Driving through downtown this evening, I had my windows rolled down, enjoying the cool weather.
While stopped at the light on Jefferson Street, I was admiring the hot-pink courthouse. Then I thought, wait... Why is the courthouse pink? I glanced around and saw that most of the buildings were adorned with the familiar pink ribbon, and it clicked: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
My thoughts lingered for a moment, and I immediately returned to scrolling through my mental list of problems. I have a test Thursday. I have no washer and dryer. My boyfriend is mad at me. My parents moved away.
My life is obviously in shambles.
As I continued to pass more ribbons and 'Paint the Town Pink' signs, I thought, Well, shit. Some people have it worse than I do.
I began to contemplate what life with breast cancer would look like. I may actually be faced with serious problems, not just some temporary bullshit that was troubling me on the ride home. Hospitals. Chemo. Mastectomy. No hair. An overload of weird sympathy. Feelings of complete helplessness. Death?
That Spanish test on Thursday isn't looking so bad anymore.
If you're like me, though, you think, That's not going to happen to me until I'm like what? Fifty? And then it probably still won't happen. It's an obviously ignorant perspective I'll be honest goes through my mind when I think of breast cancer.
About a year back, my favorite professor was telling the class about her struggle with breast cancer. She told us the story to make a point, not for our sympathy. She told us that while she was in Dallas for treatment, she remembered looking at women, pacing up and down the hallways and lying limp in hospital beds. They were young women. Late 20s, early 30s. She said she was astounded at how young they were.
In 2014, there are more than 2.8 million women who are either being treated or who are survivors. The stats show that one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer sometime in her life.
One in eight. Let that number sink in.
The point is cancer doesn't care how old you are. It doesn't care if you are in a particular age range with a certain combination of genes. It can happen to anyone at anytime.
So what can we do about it? Be aware. Don't ever think you are too young to start checking yourself. Set up a time with your doctor to talk about the facts. Do your research. Above all, make sure you are getting a mammogram once a year even if your doctor tells you that it's unnecessary. And while you're driving around, haphazardly admiring the pink, honestly stop and think about all the women currently fighting breast cancer. I am sure almost every one of you reading this knows a survivor. If you know someone going through it right now, give them encouragement. Be there for them. Love them.
Because as much as we love the pink and the ribbons and the cute 'Save the Tatas' signs, we love the people they represent even more.
Do your part in Breast Cancer Awareness month by getting involved with local events.
1 Mile Fun Run October 11 - Registration begins at 7 a.m.
Aveda Breast Cancer Cut-A-Thon October 12 - 10 a.m. - 4p.m.
Together We Fight Runway Event with Train. Fight. Win. Tallahassee October 19 - 6 p.m. -8 p.m.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk October 19 - 1 p.m. - Cascades Park
Breaststroke 4 Hope Swim-a-Thon October 25 - 10 a.m. -11 a.m. - FSU Morcom Aquatics Center
Paint the Town Pink by TMH All month-long - Admire everyone's pink decorations.
Featured photo courtesy of: galleryhip.com
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, October 9, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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