Every day someone’s mother, daughter, sister or best friend dies from breast cancer. The odds of a women contacting breast cancer some time in her life is 1 in 8 and the risk increases with regular use of alcohol. And Men are not immune. Despite my passion, I see so much apathy regarding this issue. Has the Breast Cancer Awareness Month dulled our mind to its dangers?
People who wear the bracelet or jog in the Race for the Cure are not performing their annual screenings or checking themselves monthly. Why? Is it apathy or fear?
What Can You Do About It?
- Demonstrate the importance of these tests by doing them yourself
- Talk openly with your mother, daughters, sisters and best friends
- Pray for a cure and healing for those going through it
To encourage screening, I am giving away a hand crocheted (JP Original) scarf in the BF colors. Enter this contest by posting a comment regarding when your screening was in 2007 or when you will have one before years end. If you’re under forty, you can post when your aunts, sisters or moms screening was or is. The point is to encourage screening. If you link this post to your site, please let me know and I will enter you twice. Men can enter their wife or mothers screening and give the scarf as a gift. Entry deadline is Oct 9th, 12:30pm MST.
Bold & Free 
That’s a wonderful idea!I’m planning on having screenings as soon as I turn 40 and as for now, I do monthly breast examinations. My mom went for her first screening this past year – tsk, tsk, mom!
Jan,Yay! Thank you for being a compassionate activist! My mother died of lung cancer and my sister Karen is in remission from breast cancer. My last mammogram was November of 06 and I will go again next month. This is a life and death issue that hits very close to home for me. Thank you for bringing awareness!
I want lie.. I have not had mine this year,but it is onmy agenda. I would like to Thank God That my Aunt Evelynn is a survivor.She is just like a mom to me. thanks for this.
I love this! I hope you don’t mind the shameless plug for my blog, but I’d love for your readers to go read my Mom’s miracle story. Her screening was a couple of months ago and something amazing happened right there in the doctor’s office. Here’s the link for anyone interested. http://nikinowell.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/moms-miracle/Please enter me in your drawing. I’d love to send it to either my Mom or my Aunt that I requested prayer for on your last post.
Let’s try that again…http://nikinowell.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/moms-miracle/Sorry it won’t fit all the way across – dumb formatting. 😉
Beck – I’m glad you’re on board for your screenings. How old is your mom? I hope she discovered that it’s no big deal.Robbie – Hi funny lady! Praising God that Karen is OK. Your piece your wrote on her moved me deeply. I’m so glad that you are scheduled to be screened especially with a sister in remission. We will pray this is permanent.Brenda – Rejoicing that your dear aunt is surviving and doing well. Niki – Your praise story is incredible. Everyone should go to your blog and read it. 🙂
I just wanted to say I love your dedication to this awareness. It is a good thing. Praying.Blessings,Angela
Thanks for your comments and for stopping by Angela. 🙂
Jan, thanks for being a breast friend. You’re such an encouragement.
I scheduled my screening while having coffee at Starbucks with Jan. She’s a good, pesky friend. 🙂 –always wanting what’s best for her breast friends. I’m going for my mammo on 11/9.A prisioner of hope,Megan
Okay, I am guilty of not having a mamogram until this year and I am 46. I do monthly checks though. My sisters, mother and MIL all have regular mamograms and do self breast exams. Thank you for your passion.God bless you, Sharon
Oops, I just left a comment without being signed onto my blog, so it doesn’t show my picture. Sorry, Sharon
Danica – I know you are too young, but are you encouraging the older ‘sisters’ in your life to get their mamo’s?Megan – you know that the Breast Friends deal makes it way more fun! 🙂 Sharon – I am so glad you’ve finally gotten that done. The first time is the scariest. Be sure to always reward yourself afterwards with something fun. I’m so glad the ladies in your family are Breast Friends.:)Thanks for the link up.
Jan,You ask a good question. Does BC Awareness Month dull us to the dangers? I don’t think so. Most women I know don’t even know it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think we are “numb” to the threat for one of two reasons: Either it’s the same reason we talk on our cell phones when we drive. We know there are dangers, but we are sure nothing will happen to us. OR, we are scared it will happen to us, and avoidance is less scarey than facing the monster. We had been married less than a year when I found a lump. It was the size of a quarter. I was 23. I was terrified. I had lost several aunts and cousins to breast cancer, and this was a nightmare in real life.I sat in my chiropractor’s office (he was also a friend of ours) and tried not to have an anxiety attack while he told me all the things it could be instead of cancer. In the end, it came down to, “You can be terrified and face this or terrified and hide. The only way out of being terrified is to know what this is and determine a course of action.”The doctor did an exam and found other cysts. The recommended course of treatment was: cut out caffeine. Seriously. I had fibroid cysts caused by caffeine. I cut out caffeine. They went away.My chiro was and is still right: a lump might be something; it might be nothing. Either way it is scarey and the only way out of being terrified is to face it head on and determine any necessary course of action. To all of you brave ladies facing this threat head on, I lift my cup of decaf to you.
I had my screening in April. Yes, it’s important! Thanks for highlighting this important issue in women’s health.
Congratulations Robbie Iobst for winning the drawing. Heather Tipton drew for us this week. 🙂