Tori’s Writing Hole

Tomorrow is the Susan G Komen Race for a Cure in Albany. I can’t race (well, duh!) but I can volunteer. Every year except for the last three (due to baby stuff) my mom and I volunteer to help out with set up, etc for the race. My mom is a survivor - even more than in the usual way. Her breast cancer was found as small calcifications on a routine mammogram when she was 46, nine years ago. After a lumpectomy and radiation treatments, Mom was considered cancer-free, and went on a five year course of tamoxifen to stop cancer from recurring. This treatment left her in premature menopause, complete with horrid hot flashes and mood swings, but we all thought it was worth it.

Five years later, a mammogram again shows suspicious activity - this time in the other breast. A biopsy confirms that a separate occurrence of cancer has happened. Mom had a double mastectomy this time - no chances. But, when it came time for breast reconstruction, the reconstruction failed - leaving her feeling more scarred and unhappy than if she’d just had the breasts removed. Today, she’s left with one reconstructed breast, one that is nothing more than skin, a slight (1% chance) of cancer recurring in that little bit of tissue, and an almost five year remission rate (the most important part!!!). Sometimes, I don’t know how she makes it through the worry and fear. But Mom does, and I’m proud of her.

Having had my own lump and scare (mammogram at age 21, fibrocystic breasts, A-OK) I am acutely aware of breast cancer in everyday life. I hope everyone takes the time to do self-checks (easy and fun, playing with yourself!) and takes time this October to just donate something to breast cancer research. A few clicks of your mouse, a few dollars at the store or a few hours of volunteer work is all it takes.

Oh yeah - I turned my blog pink - in case you didn’t notice. I was let in on this idea by my friend Virginia. Here’s the site if you too feel like making a pink difference! http://pinkforoctober.org/

Technorati Tags: breast cancer, cure, race, volunteer