October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I didn't ask "Why me?"knowing 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Instead, I asked what I did or didn't do to be one of the statistics. I have no family history to blame on and was diligent in having screened every year. But there were quick answers. Because I had early menopause symptoms, I was put on HRT for relief. Every time I tried going off the pill, my discomfort came back. I was on it for a long time. I was overweight and my lack of energy made me too lazy to do exercise after stressful days at work. I was unhealthy and did not watch what I ate. I was extremely lucky that my cancer was caught on it's earliest stage. I had bilateral mastectomy with little pain and quick recovery. I did not need any chemotherapy,radiation or preventive oral therapy. I had a good health insurance that provided me with the best medical care. I was a hospital laboratory professional and my son was a medical resident  which made me well informed about all the procedures a cancer patient need to know. I had a husband and children whose love, care and concern deeply touched me at the time. All of these left me with a feeling of guilt. I thought of all the women who weren't  as lucky as me. I kept my diagnosis only to myself and my immediate family. I couldn't consider myself a survivor. As the years passed, I felt a responsibility to reach out and raise awareness on the importance of early detection. Today, I am proud to say that I'm a breast cancer survivor! I urge everyone to pay attention and eat well, be active, and get regular screenings. And if you are going through menopause, think twice before taking HRT!