Thank you Barb too!
I know exactly where you are coming from. Like I said I have 10 reasons for doing this. 9 are survivors thank God! One was not. That is the one I really do this for because it should never have happened. I worked with this lady for several years and became quite attached. She developed breast cancer at the age of 40. The problem, because she was a-symtomatic, it was never found until it had spread to her lungs as well. Needless to say, I watched as my friend slowly died at first. It was awful. I will tell everyone here that she offcially died of lung cancer. But it started as breast cancer. Undiagnosed breast cancer. I would work on Saturdays quite often and in her last days while under going the chemo, she would not come in to work during normal business hours. She was afraid of the reactions she would get from co-workers as she, and I will be blunt here, looked terrible. She had lost lot's of weight and looked very skeletal. Her beautiful red hair was gone, her bright green eyes dimmed and her perky Irish humor, died as she did and she felt very embarrased. I thought she was the most lovely thing to see as she desperately fought to stay alive. She lost her battle 4 years ago leaving behind two teenagers and a great husband. They were now completely lost as well. That one life touched the lives of three and about 90 co-workers as well. I have no idea how many more except to say that there had to be about 200 people in that church that mournful day. This is why this campaign is so important. Not just to me but for everyone out in the world. Education. We need to teach everyone that breast cancer is different for each person who gets it. In my friends case, at 40, it never dawned on her or her doctor for that matter, that she should have a mamogram. It was to soon to start worrying about that. NO IT IS NOT!!!! One of the survivors I know is just now 28!!! So don't give me that crap about not being seceptible until around 45. That's bull! Any one, at any time can get this!! If there is one thing I want to stress is that, and I don't care if you are a women or a man, if you have breasts, touch them! At 12 or 13 you really should be teaching your daughters how to do a breast exam. I have heard and read stories of 12 and 13 year olds who have had lumps removed. IT REALLY CAN HAPPEN PEOPLE!!!
I want to help put a stop to the ''undiagnosed'' cases. We can not seem to find a way to stop it. But we sure a HECK can find a way to stop it from killing!! Early detection through education is the key. So LET'S DO IT!
By JW
