Oh Happy Day!

Happy October 1st everyone!!

Today is the start to my favorite month and I can barely contain my excitement.

This is a month of pink, pink, pink and saving lives one day at a time. That is a HUGE reason to be happy! During the month of September, I went through WordPress and read other blogs of women who were going through breast cancer’s crazy roller coaster. As my eyes glazed over their words I felt their hurt, pain, sorrow, happiness, and strength. I felt so drawn to these women who do not know me and I made sure to let them know that someone was reading what they had to say, because sometimes that’s all you need. Although I am hidden behind my laptop, my inner feelings have been out there for you all to read and learn from my own experiences with my mom’s diagnoses.

I hope you have learned and changed your own life in some ways.

Whether you are new to my blog or been by my side reading on through the last three years, please remember that most cancers are preventable at stage 1. So fill your brains with information because it could save your life.

Like I have explained before, I didn’t know what breast cancer was until my mom was diagnosed. If you are in the same boat, here is a link to a cool little vid that can inform you more.

What is breast cancer? 

If it isn’t breast cancer, but another kind of cancer that has touched your life in some way, my hopes are still the same for you and I hope your month of awareness saved some lives as well.

OH!

Today is also my blog’s three year anniversary so…

Happy Anniversary Hold the Ribbon!

You’ve made me cry, happy, laugh, and appreciate life in ways I didn’t know possible.

So cheers to three years…

It’s coming…

October is around the corner,

And the countdown begins…

Just A Pink Month

 

October is the month
Of laughs, scares, and relief.

Scares in October for you is dressing up and jumping from your worst nightmare
For others, the worst nightmare is in them

Laughing for you is when your friend tells you a joke.
For others, laughing is showing strength.

Relief for you is when you find out you got a good grade on a test.
For others, relief is finding out that their sibling just beat the worst fear of their lives.

Celebration for you is going trick or treating.
For others, celebrations mean another day of life.

Life is short, trust yourself, and celebrate another day.

Pink is life.

– Randy Hernandez

(P.S. If you like this poem you may like this too)

Pink Pumpkin

 

It is almost Halloween which means scary monsters, spooky decorations, and pumpkin carving!

This year if you are in the Fresno/Clovis area head over to The Patch (on the corner of Herndon and Clovis). They are selling real pink pumpkins and some of the profits go to the Sisterhood of Survivors.

You may remember them from the blog post I wrote last year. Well, they are still great and still helping many women, so help them out by purchasing a cool pink pumpkin.

It is just in time for pumpkin carving parties or fun family time with the kids.

So go pick up that pink pumpkin tonight

and don’t forget to check for lumps.

Feel up those pumpkins!

Tomorrow is Halloween!

Since some of you are going to be half naked in your costumes anyways it is a great opportunity to check yourself out.

Here is the proper way to do a self examination…

In the Shower

Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

 

 

Before a Mirror

Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.

Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do.

 

 

Lying Down

Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast.

 

Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

After my mother was diagnosed I was on high alert and felt mine all the time! It is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. This is your life and a way to take control of cancer. It is simple, quick, and could be the difference between stage 1 or 4.

Happy Halloween! 🙂