The Blogging Mommy: Breast Cancer Awareness

October is here and that means we are celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month. This year, it brings with it so much more than it has in previous years. For the first time, it finally sparked a flame of motivation for me to take as many precautions as I can for early detection and possibly prevention. At the end of September, I participated in the facebook campaign that stated I am ___ months and I am craving ____. While it didn't take off as rampantly as last year's color of your bra on your status, it definitely raised some eyebrows and prompted some undue congratulations for many women (including me.) It also annoyed some others stating that they thought it was ridiculous and unnecessary. Well, to the nay-sayers, you can shove it because at least for one person (and several others I know,) it reminded me and them that breast cancer awareness isn't about knowing what breast cancer is. I'm pretty sure most adults knows what it is. Instead, it's about doing something to detect it as early as possible if it happens and to take every step and precaution in doing so. This means, a monthly reminder card to check your breasts for lumps or changes, taking the steps to know your family history, and asking your ob-gyn or PCP about scheduling a mammogram or genetic counseling and testing as early as 30 years of age. It really doesn't seem that difficult but as the child of a parent who died young from this horrible disease, fear often dictates a person's actions or inactions. A little nudge or reminder via a silly facebook game can go a long way. I think it's safe to say that fear is what kept me from getting the testing when I turned 30.

It had always been recommended to me to have an annual mammogram starting at 30 years of age due to my mother's young age at the time of her first diagnosis (36 years old) and several doctors had recommended BRCA gene testing. Rewind to my 30th birthday last year: amidst breastfeeding a 3 month old, adjusting to a new family dynamic of 4, getting little sleep, trying to lose the babyweight, hormonal adjustments, etc...it was not a priority on my list. I kept saying to myself, "well I'm still 30...I'll go in a few months." Finally, at my annual ob-gyn visit on Aug 31 (I was still 30 years old people,) I mentioned it to the nurse practitioner, and she recommended the testing and to make an appointment with an oncologist to do that and schedule my mammogram. I turned 31 on September 9th, and I knew it was time to take action.

I made the appointment, completed BRCA testing, and this Saturday, I will have a mammogram. I am not having any problems right now, so I'm hopeful that this is just the beginning of being very careful about my future health. I have A LOT more to lose now that I have 2 children, and even though I am nervous about the results of the genetic testing, I know I need to be cautious whether or not there are genetic aberrations. The oncologist told me that only 7% of breast cancer is genetic and the rest of random occurrence. This should promote extra caution in all my lady friends. Check your boobies monthly and if you have any concern, be adamant in your request for a mammogram. You don't have to be 40 years old to get one annually.

If I must, I will harass you on a monthly basis. These people right here are my inspiration.