{"id":82,"date":"2015-09-17T18:28:53","date_gmt":"2015-09-18T01:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjlabeff.wordpress.com\/?page_id=82"},"modified":"2021-02-22T12:54:18","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T12:54:18","slug":"mjs-causes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/mjlabeff.com\/mjs-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"MJ’s Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"
My passion for volunteering with the American Cancer Society started in January 2010 when I discovered a lump in my breast. Of course, this happened on a Friday night, and I spent the next 48 hours panicked, scared and fearing the unknown. Besides having my husband by side, the only other comfort I had was: I had my first mammogram in November 2009. I was at my doctor\u2019s office for my annual physical, and she mentioned my medical insurance allowed for 1 baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 39. I\u2019ll admit.\u00a0 I\u2019m a huge chicken when it comes to anything medical. Seriously, I can\u2019t drive by a hospital without getting the heebie-jeebies.\u00a0 However, I took my doctor\u2019s recommendation seriously and agreed to schedule a mammogram that very month. Call it fate, God or whatever higher power but that decision kept me sane over those long 48 hours.\u00a0 I had a mammogram less than 2 months ago and the results were negative. I held onto that knowledge like a child clings to a security blanket, thinking if I\u2019m diagnosed I\u2019ve caught it early. <\/p>\n
Finally, Monday morning dawned, and I called my doctor. I was sent for another mammogram and then recommended to schedule a small needle biopsy. Remember, I mentioned I hate anything medical? Well, you guessed it. I put off the biopsy for several months. Denial is a wonderful thing. I allowed my life to tick-on until March and then I scheduled the biopsy. I was beyond lucky. I had a fluid filled cyst.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll never forget the doctor pushing a greenish substance into a small glass vial. She held the vial for me and my husband to see and said, \u201cYou\u2019re okay. You can go back to work.\u201d Honestly, if she uttered anything else I don\u2019t remember. My husband and I sat stone still. Puzzled expressions coated both of our faces. Several more minutes passed. I mustered the courage and asked her, \u201cWhen do I need to come back for another mammogram?\u201d She assured me I was okay; follow up mammograms weren\u2019t needed but to remember to schedule my next one when I turned 40.<\/p>\n
The very day we left her office we found out a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her situation was severe. She had a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation and a long battle ahead of her. Then I had another friend diagnosed. She had a lumpectomy and radiation. From there the number of women I knew who were being diagnosed with breast cancer seemed to grow. So, my passion for supporting the American Cancer Society isn\u2019t about me\u2014 it\u2019s about the women I know and even those I don\u2019t who have faced down the demon breast cancer and survived!<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, please contact the nearest American Cancer Society (ACS) for support. ACS is a non-profit organization dedicated to offering programs to serve the needs of cancer patients, their caregivers, family and friends and to funding research to find better treatments and a cure.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d like to share your story about how cancer has touched your life I\u2019d love to hear it.<\/p>\n
For more information on my current fundraising efforts and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer\u00a0Tucson event click here\u00a0FINISH THE FIGHT<\/a>. <\/p>\n To learn more about one woman’s fight against breast cancer, and how she’s empowering women undergoing breast cancer treatment visit nadiastrong.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My passion for volunteering with the American Cancer Society started in January 2010 when I discovered a lump in my breast. Of course, this happened on a Friday night, and I spent the next 48 hours panicked, scared and fearing the unknown. Besides having my husband by side, the only other comfort I had was: … Continue reading MJ’s Causes<\/span>