I Just Beat Cancer. Here’s what I wish YOU knew…
by Robin
On December 30th of last year I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Now, 9 months later, I am mostly done treatments and all tests point to success. I have beat cancer (with the help of incredible medical science and excellent health care providers, of course).
I’m not sure yet how much I want to share about my cancer experience. I think I need to get some distance before showing this vulnerability online. This sort of sharing can feel like inviting people into your home where most bring sincere kindness and others bring sharp knives. There is a cruelty online that is way too prevalent (and encouraged by algorithms).
But here’s what I am prepared to share, the most important thing I did that saved my life: I got a preventative screening test, in this case, a mammogram.
I had no family history of breast cancer, and few risk factors. I had no lumps and felt no symptoms. I became eligible for a mammogram in March 2024 and I put off getting the test, for no good reason. It was just inconvenient; I couldn’t be bothered. It took my doctor kindly nagging me, and making the the appointment for me. It just didn’t matter enough to me then.
Here’s what I know now: It really f@#%ing matters. That test saved me.
And preventative screening could save you too.
And that’s what this carefully vulnerable post is about. I want to encourage you to show up and save your own life.
There is no situation where delaying the detection of cancer helps you. Early detection is absolutely key to stopping the spread of cancer in your body. And stopping the spread is what saves your life.
The uncontrolled spread of cancer is what kills you. Stopping the spread is what saves your life. But first, you need to know that cancer has moved in.
You have this one precious life. It’s absolutely worth mustering the courage to be inconvenienced by cancer screening.
The downside is: a bit of time and maybe some discomfort.
The upside is: you get to keep living and loving longer in this life.
Can we agree there is more upside?
In honour of me beating cancer, I would like to celebrate with you. That celebration looks like:
- You getting that overdue mammogram done, or
- You finally doing that colonoscopy, or
- You having that weird mole looked at by your doctor/nurse practitioner.
- Or you doing whatever it is that you’ve been ignoring in hopes that it goes away.
If it’s cancer, it won’t just go away on it’s own. It never works like that. An early diagnosis is your best (and maybe only) chance to get cancer out of your body, and live more of your precious life.
Will you help me celebrate? Will you make that appointment and go?
Robin and Ed are a DIY-loving couple with over 25 years of design and build experience. Also, Robin is a Nutritionist and former Registered Dietitian and Ed is an award-winning Business Educator. We share strategies for living a rich life on a DIY budget: creative money-savvy ideas for a stylish home, healthy meals and family fun. Our work has been published in the pages of Do It Yourself, Farmhouse Style and Better Homes & Gardens magazines.
Oh yes, I will celebrate with you. Xoxo
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Me too! I am 14 years out from my breast cancer diagnosis. I get my mammo’s every year (in fact my next one is next month). I see my cancer doctor and gyn doctors yearly. There is a history of colon cancer so I have been getting colonoscopies more often then 10 years. It gets easier to talk about, but even now, if I think about when I was first told, I tear up. Chin up, Breast Sister! You are a survivor, not a victim! My shirt today says “In October, we wear pink. Breast Cancer Awareness”. I also encourage cancer screenings, DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. It doesn’t work like that!
🙌 Welcome fellow breast cancer warrior! I love your comment, Karen! 🙌