The other day I saw a news reporter who was at an event for Breast Cancer Awareness and he gave a statistic that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer.
1 in 8!!!
So I start counting:
- there are 8 women in my book club
- there are about 40 women on the campus I work at. 3 have already gotten breast cancer. 2 more to go?
- there are 11 women in the department I work in
- between mother-in-law, 3 sister-in-laws, 1 brother-in-law's long term girlfriend, 3 grown nieces and me there are 9 women in that side of my family
- 1 mother (deceased), 1 sister, me, 2 aunts, 3 girl cousins in my biological family
Of course one must factor in the whole genetic pre-disposition angle.
1 in 8 sounds like a lot when you start counting.
But one of the most inspiring people I know reminded me today not to live in fear.
If the weather man said there would be a 12.5% chance of rain - I would not take an umbrella.
So 1 in 8 is only a 12.5% chance that an individual will get breast cancer.
Odds that breast cancer will affect someone you know - 100%.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Rubber Necking
I have spent very little time actively watching car races - but when I do I am one of those people who secretly hopes there will be a crash, just to make it interesting.
As a kid I remember when we'd pass a car crash my dad would talk about the "rubber neckers" turning their heads to see the wreck and slowing down traffic. I always liked that term - rubber neckers, what a fun name for it. As a grown up driver I make a point not to rubber neck. I truly believe the appropriate response to a car wreck should be "there, but for the grace of God, go I" although admittedly I usually don't acknowledge that.
Currently there are two beautiful, strong, courageous women that I work with who are battling breast cancer. I pray for them several times a day. Part of me wants to just sit back, observe and take notes. The idea that I should watch how they handle it so I can handle it the same way when it's my turn keeps running through my head. And that wrestles with the part of me that says I should not gain anything from someone else's misfortune. And then another piece of me wants to believe that God won't give me breast cancer because I might not be the gracious example that these two beautiful women are. I am doubtful that I could be as positive and strong as they are.
Intellectually I know that positive is the best way to handle it. I have heard of scientific studies that prove a positive disposition leads to shorter healing times and other related benefits. Yet I know that I have a tendency to let fear overwhelm me and run away with my thoughts even though I consider myself a generally positive person.
Perhaps I should start actively being even more positive - like strength training for any future medical challenges!
As a kid I remember when we'd pass a car crash my dad would talk about the "rubber neckers" turning their heads to see the wreck and slowing down traffic. I always liked that term - rubber neckers, what a fun name for it. As a grown up driver I make a point not to rubber neck. I truly believe the appropriate response to a car wreck should be "there, but for the grace of God, go I" although admittedly I usually don't acknowledge that.
Currently there are two beautiful, strong, courageous women that I work with who are battling breast cancer. I pray for them several times a day. Part of me wants to just sit back, observe and take notes. The idea that I should watch how they handle it so I can handle it the same way when it's my turn keeps running through my head. And that wrestles with the part of me that says I should not gain anything from someone else's misfortune. And then another piece of me wants to believe that God won't give me breast cancer because I might not be the gracious example that these two beautiful women are. I am doubtful that I could be as positive and strong as they are.
Intellectually I know that positive is the best way to handle it. I have heard of scientific studies that prove a positive disposition leads to shorter healing times and other related benefits. Yet I know that I have a tendency to let fear overwhelm me and run away with my thoughts even though I consider myself a generally positive person.
Perhaps I should start actively being even more positive - like strength training for any future medical challenges!
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Getting Impatient
It's been nine months since I was first warned about July 12, 2017. I'm starting to feel a little impatient.
I know the final date is almost three years away still. And I certainly don't want to spend the next three years fighting cancer or battling some other evil only to wind up dying anyway. My greatest hope is that I will enjoy every moment of every day and, if I don't win the lottery or receive some other fabulous blessing on July 12th, then that I might expire quietly in my sleep.
But I am getting a little anxious for more details.
Several months ago I had some routine lab work done and it had some abnormalities so my doctor wanted to re-test. I did the second set of labs and the nurse called to schedule a follow-up. I do labs twice a year so I've gotten these type of calls before. This time, though, I thought I detected a hint of seriousness.
I went to my appointment expecting to receive a hemophilia or leukemia diagnosis. I walked out with a diagnosis of Gilbert's Disease/Syndrome. It's really a whole lot of nothing. I might display symptoms of jaundice, I mights have abnormal lab results, and because of it I actually have a lower risk of Coronary Artery Disease.
So - I'm still left wondering, and trying to remember that it is a blessing. Ignorance is bliss, as "they" say.
I know the final date is almost three years away still. And I certainly don't want to spend the next three years fighting cancer or battling some other evil only to wind up dying anyway. My greatest hope is that I will enjoy every moment of every day and, if I don't win the lottery or receive some other fabulous blessing on July 12th, then that I might expire quietly in my sleep.
But I am getting a little anxious for more details.
Several months ago I had some routine lab work done and it had some abnormalities so my doctor wanted to re-test. I did the second set of labs and the nurse called to schedule a follow-up. I do labs twice a year so I've gotten these type of calls before. This time, though, I thought I detected a hint of seriousness.
I went to my appointment expecting to receive a hemophilia or leukemia diagnosis. I walked out with a diagnosis of Gilbert's Disease/Syndrome. It's really a whole lot of nothing. I might display symptoms of jaundice, I mights have abnormal lab results, and because of it I actually have a lower risk of Coronary Artery Disease.
So - I'm still left wondering, and trying to remember that it is a blessing. Ignorance is bliss, as "they" say.
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