I was blown away with the news that a close friend who was incredibly supportive of me during my ordeal has just been diagnosed with breast cancer too.  I can't tell you how much this info disturbs me -- I was in a funk for several days over the holidays.  I feel much better after talking to her last night.  It looks like she may be able to have a lumpectomy and avoid radiation or chemo, as she caught it early with her yearly mammogram.  She has an MRI and follow-up mammogram this morning, and I'm hoping you might say a prayer or send good vibes her way.

What disturbs me most about my friend's diagnosis is that it confirms that we can't trust the numbers we're fed of women facing this disease, or the latest recommendations from the controversial government study released a few months ago.  Since I was diagnosed less than a year ago, I've now had 4 friends diagnosed!  Every one of them was either proactive by noticing changes themselves, or by finding the cancer in a timely mammogram.  I think "women's intuition" is a wonderful gift, and when it comes to our health we can't turn our heads away from what we know or feel in our guts.  If you have a family history of breast cancer, start getting those mammograms EARLY!!  If you have no family history that you know of, when you're 40 start getting a yearly mammogram!  If you can't afford it, reach out -- there are places that will provide screenings for free for women in need.  I'll help you find somewhere if you need it.  If you have info you can share with others that might help, share it!  The biggest reason I started this blog was to have a place where we could exchange information and ideas.  I can't tell you how much your feedback has helped me and many others.   

It's a new year -- a new decade.  If we pledge to be proactive about the issues we can control, especially with our health, I'll bet we can change those statistics.  Are you with me?