Breast Cancer in the Family

[teechur]

Sadly my sister, Kim, called me last week to tell me that she's been diagnosed with breast cancer. It really freaks me out on two levels. Mainly I am concerned for her. She is a healthy woman, a runner, who takes excellent care of her body. I don't WANT her to be sick! We didn't grow up together and we're just now forging a wonderful relationship.

I also am scared because it is "in the family." That makes me at a higher risk for breast cancer.

So I am taking this time to remind EVERYONE to get a mammogram every year after 40, earlier if anyone in your family has ever had it. I was stupid. I skipped last year.

I am making an appointment today.

[April_M]

I'm sorry to hear about your sister, Tory! I hope she beats the cancer. Thank you for this reminder. It does take these kinds of wake up calls sometimes to remind us to take care of ourselves. I'm still fairly young (33), but I had a mammogram at 30, will have another at 35, and then every year after 40.

[teechur]

Kim had her mastectomy on the 18th and it went very well. The doctor said it wasn't as invasive as it appeared, and the initial pathology on the lymph nodes showed that her nodes appeared to be cancer free. So very very good news at this juncture!