SavvyHealthGirl's Blog

My grandmother is a 15 year breast cancer survivor and I am so blessed to still have her in my life, telling me not to worry one bit that I haven’t found a husband yet! Haha, I guess only a grandmother could truly love you enough to not wonder why at 36, seemingly intelligent and attractive, that you are not married and haven’t given her great-grand children. Well, I adore her for that and all of the wisdom she bestows upon me. Wisdom such as knowing how to take care of yourself and how to gracefully overcome the boulders life can throw at you.

I was only a teenager when I discovered three small lumps in my left breast. Not knowing why my father had a look of pain and extreme worry on his face, I knew something wasn’t right. It was also the pain I would have in the middle of the night from lying on my stomach. that I knew something was wrong. I had my first mammogram at the age of 17. I can’t recall if I had ever even heard the words “breast cancer.” I would often hear my father talking about my grandmother’s illness, but I don’t know if initially he used “breast cancer” to describe it. I don’t even recall the OB-GYN using these two words, until my father asked “Could it be cancer?” What powerful and frightening words for a 17-year old to hear, just 4 weeks before she is to head off to college and all of her life ahead of her.

The OB-GYN said I was blessed, the results were benign cysts and they would diminish with a change in diet. Which they did in a matter of months. No soda, no fried foods, not a lot of sweets. More vegetables, salads and healthier options to balance my very “teenage” diet. What a small price to pay to keep my breasts and stay healthy. It was at that moment, that I first learned about self-breast exams, mammograms and breast cancer. It was 1990, almost 20 years ago.

Apparently, I have lumpy breasts and at 17 it was challenging for the technician to locate the cysts with the mammogram. Even now it’s still a challenge. Which is why it is so important that women do self breast exams. You will know what is a normal lump and what is not so normal. The more you know about your breasts, the more proactive you can be when in your health care provider’s office. There is still so much to be done around awareness of breast cancer, breast health and breast masses. Ladies, do your part, know your body. Take care of it with the upmost of care, love and adoration. Spread the word!

Live life, live healthy!