How Far Will Happy Go

I wish that you knew me. I really do. I wish that you could sit and talk with me for a while and understand why I'm so happy all the time. I have a lot of important messages to spread and this is one of the best ways that I know how to do it.

If you could see me you would see that I am someone's mother. I am someone's daughter. I am someone's sister, aunt,great aunt, cousin. I am someone's best friend. I am someone's neighbor. I am the woman that you see standing in line at the grocery store or pumping gas. I am the woman that you see at the dry cleaners. I am just your everyday, average woman but I am much more than that to a lot of people.

And I am a two time breast cancer survivor.

I am very much alive!!!!. Breast cancer does not mean that it is automatically a death sentance. Did you hear me??? It is NOT AN AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTANCE. The key is early detection.

It is true that there is a family history, so I knew that I was at high risk. The one thing that I want you to listen to is THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST BREAST CANCER IS YOUR HAND. Both times that I had cancer I was having regular mammograms and both times, I caught the cancer by self exam inbetween mammograms.

Rub your forefinger and your thumb together. Go ahead, do it now. If you do that, once a month, you would notice if there was a change wouldn't you? Same thing goes with your breast. Self exams once a month and you can tell if there is a change. Get a mammogram AND an ultrasound. Insist on an ultrasound even if your doctor says that you don't need it. Breast cancer will show up better, especially on denser breast such as in younger woman or larger breast woman than what it will with a mammogram.

Did you know that there is a difference between a regular mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram. I didn't know that. Only 1 out of 4 breast cancers are caught on a regular mammogram. it's just like an quick x-ray of your breast.By the time that it would show up there, you would definately know it. If you do self exams and feel something, then you need a diagnostic mammogram. They mark the spot and enlarge the area so that they can take a better look at it. But like I said, if you do self exams every month, you'll feel it. You'll know that something is a little different. Don't wait for several months and think it will go away. Don't take that chance. You know your body better than anyone. Pay attention to your gut feelings.Don't wait. Remember, the key to surviving is early detection.So don't be afraid to find out. It can cost you your life if you wait.

And for you men out there, yes you can get breast cancer too. For those sons out there, ask your mom if she does self exams. Husbands ask you wife, boyfriends ask your girlfriend if they do self exams on their breast every month. Don't be embarrased to ask them. You love them, don't you? You may save her life, just by asking her or reminding her.

Both times I caught it, I was in the beginning stages of breast cancer. The first time I had a lumpectomy (where they only cut out the lump and save most of the breast) and then I had 26 rounds of radiation. I did that on my lunch hour. The whole thing only took about 5 months start to finish. Less than 2 years later (again, I was having mammograms every six months) I felt another lump in the same breast. It was back. This time the whole breast was removed and I went through 6 months of chemotherapy. I was cute bald. And I've had hangovers worse than chemo LOL. I gave cancer six months to get out of my body. That's all it took. God works pretty fast.

There were three things that I prayed to God when I found out that I had cancer a second time. I didn't want to look back at my life and say I "should have, could have, or would have". So I always wanted to go back to college. I was working full time and went to college full time. I am Phi Theta Kappa. 4.0 thank you very much. I wanted to live to turn 50. I don't know why that age seemed so imortant to me, but i wanted to make it to a half century. I am now 53. I wanted to live long enough to have grandchildren. Boy, now that was one big wish because none of my children were married and they certainly weren't thinking of having children anytime soon. I now have 4 grandchildren, including one born last week. So many wonderful blessings have happened in the 8 years since I had cancer that I would have missed out on, if i hadn't have used my hand and felt that lump!!!! I KNOW that I am blessed. That's why i am so dog gone happy all the time. God has put his hands on me and healed me, not just once, but twice. Now are you starting to get why I'm writing this?

I'm sharing my story with you because it's an important to know when you look at the women around you, that they too could be a survivor. There are millions of us out there. God has blessed us. He has given us hands. It's in His hands and ours. Use them.