Thursday, October 13, 2011

please be aware


Six years ago, I thought I had a pretty good vocabulary but I didn't know the meaning of "metastatic" until I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, only 15 per cent of women with mets will still be alive 5 years after their diagnosis. I'm one of the lucky ones ( stats are bogus anyway).

I think one of the reasons I get so angry at campaigns aimed at "saving [insert infantile name for 'breasts' here]" is that, for those of us with metastatic breast cancer, the breast was only the beginning. Our cancer has spread to our bones, brains, liver, lungs or skin. We are "the bad girls of breast cancer."

And we want you to know about us.

We are:










Delaney

Kristina


Susannah


And we remember:












Renee

9 comments:

Judy K. said...

Thank you for this.

I cried when I saw that long list. S*t.

Lene Andersen said...

that's a really long list...

Unknown said...

It truly is a long list and the sad part is their are lists like this everywhere, I lost my mother to cancer last year and I pray for anyone who has it, I really think I would like to get your book for my 15 year old daughter who wants to be an oncologist now.

Debbi said...

The list is sad...
And even tho I knew of "mets"
It sure didnt effect me like the worry of it does NOW.
You are all amazing to me.
Sorry I haven't been around , but my first chemo knocked me for a loop. My Dr put me back on steroids at day 11 after...and I feel like a new person now..and am trying to catch up on my bloggie friends
Debbi

Babz Rawls Ivy said...

Hello dear One!

Thinking of you and smiling as I remember BlogHer San Francisco! I hope to see you next year at BlogHer NYC.

I have re-aired your interview with me for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I am going to have my breast check up & mamogram on Monday.

Thank you for raising our consciousness. You are AMAZING!
((HUGS))

laurie said...

Judy and Babz- hugs back to you.

Lene - yes it is.

Debbi - welcome back! glad to hear that you are feeling better.

Tammi - email me at laurie at notdoneyet dot ca re the book!

Dee said...

Hugs to you, Laurie! Thank you!

Cáit said...

Thanks Laurie

Eileen said...

Thank you, thank you - both for having me on your list AND for making an important point.

Sadly, this list is very short, compared to the numbers who are actually living or dying with this disease every year. More than 40,000 people died this year from MBC. THAT is a long list, a devastating one.

Nothing Pink about that...