Yes, October is over and you can now put away your pink shirt, pink tie, pink key chain and now grow your moustache for November. You did your part, walked that 5K or bought that pink sticker in the grocery check out line and get on with buying that purple ribbon for prostate cancer. We share the Facebook posts and change our profile pic.
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for those of you who somehow missed the memo (likely the same people who ignore hearts and flowers for the month leading up to Valentine's Day). We buy the thing with all good intentions of "supporting the fight" against breast cancer or whatever, silently praying that we never have to personally deal with "The Big C." The majority of us "know someone who knows someone whose sister had breast cancer."
Then I became that "someone you know..."
I went through the biopsy, the lumpectomy, the nodes removed and radiations treatment. I have the follow up mammograms and take the hormone suppressants which have the lovely side-effects of weight gain, joint pain and fatigue that I enjoy every day. Lets not forget the biannual calcium infusions.
It was and is all worth it; it was worth it to get my mammogram and catch this evil early.
I am not saying don't buy the shirt that says "Save the TaTas!" or grow that beard for ""Mo-vember." Every little bit helps in this fight.
As a Breast Cancer Warrior, I don't need a whole month of reminders. I don't need the facebook stickers; I don't need to see a flood of pink at the grocery store for a whole month or pink ribbons on the lapels of suites.
I need you to remember that it can happen to anyone at anytime at any age.
I need you to be educated on how to do self checks....breasts and testacies!
And, to realize that you may not feel a lump, get the mammogram!
Get the colonoscopy!
I need you to be uncomfortable in the doctor's office and tell them if something doesn't seem right or you don't feel your usual self.
I need you to have that funny shaped mole on your back or arm checked out.
What I need out of Breast Cancer/Prostate Cancer/Colon Cancer Awareness Months is that you take care of yourself and the people that you love.
I would be thrilled to hear that you got checked out - that's the message I really want on my facebook or instagram pages.
Put away that pink shirt and put on that gorgeous hospital gown and get checked out!
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