October is breast cancer month
Welcome to October!
This weekend my hubby, kids and I will be heading to downtown Toronto to take part in the annual CIBC Run for the Cure. It's an event that I have participated in since it's very inception. In fact, the very first run of this kind was held in my 'hood of High Park, Toronto.
While many men sign up for the run/walk, I love the whole girl spirit that's a huge part of the event ... the pink balloons and ribbons, girlfriends walking together and mums with babies in strollers.
When my eldest, Liv, was just 7 months old I ran pushing her along in a baby jogger, cheered on by scores of participants and volunteers. And when Sophie was just five months old, she came with me in her Bjorn baby carrier.
Everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer, don't they?
Little did I know when I started getting involved in the Run for the Cure many years ago, that I, too, would have a personal connection to this disease. Six years ago, a dear friend, Mary-Ellen Murray, died of breast cancer - she was only 36. I'll be thinking of 'Mimi' this Sunday when I do the run.
Tell me how breast cancer has touched your life or family ... and do you do your monthly self-exams?
Talk to you soon, Kathryn
Tags: breast cancer, October, Run for the Cure
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
My dear friend just had a double mastectomy and is starting chemo as I write this.
I wrote a blog post "My Friend Has Breast Cancer What Can I Do?" If your interested you can find it here http://flyingkitten.wordpress.com/
Thanks for your time and efforts in finding the cure and spreading the word.
I must confess I don't say to myself OK I'm doing my monthly exam. I just kind of regularly take mental note of what's going on and how things look and feel.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Thank you for taking part in the "Run for the Cure", for me, it's personal since I am a breast cancer survivor. I'm so sorry for the lost of your friend Mary-Ellen, I have also lost my mother (14 years ago) and sister (3 years ago) to breast cancer. Let's all do this together and maybe we will find a cure. Please ladies do the monthly self-exam, this is probably the reason I am a survivor.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I know I am responding to this late ~ but actually it is because I have just seen it (story not worth sharing in full) ~ as for how b. cancer has touched my life my mom has had breast cancer twice now ... first time was 4 yrs. ago, stage 0, contained: surgery; followed by partial breast radiation (she refused to take the pills)~ reg. check-ups and cancer showed up in the other breast only this time it was classified as stage 1, invasive... surgery is behind her; currently going for her partial breast radiation treatments and this time she will take the pills recommended.
I am not consistent on doing my self breast exams, however I do go for my reg. screening. my personal experience is that I have had a mass removed from my right breast several yrs ago thankfully it was benign.