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I am a 44 year old single mother of two beautiful children; Brian 20, and Nicole 17. Being a mom is the thing I am most proud of; I could sit and ta...
 
 
 
 

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Let's talk about fear. Are You Afraid of Breast Cancer?

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Are You Afraid of Breast Cancer? If so, you're not alone. Cancer is a scary thing...And all the pink in the world can't change that. Sure, pink ribbons may be pretty, but breast cancer is ugly and scary. Here are some facts about breast cancer...

  • An estimated 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2000.
  • Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.
  • One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
  • Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
  • Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.

Many women are blogging about their breast cancer fears. From little fears to big fears. They have fears of mammograms, fears of treatments, fears or recurrences, fears of dying...and on and on. What are your breast cancer fears?

From Womenonthefence - Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

I had my own scare when I was 22 years old. One day, I found a lump in my left breast. It was scary as hell. I have a history of breast cancer in my family, and until I saw the doctor and got some answers, I did not sleep. At all. Even my husband, (who was my boyfriend at the time) became so desensitized to “feeling me up.” I mean, he felt my left boob like twenty times, and said, “I don’t like the way that feels.”

From On The Road To Queendom - Mammo...what?

I was petrified at the thought of the big scary monster of a machine smashing the hell outta my little skittle titties.

See, there is also the little fact that my mother's sister, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer about 6 years ago. They found it early and she was able to treat it and it has not come back. So, there was also that deep rooted fear that maybe, just maybe it had crept into my tiny little body too. That the big scary "C" monster would get me too.

From Battling Breast Cancer With Class - Fear of Recurrence...

I read the survival statistics for my particular stage of breast cancer at the five-year mark and they say I have a 49 percent to 67 percent chance of making it. Every once in awhile I'll get stuck in a mode of fear and start obsessing about these grim facts. Then I realize all I can do is pop a Tamoxifin pill every day that is supposed to suppress estrogen, cross my fingers and carry on. I reason that yes, cancer could come back at anytime. But right now, I have my health back and I will never take that for granted again. So why not enjoy feeling normal as much as I can? The seasons change this week. Nothing ever stays the same, so cease the day!

From Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer - My Pregnancy Fears Allayed...

I have mentioned before that the effect of chemotherapy on my fertility was the most devastating aspect of being diagnosed with breast cancer. For some women, the result is permanent infertility, others, like me, have complicated fertility issues post treatment. One of my chemo buddys did get pregnant post treatment with the help of IVF, but tragically developed a recurrence while pregnant. This brings up a lot of fears for me. If a miracle were to happen and I conceived, would this increase my own chances of recurrence. There is not enough statistical evidence as yet to answer this question satisfactorily. However, the latest research does show that pregant women who develop breast cancer do not have worse odds of death or of cancer returning than other young breast cancer patients.

From Thought from Mary Alice Monroe - Life At The End Of A Fishing Line...

"This was her body. She knew she should let go of her old self-image and make peace with the way her body was now... Mia closed her eyes and said a small prayer for strength. She had to let this fear of cancer go down the drain with the dirty water. To live fully, she had to believe she would live." (pg. 49, Time is a River)

From Susan Heim on Parenting - A Mother's Story of Breast Cancer...

Since the cancer had already spread, it was necessary to find out just how far it had gone. Did it travel through my nodes and bloodstream, finding a home someplace else

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aftercancer 5 pts

Michelle,

I just want you to know that you are stronger and braver than you think you are. You'll be amazed what you can do if you have to!

Kate

I blog at http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com 

Southerngirl 5 pts

The fear of Breast cancer is very very real to me.  There are days when I just KNOW that is how I will die.  But there are others where I hardly give it a second thought.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, 44 and 50.  she passed of the complications at 53.  Then there is my sister who was diagnosed at 40 and had a mastectomy and is doing fabulous with her 4 year anniversary coming up.  See my mom was a dynamo of a woman who could do 6 things at the same time and get them all done well.  She was a feirce force to be reckoned with.  The family joke is that the death angel was so afraid of trying to take her, he convinced God to send cancer because even HE was scared of her.  Then there is my sister who definitly inherited my mom's get r done attitude.  For now she is winning that fight but seeing her number on the caller ID during this time of year still makes me hold my breath.

The fact that cancer came for the strongest women I know makes me very afraid that wimpy little old me will not have a chance if it comes for me.  When I find myself dwelling on it too much I ask myself  If I were to go at 53 like my mom how would I want to spend my time.  That sobering thought always makes me do something even if it is just read a book with one of my kids.  Because if I do go that way then I want to make sure I enjoy EVERY cancer free moment I have.

Michelle

I blog at http://www.mommycan.blogspot.com/

wendyfarha 5 pts

No, I'm not afraid. I was diagnosed with breast cancer August 19/09 and just had a double mastectomy Sept. 15/09. I'm the tenth cancer in my family, and four of those cancers are breast cancers. So it's always been a possibility in my life, even though I never actually thought it would hit me....every time I had a procedure on my breasts, it was always a false alarm. So this time, I assumed it was more of the same.

Yet even with all of this, I think we have to be ready for whatever comes at us. I decided years ago that if they ever found a lump, I would not take the cautious approach - I would have a double mastectomy to be on the safe side. It was my game plan, so when it actually did happen, I was ready.

I addressed this issue in my blog a few weeks ago because I wanted to try and help the many women who live with this constant fear <http://wwwadventureswendy.blogspot.com/2009/09/fea...

I'm home awaiting news on my pathology report, but I'm prepared either way, chemo or no. Unfortunately, cancer is a reality and an inevitability for some of us if we're going to live in North America. We have to accept that, while we are so blessed in many ways to be living in a first world country with first world benefits, one of the down sides is this relentless disease.

Wendy

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Thanks for sharing your story Kate.  I wish you and your daughter all the best.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ ) and Women4Hope ( http://women4hope.wordpress.com/ )

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Hi Denise.  I totally agree with you when it comes to not allowing fear to disable you.  Fear can be a paralyzing emotion and wallowing in it isn't helpful.  But I do think acknowledging our fears is ok (and also an important aspect of overcoming them). 

I'll never forget the look of fear in the eyes of my friend Becky ( http://www.catherine-morgan.com/2009/10/02/blogger... ) on the day I took her to the emergency room (only days before she passed).  Unfortunately, the doctors had kept telling her that her treatments for recurrence and mets (what they knew were their last ditch efforts) could still cure her...She was actually thinking that when the treatments were over she would go to visit her son in FL (she lived in PA). 

This part I've never told anyone before...

When I came to see her that day, it was obvious to me (as a nurse) that her condition was critical.  So I called her oncologist and told him I would be bringing her through the ER to be admitted.   After barely getting her into my car (due to her excruciating pain and overwhelming weakness), she turned and looked at me...and with tears in her eyes she said, "Tell me the truth Cathy...Am I going to die"?  I was startled (and devastated) by her question.  She was my best friend and as much as I wanted to lie and assure her that she was going to be fine, I knew that wouldn't be fair to her.   I said, "I don't know sweetie...I'm hoping once we get to the hospital they will be able to help you, but you're really really sick...I just don't know".   She said, "But I could die.  If they can't make me better at the hospital I could die"?  Then fighting back my tears I said, "Yes Becky.  I can't lie to you.  If they can't make you better at the hospital...you could die.  You're really really sick and that's why I'm taking you to the hospital.  I hope and pray that they can help you there.  I'm sorry Becky, I'm so sorry, I wish I could just tell you that I knew for sure you would be ok...I'm still holding out hope that you will be ok."  She thanked me for telling her the truth, and we drove to the hospital in silence.  It was the most painful conversation I have ever had in my life.  Even after all of these years I can still see the fear and pain in her eyes, and I still feel the anguish of having to be the one to tell my best friend she could die (it should have been the doctors). 

So, while I'm not fearful of breast cancer at this moment in my life...I can certainly understand how fearful this diagnosis can be.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ ) and Women4Hope ( http://women4hope.wordpress.com/ )

aftercancer 5 pts

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38, the mother of a 17 month old and a 5 year old. I have never experienced a fear quite as intense and don't expect that I will again.

I chose to have the non cancerous breast removed as well. After 12 rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, oophorectomy and hormonal treatment nothing was going to stop me from going forward.

That was over three years ago. Do I fear recurrence, HELL YEAH as does every woman I know. Young women can and do get breast cancer every day and my fear is the condescending attitude they are often treated with. My fear is that there are chemicals and pesticides in our food and water that we know CAUSE cancer and we do nothing about it. My fear is that my now almost 5 year old daughter will be diagnosed when she's way too young too.

So yeah, I fear breast cancer, but it doesn't stop me from living.

Kate

I blog at http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com 

Denise 11 pts moderator

The every 13 minutes statistic is a sensationalist marketing technique. Every 13 minutes means not many women in this country die of breast cancer. There's really very little reason to fear death from this disease.

Yes it's a horrible disease. Yes its treatments are painful. Yes some women do die of breast cancer.

But fear does nothing except disable you, prevent you from thinking rationally about your own health and the marketing of disease to women.

Every 13 minutes, 1 woman in the US dies of breast cancer.

Every minute, 1 woman in the US dies of heart disease.

Every eight minutes, 1 woman dies in childbirth (worldwide.)

Every minute, 1 person is the victim of domestic violence.

Why are we spending our time and energy being afraid of breast cancer? Aware yes, but fear? No. There are bigger problems to be afraid of.

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )