Think Pink

October is the official start of fall.  For most of us, it is a welcome change from the dog-days of summer.  October is also breast cancer awareness month.  This is the time of year when we are reminded that breast cancer continues to be one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women.  I have a personal connection with October because I am a two-time breast cancer survivor.  I hope that you find this post both informative and inspirational.

The Words No One Wants To Hear – Breast Cancer.  In just one moment;  a few spoken words can change a woman’s life forever.  When confronted with breast cancer, women are often overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty.  After receiving the devastating news, there seems so little time to learn so much about the disease, the prognosis and available treatment options.  Even with the support of family, friends and a dedicated medical team, there is still a feeling of aloneness.  It’s a feeling of living in a vacuum;  everyone around you is going on with their daily routine and it seems your life is crumbling.  Yes people say they care, and I’m sure they do;  but only a woman who has experienced hearing those dreaded words, knows the anguish that goes along with them.  Nothing can prepare you for the emotional roller-coaster ride that follows.  In the days, weeks and months after the diagnosis of breast cancer, a woman faces the harsh reality of the hand that life has dealt her.  Fortunately, today there is a wealth of information available to women plus the latest in technology and research and support groups ready to help them every step of the way.  Still, many women do not receive the imaging they need to diagnose the cancer at an early stage and the treatment necessary to survive.