October 2, 2023

Before my breast cancer diagnosis October was just another month.  It was the month that teased us all into thinking that we still had a lot of time before the holidays rolled around, which we all know by now isn’t true.  October was the month where we all started dreading having to take our kids Halloween shopping, but we would do it anyways.  October has a whole new meaning for me since my breast cancer diagnosis and trust me that was scarier than Halloween ever was.  October is Breast Cancer awareness month and it’s also the month when I met my Oncologist, got my port placed,  and began chemotherapy.  It’s the month that tries to remind all women to perform their monthly breast exams, and get their mammograms.  It’s the month that reminds you to take any strange lump, bump, soreness, redness, or anything seriously.  We’ve all have heard the statistics that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, however, when you are that 1 in 8 that is no longer a statistic but a reality. 

Early detection is the key.  The survival rate for woman who find their breast cancers early are close to 99% – which is amazing compared to where that was even just a few years ago.  I can’t say it enough, early detection is the key, so please don’t miss your annual mammogram, promise to do your breast self-exams every month and if you don’t know how to do them correctly, please reach out to your doctor, or gynecologist and ask them to show you how.  A breast self-examination takes less than 15 minutes a month, and it could save your life.  Mammograms are not as painful as they were in the past and they are still the number one method for diagnosing breast cancer, so please don’t put it off.  Stay on top of this appointment and get them as scheduled annually.

My breast cancer was discovered on a mammogram.  I was not able to feel my lump during any of my breast exams and I’m thankful that I did not miss or put off my mammogram in the year of COVID when all of us were barely leaving our homes.  I have thought about it so many times about what could have happened if I had not been religious about scheduling my next mammogram when I was checking out from my previous mammogram.  Considering that I was diagnosed with one of the more aggressive breast cancers out there, I’ve often thought about how my cancer could have spread and my long-term prognosis would have been much different.  Thank God that I didn’t procrastinate.  Praises for that! 

Please feel free to share my blog with anyone that you may know that may need to hear these words, or anyone that you may know who is recently diagnosed, or just needs to know that there is light in the middle of the darkness.  It’s a tough blow when you are diagnosed, in fact, it downright sucks and there is nothing that I can do, or say, that will change that for anyone.  What I can do, or share, is that there is light in the darkness, and there is power in being positive even when you are scared to death.  There is foundation in faith, and there are many beautiful moments in the journey if you take time to see them for what they are. 

Promise me, if you haven’t had your annual mammogram, please pick up the phone and make the appointment right now.  If it’s after hours, set an alarm on your phone and do it tomorrow.  Promise me that you won’t leave your current mammogram appointment without making your next appointment for next year.  This appointment and this decision could save your life one day.  You’ll be thankful that you did. 

Xo,

Tracy

P.S. For anyone looking for more information I’ve included the link to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc – here or reach out to one of your local agencies there are many different areas where you can find support.