I have heard people complain that too much attention is paid to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month when there are so many other diseases that also deserve some publicity.
Yes, there is a sea of pink jerseys, pink jewelry, pink bake ware, pink candy and pink everything. What about lung cancer? What about melanoma? What about sarcoma? Do they even have colors?
The older I get, the more people I know who are afflicted by this far-reaching disease. For every one person I know with another form of cancer, I know three with breast cancer.
The 20th Annual Race for the Cure in Downtown Toledo is Sept. 29.
My aunt, Kim Cousino, will be participating. She found out she had noninvasive ductal carcinoma this time last year.
She had a lumpectomy and went through radiation. She is now cancer-free. She told me if she had to get breast cancer, this was the type to get. She considers herself lucky.
That’s a reason to wear pink.
A high school classmate, Michelle (Zieber) Morrell, died Sept. 15 from metaplastic breast cancer — one of the worst types of breast cancer.
Following her journey online was heart-wrenching. As she became too weak to post updates, her husband got online for her.
One of the last things I read from her was Aug. 4. It stated:
“Just found out from Dr. I only have 4-5 weeks to live if this current treatment doesn’t work! The cancer is spreading at a fast pace. Scary to think in a month I could be with God up in heaven. Obviously we’re praying this does not happen so soon. I’ve had several offers for help and the best way you can help is to pray. Thank you for all of your support this past year.”
Morrell left behind her husband and two young daughters.
That’s a reason to wear pink.
I had my own breast cancer scare five years ago when a lump was discovered during my yearly exam.
I had to live with that news until a doctor could see me a week later. I had reason to be scared. My mom’s two aunts had breast cancer; their mother had it, too.
As it turned out, the lump was a lymph node that had traveled from my armpit to my right breast. No surgery. No chemo. No radiation.
I was cancer-free.
That’s a reason to wear pink.
