Why We Need To Keep Talking About Breast Cancer


Portrait of a female cancer patient outside

Why is it important to continue talking about breast cancer?  Haven’t we exhausted the conversation already?  Doesn’t everyone already know about it?

Breast cancer has been around for many years.  We have become really good at talking about it.  We even devote a whole month to it.  It’s a common disease that people have become used to discussing and familiar with hearing about.  We are almost getting immune to the conversation.

So why then, if it is so commonplace to talk about it, do we still need to make such a fuss??

Since I am devoting each of my 31 days in October to doing something for breast cancer awareness, I am on the internet a lot.  Looking for ideas.  Reading statistics.  Trying to find new organizations that help breast cancer patients or fund research.  And putting things out there.

I had a conversation with a friend last week.  She asked me, “Why all the breast cancer posts? Did you know someone who had it?”

I explained to her that my mom died from breast cancer at 51.  That it is a cause that is close to my heart as I worry about my own and my daughter’s breast health.  She went on to tell me that she has never had a mammogram, (she’s in her early 40s).  She said it gives her anxiety.  She has been putting it off because she is afraid.  I told her my mom didn’t have mammograms either and that didn’t turn out so well. I became adamant that she talk to her doctor and schedule a mammogram.  I told her I would drive her if she needs me to.  She said she might and she asked me to keep “checking on” her.  To “push” her.  To “hound” her.  She is a beautiful, smart ,and savvy woman.  But she is afraid.  It made me wonder, how many women KNOW about breast cancer but don’t act on it because they are afraid?

[Tweet “We need to keep talking about breast cancer.”]

We need to keep talking about breast cancer because there is incredible anxiety about it.  No one wants to hear the “c” word from their doctor.  It’s a potentially scary conversation and we need to support each other through it.  We need to encourage each other to be proactive and take care of our health.  Because this disease is treatableIt is survivableBut the key is to catch it early.

[Tweet “We need to encourage each other to be proactive and take care of our health”]

We also need to keep the topic of breast cancer on our lips because there is still ignorance out there.  I became aware of that this past week as well.  There is a cool instagram site that I follow called @keepabreast.  The Keep A Breast Foundation’s purpose is to promote awareness among young people around the world and to educate them about breast cancer and get them to pledge to do self exams. They had posted a picture to their account a few days back talking about a fundraiser that the store Forever 21 was doing for their foundation.  Someone then commented on their picture, “It (the money) should be donated to research (not awareness). Everyone is aware of breast cancer.”  This stopped me in my tracks.

If everyone knows about it, do they know that breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers IF CAUGHT EARLY?   Do they know the key is to catch it before it has spread and wreaked havoc on their body?  Do they know the main way to catch it early is to know their body and to do monthly self exams?  (If you know what your normal is, then you will know when something is not right!)  40% of diagnosed breast cancers are found by women who feel a lump.

Do they know another way to catch it early is to make and keep annual doctor visits?  To follow the recommendations of their doctor about when they should start having mammograms?  I started having them in my 20s since my mother passed away from breast cancer but everyone’s risk is different.  The key is to be proactive. Do they know this?  And do they know that not just older women get breast cancer?  Young women in their 20s and 30s (and even younger) get breast cancer.  And do they know that men get breast cancer too???

I have even wondered in the past if we still really need to talk about breast cancer so much.  And after my experiences this past week, I am convinced YES . . . WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT BREAST CANCER!

I watched my mother die from that disease.  And really, cancer is cancer . . . all of us know of someone who has passed away from cancer.  But breast cancer is survivable if caught early!  So yes, we need to keep talking about it.  Telling people things they can do to prevent it, (hint: diet and exercise). Explaining how to catch it early.  And supporting each other in whatever ways we can.

Breast cancer is something we need to find before it finds us!

So please, please do your self exams and see your doctor. Most importantly, keep talking about breast cancer.  The more we talk about it and support each other in the process, the less chance it has to survive.

Salty Pink Kisses!

Karen

Photo: Dollar Photo Club


8 responses to “Why We Need To Keep Talking About Breast Cancer”

  1. We def need to keep talking about breast cancer! I tweeted both of those great tweets! The good news thanks to new science, we have genetic testing now. So every cancer patient will not be treated in a one-size-fits-all manner.

  2. We do. We really do. It’s sad how horrible this disease is – any cancer, really – and how terrifying it is to even consider. That itself scares people away from taking care of themselves. I hope that your posts convince them to act.

    • Thank you! It is a very scary disease. I think you’re right-the fear itself keeps people from being proactive. I think that was true on some level with my mom. Thank you for taking time to read this and for your support! 🙂

  3. When you live the suffering with someone you love, it inflames your desire to help. Thanks for your article and frequent tweets. We must continue the fight.

    • Thank you Beth. Yes- we all have certain causes that are close to our heart based on personal experience. Hopefully someday soon, cancer will be out of our vocabulary! Thank you for your comment. 🙂

  4. Hi Karen,
    I’m an 11 year breast cancer survivor… because I listened to my little voice. Because I argued with the doctors and two mammograms that said I was fine. While I understand the fear about cancer, I would hope women–like the one you know–realize that they should be more afraid of turning a blind eye to cancer, than confronting it head on. She doesn’t understand she has the power to save herself, or that her power only works if she’s proactive–NOW! If she waits, she’s lost it. Brenda

    PS: http://www.1010parkplace.com/an-important-conversation-with-sherry-lansing/

    • Yes Brenda! So true. I am so glad you are an 11 year survivor! That is awesome! I think the fear is what kept my mom from acting sooner with her cancer. That and feeling like the doctor’s knew what was best-which as you found out-isn’t always the case. We know our bodies best!! Thank you for reading and for your comment. 🙂