Reflecting on Breast Cancer Awareness Month - 11/1/21

As November begins and Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, I have been able to take some time to think about what it means to me. Looking back over the last 14 months and going thru my first BCAM as a Survivor, it has made me realize how much I appreciate the amazingly resilient women I have gotten to know and the community that I am proud to now be a part of. It is a community full of so many inspiring & beautiful stories. So many amazing people who lift each other up when we are down , support each other, provide a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, and a tribe who sends prayers and good vibes when they are needed most.

But Breast Cancer Awareness month is not just about wearing pink or putting a ribbon on something and saying you support the cause. It is about more than that and extends well beyond the 31 days in October. It is about the importance of early detection and also for finding a cure for this horrible disease. It is about providing more research & funding for Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer and for conquering the disparities in screenings and treatments. It is for more genetic testing and education to women regarding their reconstruction options. It is for all of us; the previvors, survivors, thrivers, & metavivors as well as for the men and women who have yet to be diagnosed. It is about advocating for ourselves and for others because breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.

My scars are badges of courage and remind me that I AM strong when I didn’t think I had it in me. Every day I am reminded that I am the 1 of 1 in 8; a statistic that I NEVER thought I’d be associated with. No one ever told me that having dense breast tissue put me at a higher risk for developing breast cancer! Ever! And I am thankful for the technology that found my breast cancer when we did!

So please…..don’t just shelve the mindset that breast cancer awareness is only for October. It’s a 24x7, 365 day effort that needs to be front and center. Remember to do yourself exams, get your annual mammogram and if you think something isn’t right with your body, push, push, push until someone listens and doesn’t dismiss you because it could just save your life.