FIGHTING THE HARD FIGHT!

Today, I'm going to break one of my own rules and talk about something very personal in my blog. I don't normally do this---mainly because I'm just not comfortable with it. Many writers have no compunctions whatsoever about detailing every single aspect of their private lives for the public. That's fine. That's what works for them. But I'm not one of those writers.

However, I feel that this subject is extremely important and that all women can use a wake-up call about it---although I sincerely hope it's not the kind I myself got this week when my family was informed that my mother has breast cancer.

The good news is that because Mom has always been diligent about self-examinations and her regular medical check-ups, her cancer was discovered in its earliest stages. She had many years of records, X-rays, mammograms, etc., for comparison to her most recent mammogram. So her doctors were able to observe clearly the kind of change that had taken place in her affected breast. They immediately scheduled her for a biopsy, and when it confirmed cancer, she was also immediately scheduled to meet with a surgeon.

Before meeting with her surgeon, Mom wrote down a list of questions so she wouldn't forget anything she wanted to know, and my stepdad and I accompanied her, so that we could ask questions of our own, too. Her surgeon spent a considerable amount of time with us, answering everything and explaining all we needed to know. He was very kind, patient, and experienced. I left feeling as though Mom will be in good hands next week, when her actual surgery takes place.

She will undergo a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy. At this point, her prognosis for making a full recovery is excellent.

Until this week, I confess I haven't been nearly as diligent about my own self-examinations and regular medical check-ups as Mom has been. I know I had a baseline mammogram and that I've had a couple more mammograms since. But since I can't remember when the last one was done, I know it's been far too long ago. Mom's surgeon informed me that most women are like me. They don't do monthly self-examinations. They don't have regular medical check-ups.

Ignorance is bliss. I always felt fairly safe because no one in my family has ever had breast cancer before. I now know that gave me a terrible false sense of security. Regardless of her family history, breast cancer can strike any woman at any time.

Ladies, I can't urge you enough to be as diligent as Mom has been. Until there's a cure, your best defense is to stay on the offense, the way Mom has. Do your monthly self-examinations. Get your regular medical check-ups. If you think something is wrong, say so! Mom spoke up and, when her doctors could initially find nothing wrong, insisted on a mammogram out of time because she herself sensed that something was not right with her affected breast. I know it's been said before, but truly, the life you save may be your own.

For more information on self-examinations, mammograms, and breast cancer, visit breastcanceer.org.