Do You Pink Out?

This past Saturday was the annual Tulsa Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. I was a member of my sister in law's team- Breast Friends Forever. I shared on The RHOK my SIL Angie's story last year on this post, if you haven't read it, please do. She is now cancer free for 3 years. Unfortunately, I woke up Saturday morning with a migraine and knowing I had to be at my son's football game later that afternoon to help turn his team pink, I opted to sleep in and try to get rid of the headache.

October of course is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It is the month that EVERYONE turns PINK to show their support for the cause. I like to be different and start people to thinking early! That is why on the day of the Susan G Komen Race my son's football team starts wearing their pink. It draws early attention, and early detection is best.

My son is wearing his pink this year for 13 friends and family members whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. My son doesn't know it, but he is also wearing the color for a scare I received this year. In May, I was sent for my baseline mammogram. I am 36. After the first mammogram, I was sent a letter asking for a diagnostic mammogram. I FREAKED OUT! Come to find out my breast tissue is still very dense and fibrous so they needed a closer inspection. After the "inspection" I was told immediately that everything was just fine and that I will have to repeat my mammogram again next year and probably will not have to do annual mammograms until I am 40.  Relief. Oh, and BTW when you get this kind of news and feel the urge to text your fellow housewives with the message "I have great boobs!" make sure you forewarn them to not let their pre-pubescent boys read their text messages-how embarrassing! Yes, I confess now, it was me who sent that celebratory text and that was the context behind it.
 

It is a myth that mammograms hurt terribly. Uncomfortable, yes. Mine did not look like a pancake. Take some ibuprofen before the procedure. Please, please if you are 35 years or older ask your doctor to schedule your baseline mammogram now. The American Cancer Society recommends that a woman obtain her first baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 to 40. After the age of 40, she should receive a yearly mammogram.Your baseline mammogram is simply your initial or first mammogram. Baseline images are used for comparison to later studies. Changes in your breast are often subtle, and radiologists often compare a new image to a previous image while evaluating a suspected change. Baselines are still kind of controversial because like mine, a second look is usually needed. And if you are 40 or older, ladies please don't make me come and get you, because I really will hold your hand through the procedure. I know it's nerve wracking. My girlfriends and I have even discussed having "After-MAMMO" parties, any excuse for a glass of wine or a margarita right?

Now, I want to know, do you pink out? If so how do you join the cause against breast cancer? Support? Educate? Promote awareness?



♥Mrs. Hart♥

An Outpouring of Pink

Save the TaTa's. I Love Boobies. Save Second Base.  No matter how you phrase it or wear it, its all about one thing: Breast Cancer Awareness

Every 69 seconds a women dies of breast cancer. Breast cancer not only affects women, but also men.

I am simply amazed at the outpouring of awareness that continues for this dreadful disease. Young and old. Male and Female. From survivors, to those who are still fighting. Professional organizations are even stepping up for the cause. The 19 teammates on my son's Broken Arrow Black 4th grade football team have also joined together and are wearing pink shoelaces donated by the local New Balance store in Tulsa. The players wore these in honor of 13 friends and family members who are survivors or have lost lives due to breast cancer. It is never to early to start supporting and educating!

 


Likewise the 23 team members of Mrs. Sinclair's son's Bixby Blue 5th grade team promoted Breast Cancer Awareness this past weekend at their game.  She was so surprised at the boys excitement and willingness to wear pink! They wrapped their cleats in pink tape, had their wrists taped pink and had pink Komen stickers on their helmets, compliments of the Tulsa Komen office.

On the tape on each foot, Mrs. Sinclair wrote who the player was honoring during the game. They were so enthusiastic, they wanted more pink! Too bad the budget was not unlimited!  Mrs. Sinclair's son had many names on his shoes. Two of her sorority sisters are both survivors, 2 of her sorority sisters lost their mom, one of her friend's mom is a survivor, a high school friend is going through treatment now. Mrs. Sinclair herself has had 2 lumps removed, though they were benign.  Take note, 4 of those ladies above were less than  age 35, some were only 27 and 30 years old.  None of them had family history's. Please be aware! Get a baseline mammogram as soon as possible, don't wait until age 40!  It's worth your piece of mind. Plus Mrs. Sinclair also has a personally designed breast cancer tee always available, but in September and October 10% of all profits go to Susan G. Komen! 

My sister-in-law sent this letter to her loved ones and supporters exactly one year to the day that she first found the lump in her breast. The lump was a stage 2b and she did have cancer in a lymph node. She is now cancer free for two years, but has not been able to take the medicines most breast cancer patients take.  Her Oncologist wanted her to take it for 10 years but she had a severe allergic reaction to one medicine and had milder reactions to the others.

9/28/09
It was September 28, 2008 when I first discovered the lump in my right breast that I would soon find out was malignant. I had seen a commercial about Breast Cancer Awareness and how important it was to do self check exams and if you were 40 or over to have a mammogram. The truth is I hadn't had a mammogram in 5 years but I had this nagging feeling to do a self check after seeing that commercial. I would schedule a mammogram and then forget about it (because they don't call and remind you of your appointment) but I did keep having that nagging feeling that I needed to get a mammogram scheduled even though I had done self checks and gone for yearly exams. I think God was trying to tell me all along but I kept putting it off. It's that time of year for Breast Cancer Awareness, please make sure you and your loved ones are checked out. The important thing is early detection, I also want to point out that it's labeled as a woman's disease but more and more men are being diagnosed with Breast Cancer each year. By the Grace of God and your support I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a long journey but I am stronger and a better person for going through it. Thank you for coming along with me through this journey!

Love, Angie

What will you do to join in the cause against breast cancer? Support? Educate? Promote awareness? 


♥Mrs. Hart♥


*At 6:45 p.m. on 10/20/2010 a very dear friend's mother will be undergoing a breast biopsy to examine two lumps that were just found last week. The mother has a history of breast cancer in her family and has had her mammograms regularly. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.