Get ready for it, because pink is coming. All that breast cancer awareness stuff is about to hit you right in the face from every store and every department.....even from the toilet paper aisle. Some might say companies take advantage of the popularity of Pink, selling products without really donating much to the cause. As a breast cancer survivor, I am not offended by the sight of pink ribbons anywhere. If one woman sees pink on a package of dog food and decides to schedule a mammogram, which could detect early breast cancer, that packaging did its job. If one penny from each sale is all that goes to funding research, it's a penny more than was there before. Pink is about awareness and encouraging people to schedule routine well-checks.
I was only 33 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, a much earlier age than the beginning of recommended routine mammograms. And, admittedly, I was not great at performing monthly self breast exams. If Stephen had not felt the lump and encouraged me to seek further medical attention, I might not be here today. He truly saved my life.
Don't ever feel like you are too young, don't need to be concerned because you have no family history, so you don't need breast exams. You do!!! Whether you are inspired by a pink ribbon on a can of pumpkin puree or simply remember my story of survival---whatever your reason---schedule your yearly well-check or mammogram sometime this month if you are not current and remember to do your monthly self {or with help} exams.
