Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, with the exception of a skin cancer. Statistics show that approximately “252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer” in 2017. With those high numbers, it’s likely that someone you know has been or will be diagnosed with it.
My mother-in-law was one of those unlucky women who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in late 2014 after a yearly mammogram showed a lump. Miraculously, it was found at “Stage 0” which, up to that point of time, I wasn’t aware was a real thing. It was found early enough that she could start treatment immediately and her oncologist believed she could make a full recovery.
Fortunately, the radiation was started early enough and she is now cancer-free. But those radiation months were awful to witness as a bystander. She had multiple side effects from the radiation, including fatigue, a skin reaction that wouldn’t go away and pain, to name a few. She showed me the skin reaction she was having, but her fatigue was the most noticeable. There were days when she barely got out of bed because of how exhausted she was. She had to completely stop working because, at the time of her diagnosis, she had been taking care of elderly patients and could no longer do that. But in the end, it was all worth it. As I said earlier, she made a full recovery and is still cancer-free as of today.
My grandmother, on the other hand, was not quite so lucky.
My grandmother had been diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in middle school. She was a heavy smoker throughout her life. She did quit smoking prior to the diagnosis, but unfortunately, it was too late. She had many bouts of chemotherapy, all of which were unable to prevent the disease from spreading. The cancer had spread to her breasts. In an attempt to prevent the breast cancer from spreading any further, she underwent a double mastectomy.
I met her for the second time following the double mastectomy. The first time I was approximately 2 years old and obviously have no memory of it. The second time was when I was in middle school. She lived in Texas with my grandpa, and since I’m from the east coast approximately 21 hours away, it wasn’t often we were able to make the treck down there. But we did make the trip one summer while I was in middle school, and it was one of the best summers I can remember.
I met her when she had a wrap on her head because she lost her hair. I met her when her voice was hoarse and body appeared frail. But despite these physical attributes and her diagnosis, she was full of life. I played cards with her, and often times I won, so much so that she would joke and call me a cheater. I played dominoes and other board games with her. We sat around the table talking about anything and everything until at least one in the morning every day. We went to her family’s farm and she told me stories of how she grew up in the small town of Rockdale, an hour east of Austin. We went fishing in Rockport and I learned how terrible I was but how phenomenal she was. She was an absolutely amazing cook, and she’s the reason my dad knows how to cook so well today. She was a warrior, she was courageous, and she battled as hard as she could until she couldn’t anymore.
My grandma passed away in early November that same year, just a few short months after I had visited her. That summer had been the last time I saw her alive, but it was the best summer I had had up to that point.
This October, if you are able to, consider donating to these organizations who provide free mammograms, give informational packets to those diagnosed, conduct research for better understanding of the disease, and give financial assistance to those who are diagnosed and have undergone treatment:
- National Breast Cancer Foundation
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- The Pink Fund
- The Breast Cancer Coalition Fund
It’s important to remember that no amount is too little. Whatever amount you donate will truly help someone who needs it.
Emily
Emily's Pensieve 