Monday, May 10, 2010

One Centimeter Missing!


I joined the Revlon Walk “the fight against cancer” for the second time last week-end. The first time was over ten years ago. I raised a lot of money and walked it innocently and proudly, knowing I was doing something good. The second time, having gone through breast cancer my-self, was more personal and grounding experience for me! More people have joined the cause through the years. There were families wearing t-shirts with the pictures of the family member they had lost. Honoring and remembering their loved one this way, must also have a therapeutic affect on them. There were also families all walking together in support of their mother - the breast cancer survivor. It was so touching to watch all this take place. I remember when I was told by my surgeon who performed a surgical biopsy on me: “I have a good news and a bad one!” I was so confused! If it was cancer what could be the good news? The good news was that it was stage zero. The cancer had not spread through the duck. Now that I know what this means, I understand that I am one of the very lucky ones due to early detection. Another surgery and six weeks of radiation later, I have been going through hormone therapy for the past year and a half. At first it was hard to adjust to the mood swings triggered by the pills. Even though I am lucky my breasts don’t look that different, it is on my mind that one centimeter of flesh is missing in my left breast. Also the chance of the cancer coming back is more frightening than the first time. However the important thing is that I am still here! For me and all those women affected by this disease, life should not be about fear, but about survival and living it even more than before. Death does not matter. Eternity matters and eternity is now!