As much as I love breasts, I'm getting sick of breast cancer. It's really running rampant right now. I know they have something like an 85% 5 year survival rate now so it's not the worst thing that could possibly happen to you. But it still pretty horrible. There's usually one or more surgeries, then chemo or radiation treatments to follow. Nasty, nasty stuff.
I don't tend to publish problems but this is really driving me nuts and I'm sick of it. Last year my aunt Angie had breast cancer, she was treated, had a double mastectomy anyway, and after chemo treatments she's now cancer free. Then my sister-in-law got breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and is technically cancer-free now, but still undergoing radiation treatments. Now our friend & fellow triathlete Gina has breast cancer, and she's in stage 2 with some lymph node involvement. She started chemo last friday after having a double mastectomy a couple of weeks ago. This is too much! It's just too much.
Gina wanted to have a head shaving party. She's going to lose her hair during chemo, so she wanted to shave it off anyway. In 2012, she shaved her head for a St Baldrick's event so her and the kids were used to it. So we agreed to come on by and participate. Gina, her husband Joe, and one of their kids shaved their heads, and so did I to show support. I have to admit, it's a decent look for me but I don't think I can keep it shaved for the entire time she's in chemo.
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| Before |
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| She took me down |
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| Joe finished the job |
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| My hair is so thick we couldn't get a razor blade to shave it and had to go to an old electric razor |
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| Not a bad look! I gots a decent dome. |
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| Joe went cue ball too |
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| Me and Gina |
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| Me and Joe |
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| Threw some earrings in to complete the Mr Clean look |
I need to do something else. I don't know what yet, but this is too rampant. I know I'm getting older, but I'm not so old that my peers should be getting cancer. Something isn't right here. I want to get to the bottom of it, or help someone who is currently trying to get to the bottom of it. I don't know how yet, and my head is kind of swimming right now with build phase training stuff and work stuff and nutrition stuff, but I'm going to figure something out eventually and would appreciate any suggestions. Please keep my family and friends in your prayers.
3 comments:
I am so sorry to hear that so many people in your life have been impacted by this awful disease. My aunt had breast cancer which eventually morphed into other forms of cancer. She put up an amazing fight for about 18 years, some of which were spent in remission, but she lost her battle last year which was heart breaking. And now, the sister of one of my best friends found out she has breast cancer which is awful because they lost their mom to breast cancer. It's especially freaky because my friend's sister has a daughter that is the same age that she was when her mom got cancer... So it feels like deja vu for them in the very worst way. I wish there was more I could do as well. F'ing cancer sucks so much.
I'm so sorry to hear that so many of your friends and family members are being impacted by cancer. What a shitty, shitty disease. One of my aunts passed away this spring after a particularly awful battle with cancer. It's just so sad how it can come and take over one's body so quickly.
That is great your friends held a head shaving party, I bet your friend felt so loved and supported!
What a great friend you are.
And your family/friends are in my thought.
D found out this year he is has a chance of getting breast cancer because he tested positive for the BRCA gene. I don't know if having to find a health care provider who would perform the test on a man, or getting the actual results was worse.
But we know and we know to stay alert.
F*ck cancer.
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