A family in Progress

Up until 2006 - I can honestly say - I never thought of breast cancer. I had never known anyone close to me who had it, or who had gone through it - and in all honestly I was completely ignorant to this disease.

Until Marie - my co worker and dear friend. In fact - she is like a second mother to me. I knew she hadn’t been feeling well for a few months and often complained about pain in her breast. We made some of the cuff jokes with sexual overtures - but I don’t think either one of us were prepared for the reality of this pain.

In September of 2006, after weeks of waiting for her mammogram results - it had been confirmed Marie had breast cancer. Knowing how I was feeling - and how many tears I shed over her diagnoses - I can only begin to imagine how she was feeling. She was 50 years old with a son in his mid 20’s and teen age daughter.

Marie didn’t have an easy life. She had seen many hard times - but still amazingly remained a beautiful person, with a kind heart and warm soul. It just seemed so unfair.

She went through months of treatment - chemo and radiation. She coped with loosing her hair, nausea, being forced into early menopause and just plain exhaustion in hopes of winning her battle with this disease.

I am proud to say that earlier this year Marie was declared cancer free. She won her battle! Her hair has grown back and she has a new outlook on life - she lives each day for what is and is starting to do things she wouldn’t have before. She had cancer - but it surely didn’t get her.

Here is a photo of our survivor (in her pink survivor shirt)

crossing the finish line last year. Just weeks after finishing up her radiation.

Sadly - not everyone is so lucky. Here are a few statistics about Breast Cancer -http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/Stats%20at%20a%20glance/Breast%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women.

In 2008, an estimated 22,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it.

An estimated 170 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 50 will die of it.

On average, 431 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week.

On average, 102 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week.

One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One in 28 will die of it.

Breast cancer death rates have declined in all ages combined and in every age group since at least the mid 1990s.

Incidence and death rates for breast cancer have declined since 1969 in women aged 20-39.

These facts are real - and the reason why it is so important to check your breast regularly for any irregularities. Cancer does not discriminate.

For more information or to make a donation - please follow my personal donation link - together we can find a cure!!

https://www.cibcrunforthecure.com/html/personal_page.asp?track=2775994&languageid=1

Also, here is another link for more information.

http://www.cbcf.org/breastcancer/

This was all you could see last year walking down the street - what an amazing thing! All these people - affected and committed to finding a cure

For Marie and Yoda’s Mom and anyone else who has been touched by this disease.

Posted by mmummy ( 1 Comment )