Breast Cancer Awareness Month: My Personal Experience

When I was in second grade my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was not discussed. Cancer was a forbidden topic in our family. What I didn't know was that my grandmother discovered a lump in her breast while she was taking care of my grandfather.

I was self-absorbed as any child is. My grandparents were my comfort and my strength. They lived three houses from mine. I could always depend on my grandmother. She was my rock. She had been Amish and was scared to death of cancer and doctors. She did not go for treatment. She took care of her mother who also had breast cancer. She watched her husband die of pancreatic cancer and was not about to have surgery after she saw what happened to him.

My grandmother and at least two of her sisters all had breast cancer. Her sisters had mastectomys and lived for many years after that, cancer free. My grandmother died a very agonizingly slow , painful death. I believe that if she would have had surgery like her sisters that she may have had many years without cancer and the fear of dying from it.

My first cousin is now a survivor of breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and radiation and has been cancer free for over ten years. My mother had a complete masectomy over thirty years ago. She had breast reconstruction and lived for over twenty years without cancer. She died August 26th, of this year after fighting kidney and lung cancer for over five years.

My family has been hit with cancer for many generations. I will be getting my mammogram the end of this month, faithfuly. I will also get my yearly physical. Early detection is so very important. I may have cancer in my future, but I am prepared. I will do what I need to to take care of myself.

My husband has had skin cancer. His mother, grandfather and sister have all died as a result of cancer. I made him have moles checked by our doctor. The doctor removed two moles and a innocent looking wart. The moles were benign and the wart was basil cell carcinoma. It is so important to take care of yourself and have yearly exams. We both have had colonoscopies and were cancer free.

I will try not to be afraid like my grandmother. I have watched many of my friends and family members die from cancer. I hope and pray that you all take care of yourselves too. I believe that early detection is the answer. I also hope and pray that there is a cure for cancer very soon. God bless you all.