March 8th is the global International Women’s Day and the entire month of March is the national Women’s History Month. Although I’m happy to see such recognition of the contribution of women, one day/month a year seems a little—oh, I don’t know—insufficient?
I’m not what you’d call an activist and I probably only qualify as a feminist because I believe that women should be equal under the law and in all areas of life. I write about women sometimes and when I do it’s mostly singing their praises (here, here and here) and only sometimes in anger about the kind of treatment we receive (here and here).
I am lucky to have great women in my life; in my family and in my friends. As we continue to go through the third breast cancer diagnosis in our family—first Susie, then Annie and now me—I can barely keep track of all the women who send me support in the form of messages, cards, treats, phone calls and love. The tulips above were sent from one great woman—my friend Tracy—to another great woman—my daughter Annie. My friends take care of me and my family and I live in gratitude every day.
That’s why I am sharing a recent Facebook post with you. On my birthday I posted a plea for women to remember to get their mammograms and it got a lot of attention in comments, shares and “likes.” Some of my friends confessed to having forgotten to do it or were remiss in rescheduling a canceled appointment. A few others texted me after completing their appointments. (Yay, you!!) Another reminded me about breast self-exams and how easy they are to do—at least monthly. It was an amazing response! In fact, there are a couple of women I need to check with to make sure they followed through.
If you’re a woman, know a woman or love a woman, please, please encourage them to get their mammograms regularly. Sometimes you’ll have to fight your insurance company to get one, but honestly—rally the troops and get some help for it. It’s so important to use all the tools we have to keep breast cancer from stealing our lives, because that’s what cancer does. Even in my case, which is Stage 0, my life is different now from before I got the news. My body has undergone two surgeries and I still have to undergo radiation and anti-hormone treatment (although the jury’s still out on that one). Mostly, I’m fine—I forget about it more than I think about it. But if I ever need a reminder about what cancer can do to a body, all I have to do is look at my daughter. She is strong and committed and kind of unbelievable in how she’s handling everything she’s going through, but there’s no doubt her life has changed drastically since the day she was told she had breast cancer.
Here's the post and the picture that went with it.
Here's what I'd love for my birthday: If you *had* a mammogram appointment but canceled it--reschedule it. If you haven't had yours yet and have been meaning to make the appointment--make it. If you think you're too young--you're not. If your insurance is fighting you--fight back. (I'll help you.) If you're a man--get the gene testing. If you're afraid to because it hurts--you're right--it does. I've had six mammograms (including the MRI) in the last 3 months and they're medieval and excruciating, but get one anyway.
My sister Susan Allison died from breast cancer that metastasized into ovarian cancer. My daughter Annie is living with Stage 4 breast cancer that has moved into her liver and skin and now I have been diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS. That doesn't mean it's gone, they just can't find anymore. Yet.
Get your tests...whatever you need. Talk about it, share about it, fight the insurance companies and challenge the standard-of-care. If you need any help or support or someone to talk to, let me know. God knows I talk about it all the time.
Please. That's what I want for my birthday this year.
It’s actually what I want every day.
A list of the links embedded above:
Let's Hear It For Quiet Women!
Good Luck to You, Emma Thompson
Thank you for your lovely words (insert heart emoji here). In general, teachers don't take care of themselves and I plead guilty on this score. Last month I got a long overdue mammogram and I am cancer-free. I have a good life but I wish I could switch places with Annie. She has a good life too.
Just got my yearly mammogram a week ago and all good. I've been called back in 3 times over the years now due to dense breast tissue and "suspicious" areas, and all have turned out to be more dense breast tissue or a harmless cyst. I will NOT miss getting this done and I always celebrate a good result big time. I have friends who have gone through the breast cancer thing and I can't even imagine not getting a mammogram every year. Actually my doctor calls them in after the yearly GYN appointment so it's hard to avoid even if you wanted to with her! So grateful for all the technology that helps so much. Still thinking of you and your Annie a lot.