dunk!
Now that Dunk is home I find myself doing bed checks at the wee hours of the night. When Hubby works nights he does the bed checks. I know they are safe, but you just want to enjoy that moment of time when even Dunk looks like a little boy that needs your protection. Last night I caught myself thinking how fortunate I was to be able to do bed checks. God has blessed me with four years and I am grateful.
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