Pink for October

As I’m sure you all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It hits especially close to home this year as one of my close family members was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s becoming so common that it’s scary. Well, it’s always been scary, but the reality that someone we know will develop breast cancer in their lifetime is very real. The statistics say 1 in 8 women will get it. Basically this means we will all be affected by it, whether it be ourselves, a friend or family member who are actually diagnosed.

What does this mean for all of us? It means that we have to be aware. There are certain things you can do to decrease your chances of developing breast cancer. Keep your doctor’s appointments, stay in shape by exercising and eating well and give yourself a monthly breast exam. However, one thing some of you may not know is that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

I want to share with you a story of a mom in the blogosphere that wants to get her story out in hopes to help others.

Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare� or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

That post was made in July. This brave mama is now undergoing her fifth cycle of chemotherapy. If you want to read up on her progress, please visit her blog at Toddler Planet.

There are many ways to show your support. One way that makes me feel good is shopping. I know that probably sounds shallow, but if purchasing certain items can help….why not? OPI’s Pink of Hearts nail polish was created just for this cause. A heartfelt, hopeful light pink, Pink of Hearts is a shade every woman will be proud to wear because it represents the power of caring, the power of women supporting each other, and the power of pink is available to help those in need!

Visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for many more ways to show your support and lots of wonderful information on breast cancer.