This post is a follow-up to the content in the post called A Note to My Readers.
Hello! I wanted to let you know that my most recent diagnostic mammogram came back normal! It was such a relief and I’m so grateful to be breast cancer free.
During this experience, I learned a lot about breast cancer and found resources that were very helpful. As a survivor, I am now part of a world-wide community and I feel a responsibility to help where I can.
Here are some of the resources I benefit from and hope you will too if you ever need them:
Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida:
If you live in the state of Florida or any of the surrounding states, this is an excellent place to receive treatment. If you are uninsured or need financial assistance, you can apply for help with your bill.
There is lots of educational information about breast cancer and a variety of different types of cancer on this website.
As you know, it is important to be as educated as possible about the signs and symptoms of cancer. Some cancers don’t have any signs or symptoms at all and that’s why we are encouraged to get regular screenings.
As you know, Robin had colorectal cancer, but ultimately died due to kidney failure according to this article
I promised him I would get a colonoscopy once things settled down with my breast cancer treatment. My appointment for this is in April.
Rethink Breast Cancer:
In terms of other breast cancer resources, I would like to mention Rethink Breast Cancer, a Toronto-based charity geared towards supporting young women with breast cancer.
It is erroneous to think that breast cancer only affects women age 40 and older. Often, the breast health concerns of younger women are not addressed or taken seriously.
This is a charity that is working to change that. Even though I’m 52 years old, I enjoy their fresh approach. I’m young at heart. Who says we have to stay with stuffy old ways of facing breast cancer?
I love this post on Rethink Breast Cancer by Leanne Coppen. I truly hope you’ll read it.
She passed away from breast cancer in 2011, but left us this gem on what not to say to someone with cancer. I think her post is hilarious at times and she made me laugh. I especially like #2, about not “Lance Armstronging” cancer patients. It’s bad enough having cancer. You don’t need someone telling you that you have to be superwoman while you have it. Give us a break. People wear masks and false personas all of the time, pretending they are so tough. Underneath it all, they are crying internally.
I would like to add one other thing. Please don’t say negative things about the treatments or medications a cancer patient is taking. We are doing the best we can with the resources available to us. It doesn’t help for someone who doesn’t have cancer to tell us that the meds or treatments we rely on have horrible side effects or will make us worse. What are we supposed to do? Just sit here and be a sitting duck for cancer taking over our bodies?
If we are taking medication or getting a certain type of treatment, we know what the side effects are and don’t need a lecture about it from someone who is not facing the same crisis. We’re scared enough as it is and it’s unkind to add to it with unsupportive remarks. I’m speaking from experience because I’ve had people make these sorts of comments to me and they are not helpful.
I know it’s hard to know what to say to someone with cancer. I get it. I’m sure I’ve messed up in the past too and said the wrong thing to someone with cancer. But, we can all learn, do better and not make an already difficult situation worse for someone.
A nice thing to say instead would be, “I really hope the treatment is working!” or “What can I do to help you feel better while you’re on chemo, radiation, etc?” I would have really appreciated that.
About Her Documentary
In closing, I would like to share a Rethink Breast Cancer documentary called About Her.
It is about the stories of nine young women facing their HER2+ breast cancer diagnosis.
The documentary opens with a blog entry by Leanne Coppen. It is heart-touching, sad, informative and educational. If you are interested in learning more, I hope you’ll watch it.
Click here to find out more about HER2+ breast cancer. It refers to a protein that some women have which promotes the growth of cancer cells.
I did not have HER2+ breast cancer. I had estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.
It was my intention to be helpful, educational and supportive to my readers by providing this information. It’s not easy to talk about this. It’s not fun, but we need to face it and the more we know the better.
Thanks again for visiting me here and I hope your life is healthy and blessed.
Love,
Christina