Its time to get checked!

I had a little cry on Saturday. Our little whanau was all dressed in pink and participating in the Dove Star Walk raising money for Breast Cancer Research. I was looking at the most loved people in my universe - my brother, sister, sister-in-law, children, nieces and nephews and I thought of my mother. I think she would have been proud of us all dressed in her favourite colour and the fact that her daughter was walking!! I thought of her and the significance of what we were doing and the many people that were doing the same thing for people that they loved..... It turned out to be a great evening and one that was full of love and a determined focus to find a cure!

These are the lessons that I have learnt about breast cancer.

1) The early bird gets the worm

Early detection of breast cancer is the best. Self examinations are recommended at a certain time of the month and at breastcancer.org there is an illustrated five step method that you can follow. It also tells you what to look out for. If you haven't done a self-examination - have a go. You can save your life by having a good feel of yourself or if you don't want to - there may be someone else who can do it for you ;-)

2) Breast screening

Free breast screening for women aged 45 to 69 years is provided by the national breast screening programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa. The aim of breast screening is to find very small cancers before a lump can be found on the breast. Early treatment has the best chance of success. I have friends (sisters) whose mother had breast cancer and because of that they treat themselves to a mammogram every year at their own cost. My sister and I also do this - but we are not as vigilant as our friends - and something we need to work on. I have done it through the health system because we have family history of cancer, it takes longer but costs nothing - if that is an option for someone.

3) This is a problem

According to http://www.cancernz.org.nz/ and many other sources, breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women and is the leading cause of cancer death in women in New Zealand. Each year in New Zealand about 1900 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 600 die of the disease. This should serve as a timely reminder to get checking ladies ;-)

4) Amazing People

I have meet the most amazing people through my mum's battle with breast cancer - and every one of those people are fantastic! These people lifted my mother's spirits and I will always remember them with gratitidue and love for treating her with respect and genuine kindness. I went with her to her hair appointments throughout and after chemotherapy which were emotional. You don't realise how much hair means to a woman until she loses it all. The most touching episode was when my beautiful mother went to a bra fitting with her prosthetic breast. I sat with her as she cried and the lovely ladies there let us be. It was such a moving experience that I will never forget. And of course - the people of Look Good Feel Better who guided my mother around how to use makeup to give her eyebrows that had dropped out during chemo. And then, last but not least the good folk at Hospice -they really make the end soooo comfortable considering!!

5) Hope, Joy and Love
Although breast cancer is a terrible disease that many have battled and won and some have battled and lost - it is a disease of hope joy and love. The highs of hope are life altering. It defintely teaches us about anticipating the future and settling for a better tomorrow. The joy that you find being with breast cancer sufferers is contagious. Even in the deepest darkest times - there is joy to be alive, joy to be with family. But the biggest thing I know about breast cancer is that out of it comes love, whether it be a love of life or people. This is what breast cancer has taught me and I am grateful for that.

To the ladies that I know that have had this disease and have beat it - congratulations, to those that are battling - kia kaha, and to those who have lost their courageous fight - you are loved and missed every day.

Yours in friendship

Mxox