Several years ago I attended my church’s ladies’ retreat and listened to a friend give her little devotional. I should say, I thought it was going to be a little devotional. What she said has stuck with me.
My friend began by sharing how much the ladies at the retreat meant to her. How she had come to rely on many of us for deep conversations and then she hit us with a bombshell. She had not been completely honest with any of us for the previous month.
I think none of us in the room knew what to think or say.
She paused, seemingly for us to ponder what she said, but went on to say she had found a lump in her breast and didn’t want to believe it was even there until she knew what it was.
She had lied every time one of us asked her how she was and said “fine” or “just plugging along” in attempts to block her reality from becoming truth.
I’m glad to say she found out the morning she travelled to retreat that the biopsy was clean and she did not have breast cancer.
So many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. My friend, Becky, is fighting it right now, as well as my friend Lisa. So is the wife of someone my husband works with, and a co-worker of my friend Jen. There are others, but I won’t mention them all.
Some have a huge support network carrying them through this struggle. Some don’t and are carrying through this fight alone.
Many survivors will willingly share their story if it helps even one person decide to get a mammogram or do a self breast exam, especially if the result is early detection. This month many clinics, hospitals and doctor offices are offering free mammograms to those who cannot afford one.
If you or someone you know is fighting breast cancer, know there are places to turn to for support. A good place to start is breastcancer.org, the Susan G. Komen website, or check out the Noreen Fraser Foundation mentioned above.
If you don’t know how to do a self breast exam, check out Check Your Boobies. Straight from their site:
CYB is all about putting women into action about their breast health, giving them tools for early detection, prevention and self-advocacy. We give healthy women, from all walks of life, a fun way to learn what they can do to feel more in control and less in fear about breast cancer. We also give breast cancer survivors a place to share the stories that can save lives.
Here is a direct link to their instructions for a self breast exam.
My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so this cause is close to my heart. It is a disease that needs a cure, but if found soon enough many times can be treated. Please take a moment to get checked.
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