It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s not just for women any more. Though my mother, grandma Maudie, long time friend Janey, and best friend Jo all had breast cancer, there have been local male figures with breast cancer. Both my mother and grandma lived despite the fact that treatment wasn’t as advanced in the 50’s and 60’s as it is now. For me, breast cancer hits home.
Please remember to do a self examination and get your mammogram regularly.
Many of us don’t write about cancer in our families, but maybe we should talk more openly about it. Here, G’s dad died from a melanoma that suddenly metastasized. My father died from a cancer in his mouth. Both my mother and uncle had colon cancer. Friends Lee and Alice had bladder cancer. Marion, Kay, and Mikey had or have lung cancer.
This morning, my daughter Lenora is giving me a ride to my volunteer job at the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop, and I am very grateful. It's a gift she gives me as I find some small way to give back myself.
Blessings, Maggie for the very wise words.
ReplyDeleteWe talk about cancer here as I have the distinguishment of being the first member of our family (and hopefully the last, although that's probably unrealistic) to have had cancer.