cancer: it’s a dirty, six-letter word.

Circle of Hope Scarf

breast cancer. up until six years ago, breast cancer was a stranger to me.  well, not necessarily.  i lost an aunt to breast cancer, but she was someone i never really knew because we lived on opposite sides of the globe.  november 2006, however, is when my world changed. that was when my mother received her diagnosis.  her annual mammogram found a lump in her left breast.  a second scan and a biopsy confirmed that she had breast cancer.  thanksgiving was awkward that year.  awkward because there was this foreign thing inside of my mom's body that was trying to kill her.  fortunately, my mother had a plan of attack and three days after christmas in 2006 she said farewell to her left breast.  since that day, she has remained cancer-free, yet each and every day since then has … [Read more...]

boobs.

i'll be honest. part of me did not want to write {what seems to be} an obligatory breast cancer awareness post. we all know that october is breast cancer awareness month. {source}well, what about the other eleven months in the year? shouldn't every damn month be breast cancer awareness month? after all, november {back in 2006} was the month that changed my mother's life. she found out - on my sister's birthday, in fact - that she had breast cancer. thanksgiving that year was pretty solemn. thank goodness i was dealing with a stubborn {and very constipated} three year old at the time. aidan's poop issues took my family's minds off of my mother's condition. having to deal with suppositories & potty battles was certainly more entertaining than having to think or talk about the … [Read more...]

feel your girls.

{photo credit} i think we all know that october is breast cancer awareness month.  but, if you ask me, every month should be breast cancer awareness month.boobies.  ta-tas.  titties.  melons.  breasts.  knockers.  hooters.  jugs.  tits.  headlights.  bosoms.  girls.  whatever you call them, take care of them.feel them.  get to know them.every month.  after your period.  in the shower.  on your bed.  in the mirror.just touch them.{photo credit}early detection is key.  it's a curable cancer if found soon enough.unfortunately, it's still very much a killer.and, it's not just a girl thing.  although it's rare, men can develop breast cancer, too.{photo credit}this month, think pink.  i know i will.breast cancer is near & dear to me.  although i have not had any … [Read more...]

Cards for the Cure

It's October.While it might be time to stock up on miniature candy bars & think of the most ghoulish costume to wear this Halloween, it's also time to "save the ta-ta's" and think pink!In honor of BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, Hallmark was a FREE card {available in Hallmark stores only} that you can pick up {as many as you want} to send to all of the special people in your life. {source}I picked up one today & I plan on sending it to my Mommy -- who just happens to be a breast cancer survivor. … [Read more...]

CHECKING ON THE GIRLS?

I'm going to see my oncologist tomorrow.I haven't seen him in a couple years...I haven't had to. But, I'm going to visit him tomorrow to talk. To talk to him about what my options are and what he feels is best for me to do as an almost 32 year old woman who hails from a family with a history of breast cancer. My mom's sister died from it. My mom fought the battle with it just over two years ago. She lost a breast, but she won. I'm already playing with fire because I have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than most women. Two surgeries by two (gynecological) oncologists in the last eight years might not seem like much to most, but seeing as how cancer - and not just breast cancer - has taken so many from my family, well, I feel like I need to do something.For me personally, doing … [Read more...]