Breast Cancer Awareness

Just in the last few months two friends of mine were diagnosed with Breast Cancer and need Radiation to treat it. Now that I am in my forties, I realize more friends may be diagnosed with it more often than I'd want to know.

One friend is a single woman who is very public with her thoughts and feelings on what she is going through. She has a positive attitude and lots of support from friends. She has even given herself a goal to look forward to of new "knockers." I'm not as close to this friend but I read her facebook posts diligently to see how she is doing and offer words of support when I can. I met her doing community theater and my husband has know her since they were teens. She is a strong woman who has deal with a lot in her life.

My other friend, my BEST friend, I have known since high school and have always felt she's lead a charmed life.  Clearly now that is not the case anymore.

I remember when ten to thirteen years ago when she first found a lump and after having it removed disovered there were cancerous cells in it. She had to have another surgery to extract more tissue to see if there were anymore cancerous cells. That test came back negetive. No radiation needed. A few years ago after teh birth of her third child she had a biopsy and I believe everything turned out ok. Recently she went for another biopsy and the results were positive. She said the mamogram showed these little dots the nurse ractitioner kept calling "tumors". Tomorrow she goes for an MRI and soon she will need Chemotherapy.

When she first told me she actually sent a text. I was stunned because this is very unlike her but as I read on she said she was going to the movies with the kids and couldn't talk on the phone. Not to mention she was really looking forward to the distraction. When I texted to see if she could talk the next day. She was at the Zoo with her husband and children but would call me later and she did.

I could tell she was really worried because she hadn't told her 3 girls yet and she shared her frustration in wishing someone would just tell her that they caught it in time and there was nothing to worry about. This may still happen of course but this week her Doctor is on vacation. I don't begrudge anyone a vacation but when getting bad medical news, I'd really want the person diagnosing me with something as serious as cancer to at least be the one to tell me!

I guess I am blogging about this to help myself process it all and to urge women to get their annual mammogram (even if it stinks which I know first hand it does!) and to do their self exams regularly. If you forget, just as your partner to remember and I am sure they would be happy to help although you may have to set a limit.