October 04, 2007 11:42 am
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When I first found the very large lump in my breast three years ago, I thought my world, as I knew it, was ending. As it turned out I was partially correct.
Being told you are in Stage III breast cancer has to be in the top two scariest things that will happen in your life. After I got over the initial shock of having cancer I made a conscious decision to fight this disease with everything I had. And with that said I have been a breast cancer survivor since October 2004.
October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I would like to take this time to remind all our readers how important yearly mammograms are. Fortunately, for myself, breast cancer is not the death sentence it was a decade ago. Because of the American Cancer Society and organizations such as Susan Komen, breast cancer has become a much more detectable and treatable disease.
It is estimated that one in every eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. It is now possible to detect most breast cancers at a very early stage. With early detection and improved treatments, more women are surviving breast cancer. Today women have more treatment options than ever before. I heard a news report recently that said fewer women were being diagnosed with breast cancer, but fewer women were also getting yearly mammograms.
When talking about early detection I’m not sure my breast cancer was detected early. The lump was 5.9 cm long and 2 of the lymph nodes under my arm were already affected. Nevertheless I am a breast cancer survivor, healthy for three years. But needless to say if I had not noticed the lump and gone to the doctor immediately, I don’t think I would be here today telling my story.
In my case I had no family history of breast cancer. I do have cancer in my family — lung, colon and bladder — but no breast cancer. I have never taken hormones. I just don’t fit the profile for a breast cancer patient. If you think you are immune to breast cancer don’t kid yourself. It can strike anyone, any age, any time. Please be aware of your body and get yearly mammograms. This is the first important step to surviving.
When I was under treatment I wrote a couple of columns for the Cedar Creek Pilot. A friend of mine who was also going through cancer treatment called. She was amazed I could put things in writing when she could not even talk about her cancer. I was never sure why she could not talk about it. Maybe because she didn’t want people to think she was dying or maybe because talking about cancer makes it real. Whatever the reason, my talking about my own cancer has helped me heal. Everyone handles their own situation the best they can, but sometimes the things we don’t know can hurt us.
Cancer affects everyone differently. For me I learned to slow down and not take myself so seriously. To enjoy the little things in life and to appreciate my family and friends. There are still bumps in the road; I just step a little higher.
ETMC is offering $95 mammograms the month of October. See the ad in this publication. If you still cannot afford the $95 cost please call The American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 to find out what programs are available. Visit www.cancer.org for more information on breast cancer.
— Kathi Nailling
General Manager, Cedar Creek Pilot
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