Breast Cancer and Mammograms

I wrote about Breast Cancer awareness during Breast Cancer awareness month in back in October.

http://www.bettinareidgroup.ca/Blog.php/october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month

Today I am writing again as a woman, wife, mother of girls, sister, daughter, niece, grandaughter...and friend.

Another one of my close friends was in the hospital today to have a cancerous lump removed from her breast. The day after I wrote my blog back in October another close friend shared with me that her mother-in-law was also diagnosed with breast cancer and going in for a lumpectomy.

Thankfully both women found out they had Breast Cancer after having their regular mammograms. I don't even want to think of what could have happened had they not gone for their mammogram. Now all we can do is hope for the best and be there to support them.

But the real reason for today's blog was just how shocked I was to find out that only 1 out of the 4 friends I asked today goes for their regular scheduled mammograms. When the stats are that 1 out of 3 women will get Breast Cancer....it scared me to think any one of these women without having had their mammogram, they reduce their chances of early detection and take the risk if they have cancer that it spreads and becomes deadly without having a chance to fight it. It's not something any of us wants to think about, but already 2 of my very close friends one at 30 years and the other at 50 years old have had Breast Cancer. Both very healthy women... they are only 2 of the many women that I know or know of that have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Nowadays I cannot imagine anyone not knowing someone affected by this nasty disease.

Here in BC the province will cover Mammograms for women 40+ years, if you haven't gone for yours....put it in your calendars to do. It's not just about you, it's about those that you love. Encourage the women in your life to get theirs done too. Do what I did and ask those women if they have been getting theirs done regularly and I am sure you will be surprised at how many haven't had the screening done.  

All provinces will sceen for breast cancer if you are between 50-69, but each province has different guidelines for screening from age 40-49. For screening locations in BC click on the following link:http://www.smpbc.ca/Program/Locations+and+Mobile+Services.htm