As you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer this past January. It was scary to say the least. I lost my mom to breast cancer when she had been the same age, and my children were the age I was when she died so the whole situation was very interesting.

I am one of the very fortunate cases. I noticed something was different over christmas and scheduled an appointment for the week my kiddos went back to school. Originally the Ob/Gyn didn’t feel what I was talking about. I showed her a different angle where she could ‘kind of’ feel it.

She sent me to imaging, ‘just in case’.  They did over 25 mammogram images, which showed nothing because I had so much fibrous tissue. Again, ‘because you feel something, lets send you to ultra sound…just in case’. 

Yes, let’s do that.

They saw it right away. An ugly black cloud. The kind a 4 year old draws when coloring a rainy day.

That was my rainy day.

I remember my husband asking to go with me, but I stubbornly told him I’d go alone. I didn’t want him to miss work. I didn’t want cancer to take ANYTHING from us. I kicked myself in the ass in that moment when I wished he was at my side. He knew better and wanted to be there for me, and I hadn’t let him.

He told me after that he’d never listen to me again. LOL!

So! What’s my point? EARLY DETECTION. KNOW YOUR BODY. PAY ATTENTION. PLEASE.

I caught it early, fortunately, before it had spread. So after a double mastectomy and reconstruction, I have to be on Tamoxifen for the next 10 years, but no chemo and no radiation.

I am so blessed. I know I have an amazing guardian angel looking out for me. I swear my mother has continued to mother from the other side ever since she went on her journey back when I was 7.

Man or woman, know your body. Pay attention, and once a month, give yourself a once over. Head to toe. See anything amiss? 

Call your doctor.

And I’ll help. Click the picture above to enter into the giveaway. You’ll have multiple actions to choose from to enter, and the more you choose the more chances to win a prepaid $100 GC.

Why am I doing this? I want you to get into the habit of looking at yourself. Really looking.

You’re worth the time.

Hugs, loves, and peanut butter.