Breast Cancer Awareness
When I was a young girl, even before I was a teenager, I can remember my mother, Grandmother, and my Aunt discussing my youngest Aunt in very hushed tones. I remember the looks of concern on their faces. Even as a child I could tell that they were very worried about my Aunt. The reasons why they were worried would not become clear to me until many years later. I don't remember much about this time, except their concern for my Aunt. She was my favorite Aunt, so this was a little unsettling even for a child. My Aunt had four daughters, one my age and the other three younger than myself. We used to play together, so over the course of several years, going into my teenage years, I can remember hearing little bits and pieces of conversations regarding the subject breast cancer, although I did not fully understand it at the time. With a family full of young girls you would think that this would be an important topic to discuss, but times were different then, not as open to discussion as today.
I know very little about my Aunts story except that at a
very young age, in her early twenties, she apparently has
breast cancer. I know that she had to have a double
mastectomy, very little else was known to me. I know that
she used to joke about her lack of breast size. I
can only imagine that this was a way of coping with such
a devastating life event. How hard it must have been for
my Aunt, in her early twenties with four small little
girls, to be able to deal with this issue. I am happy to
say that she did survive, although the details of her
after care and treatment, are unknown to me.
The year is 1987, I to have a young daughter, things are
going well for me. Then one day I noticed a lump. The
fear and panic that welled up inside of me was
undeniable. I wanted to hide, but common sense told me
that this had to be looked at. My doctor told me that
because of my family history I would have to have a mammogram.
The fear of the unknown is now a reality. I have what is
called fibrocystic breast disease. I have to have a
mammogram every two years. I think that this is not too
terrible a price to pay, so I have them every two years as
scheduled. I find myself doing exactly what my family
did, I don't discuss this with my daughter. I guess that
I feel as though I am protecting her from unnecessary
fear.
Then seven years ago, in a routine physical my doctor
notices a lump that I was not aware of. He doesn't want
to wait to have it checked at my next mammogram. So I am
scheduled for an early mammogram With the test done it is still
unclear what exactly this lump is, so I am scheduled to
see a surgeon. He performs what is called a needle
aspiration in his office to determine if it is a cyst. It doesn't appear to be a cyst so we are now on to the next step, I have to have a
biopsy. This time with my daughter being an adult, I explain
everything to her. With my family beside me, I go for the
procedure. I am lucky it is a tumor, but it is not
malignant. This scare has made me very aware that that I
have to take an active role in protecting myself and my
daughter. Because of our shared family history I will encourage Angie to get a mammogram at least by the age of forty. Hopefully it will not ever become necessary for her to have a mammogram earlier than this. I am over forty now so I have an annual
mammogram. My daughter often goes with me when I have
this done. I plan on going with her to her mammograms. We can now discuss this openly. Hopefully, in my daughter Angela's or my granddaughter Melissa's lifetime
breast cancer will become a thing of the past. Until that
time comes though, knowledge is our best defense. Do a
monthly self breast exam, become aware of your own body
and its changes. Have yearly follow up visits with your
doctor. Discuss any concerns or fears you may have with
your doctor. I also recommend a base line mammogram at
least by the age of forty. I know that most women find
this uncomfortable to have done, but it is one of the
best ways to detect subtle changes in your body.
In my area of the country they have what is called "Buddy Check Six" every month on the sixth, my local news has a segment where they discuss the latest treatments and tests for breast cancer. They also remind you to call your "Buddy" and remind them that it is time to do a self breast examination. This little reminder I think is a great public service. Perhaps you could contact your local news program and see if it would be possible to implement something along these lines in your area.
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
[
Previous 5 Sites
|
Previous
|
Next
|
Next 5 Sites
|
Random Site
|
List Sites
]
|
 is a Proud Member of The Pink Ladies Next | Next 5 Sites Random Site | List Sites |
You are the 
person to visit this page.
Page last updated on: Monday, October 07, 2002, 04:08