Breast Cancer Awareness
Most of my knitter friends are not young hipsters who rock out. They’re mostly moms with kids who are edging towards college admissions and retirement. One of them has had breast cancer on and off the last few years. She’s doing her third round of chemo now. It’s spread to her bones. I’m really worried about her.
I bring this up now because one of my favorite under the radar blogs disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis at the end of 2007, but I’m only just catching up on it now. I’m totally freaked out since she’s way way cool and I can only aspire. At any rate, I hope both of these women get better soon.
A third very dear friend of mine is having weird breast issues. Strange discharges and lumps, but nothing cancerous. So far, it’s all benign. But she’s way too young. (Under 35 for pete’s sake!)
Get involved with your money, your feet, or your mouse-click:
Sponsor someone who’s doing a Breast Cancer Walk.
Do a Breast Cancer Walk. (The Walk links are different. The second one I suggest you do, is actually a 2-day walk vs a 3-day one.)
Go to the Breast Cancer Site and click the button.
Encourage NIH funding of cancer research. (All kinds please.)
Support the American Cancer Society. (Jump-A-Thon anyone?)
Knit a Chemo Cap and donate to a hospital.
Make a some meals and spend some time with a friend who has cancer. (Chemo makes you very tired.)
For entertainment: A woman dyed her dog pink to promote cancer awareness and was fined for it. Awesome! Free press for the cause! How’s that for awareness raising?
Finally, if you are a woman, do your monthly exams. Early detection can save your life. Yes, that means you have to check all the way into your armpits and your under neck lymph nodes too.
(I’m actually thinking about doing the 5K run in DC in June because I’m getting so damned fat.)
Megan wrote:
Thanks for all these links. My aunt was initially diagnosed with breast cancer over 15 years ago. She had radiation and chemo and it was a rough go of it for a while, but then it seemed to be gone.
A few weeks ago, they found out it was back. In her spine. It will kill her - there’s no way to cure it. She could have 2 years, she could have 10, no one knows. But the more research, the more funding, the more people catch it early, the more likely it is that others won’t have to go through this.
Posted on 14-Mar-08 at 10:24 am | Permalink
Chief Family Officer wrote:
I hope your friend will be OK. I’ve been bad about my monthly self-checks, so thanks for the reminder.
I wanted to add to your list. You can click to give free mammograms at the Breast Cancer Site.
Posted on 14-Mar-08 at 1:39 pm | Permalink
lanea wrote:
Damn cancer–I hate it so.
My Aunt and one of my closest friends have both beaten it, but I lots another friend to breast cancer a couple of years ago, and it was heartbreaking. Thanks for encouraging people to take care of their own and each other’s health.
Posted on 15-Mar-08 at 7:19 am | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
Megan: I’m so sorry about your aunt. The knitter friend has something essentially the same, where it’s in her bones but it could be a year, or 10. Either way, the chemo sucks.
CFO: Thanks for highlighting the link. I’m bad about checking every month, but that’s why a post was in order.
Lanea: No problem!
Posted on 15-Mar-08 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
Darcie wrote:
I am so sorry to hear about so many women battling cancer! It has touched my life too. Do you mind if I share a video of an event that I am passionate about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdqIWsuH6MY
Thanks & good luck to all of your friends!
Posted on 20-Mar-08 at 9:53 am | Permalink
breast cancer wrote:
Find resources, information, and therapy options for breast cancer.
Posted on 22-Mar-08 at 8:28 pm | Permalink