October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I wrote a tribute to my sister-in-law, Liz, who lost her battle with breast cancer in May 2013. I still miss Liz and I thank God that I had the chance to help take care of her with the blessings of Bordas & Bordas because they are a Christian law firm with family values.

This year, I want to remind you how important it is to get mammograms and pap smears. Doing these two tests could save a life and the life it may save could be yours.  If any type of cancer runs in your family, you owe it to yourself and your family to go and get checked.

Just this year, my 21-year-old great niece was diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of her cousins started a “Go Fund Me” page to help preserve her eggs.  The chemo will more than likely destroy her eggs, and with her being so young she would like to have a child in the future.  Her outlook is amazing, and, as I have said before, a positive outlook is half the battle.

My husband’s side of the family has a history of cancer. About 17 years ago, we lost his first sister to breast cancer, a few years later his mother lost her battle with liver cancer and then Liz, who fought like an MMA fighter, lost her battle to breast cancer. Men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.

I’m here to tell you that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about the color of your skin, the size of your body, the size of your bank account, if your are married, if you are gay or straight, if you believe in God or if you are an atheist, if you have children, if you’re young or old, if you have a job or not or if you have two legs or four legs. You are the ones who need to be your own advocates and do whatever you can to help the fight against cancer for you or your pets.

I have several friends who have had stage four who are now are cancer free. They are proactive with screenings and do whatever it takes to keep the cancer away.  I can also tell you that there is no worse word to hear coming out of your doctor’s mouth than when he/she tells you that you have cancer.  I know, I’ve heard it. I was blessed that they caught it in time.

So don’t wait to get yourself checked. Encourage your loved ones to get checked and be sure to get your pets checked. Do whatever you can to kick your cancer’s butt!

Rock on, people. Rock on.