Words from the Heart

Cancer is one word that conjures up images of the Grim Reaper faster than many others do.  However, modern medical science has come a long way in battling this insidious bandit of life. Over the years, I have lost two paternal aunts, several dear friends and a large number of acquaintances to breast cancer. What is sad is that in many of the cases, death could have been prevented had they taken the time to do a self-exam, reporting to the doctor that they had found a lump. I am not sure why it is that women are afraid to go to the doctor when they find a lump.  Perhaps it is modesty, or fear that they are being overly cautious. Perhaps it is difficult to fit into a schedule that is filled with demands from family, friends and/or career. Whatever the reason, it is wiser to make the call, see the doctor and deal with the truth. This week I will be walking, again, in the local Breast Cancer Awareness walk. As I walk, I will be meditating on those who have lost the battle,...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With two sisters, four daughters, one step-daughter and two granddaughters (a third due in January), not to mention my Mom and Mother-in-Love, I am surrounded by wonderful women without leaving home! Needless to say, the topic of mammaries comes up often. All kidding aside, I have always talked frankly with my girls about caring for their bodies. This included self breast exams and, once they got to the age, yearly mammograms. We have all been blessed. Too many of our loved ones and acquaintances have not been as lucky. Sunday at church we were asked to pray for a young mother of four who just found out she has aggressive breast cancer. It breaks my heart every time I hear about another woman struggling to survive this disease. Martha Weinman Lear wrote in Heartsounds , "Women agonize...over cancer; we take as a personal threat the lump in every friend's breast." http://www.amazon.com/Heartsounds-Martha-weinman-lear/dp/067...