To My Sisters...

For those of you who know me in the real world, you probably saw the name of this post and thought, "What is she talking about? She doesn't have any sisters." This is true. I don't have any biological sisters. But when I wrote the words "To My Sisters", I was referring to all the wonderful women out there in the world; the mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and friends. I am speaking to every women, of every age, all over the world.

Why am writing to all of you and not specifically speaking to just the ones that I happen to know personally you ask?

Because tonight I want to write about the devastating disease Breast Cancer. And every woman, everywhere, needs to here what I have to say.

Breast cancer isn't picky. It doesn't size up it's victims, hand selecting each and every woman for some admirable trait they possess. It does not restrict itself to one age group or nationality, or one group of family or one group of friends.

It just HITS and it hits HARD, devastating the lives of everyone who comes in contact with it.

In case you haven't heard, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I thought it fitting to inform you of some scary statistics. (At first I wrote scary and then deleted it. I didn't want you to think I was trying to frighten you, but then after thinking about it for a minute I realized that as matter I fact, I think I was trying to scare you... just a little bit. Not put the fear of God into you, just make you read this and maybe open your eyes a little bit to the truth behind this fierce killer.)

Did you know that...

One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.

Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.

Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.

Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.

The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present. Get one annually!!

You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty.

Pretty damn scary if you ask me.

I have a history of breast cancer in my family. My mother's mother past away when she was in her early thirties leaving my mother when she was just 15 months old. After doing some research we learned that two of my mother's aunts passed away from breast cancer as well as two of her cousins.

Luckily, my mom and her sisters are alive and well and never been diagnosed with cancer. But these statistics should not be taken lightly. Whether you have a history of the disease in your family or not, there is always a risk!

On a more positive note:

Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.

Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.

Over eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.

Bottom line, you are your best advocate against breast cancer. Do your monthly breast exams, and if you are not sure what you are doing I urge you to talk to your doctor.

I did.

I flat out told him that I was clueless when it came to doing breast exams and that I didn't know what I was even looking for. He gave me a fake "boob" for lack of a better word, placed it on my chest, and told me to find the four cancerous lumps inside. He watched me do a self exam and told me I was doing it correctly and son of a gun, wouldn't you know it, I found all four lumps!! More importantly, I felt much better about doing self exams from then on because I knew what I was looking for. If I can do it, you all can do it too. I promise it isn't scary or something to be embarrassed about. Your doctor is there to help in any way he or she can!

On an even more positive note, I have an exciting free giveaway coming up related to Breast Cancer Awareness!!!!!! (See I am not all about the doom and gloom!!! I'm actually a very positive person!).

A very talented and good friend of mine who is a Pampered Chef consultant, and happens to write a fabulous style and beauty blog called "Style 411" - www.michellestyle411.com has graciously offered to donate some totally awesome gizmos from the Pampered Chef breast cancer awareness line!!!

How awesome is that???? Could it get any better??? Well yes it can!! All you fabulous readers of mine have a chance to win these great gifts, and support the American Cancer Society at the same time!! WOOOO HOOOOO!!!

Stay tuned because in the next few days I will be announcing the Pampered Chef Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway so stay tuned!!

To all my sisters out there, take care of yourselves.