A year ago...

A year ago I had a three month old baby, and was wondering if I was going to live to raise her and my older two children - who weren't that old (2 and 4). I was coming up with ways to leave a piece of me behind for them to remember me by so they wouldn't forget me. I was praying that my husband would be OK if I had died.

I was 30 and waiting for the results of a breast biopsy. My mom had just finished radiation the year prior to treat her breast cancer. My only hope was that we caught it early and that it wasn't aggressive. You prepare yourself for the worst, and praise God when the worst isn't what you get.

I consider myself blessed. My biopsy came back as pre-cancerous - which means it hasn't turned into cancer yet - or may never become cancerous. But we know it's there and can monitor it.

When I was going through this ordeal, I wrote a blog about it (The Big "C"). I felt it was important to share. I still feel a great need to share it.

I thought mammograms were for older women. If it weren't for a swollen lymph node in my armpit that kept giving me problems, I would have never seen a doctor. I'm glad I did. In the few weeks of know knowing, I learned a lot about breast cancer.

Generally women should get yearly mammograms beginning at the age of 40. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, you should start getting mammograms 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed. If your mother was 45 when she was diagnosed, your mammograms should start at 35.

I wouldn't choose to get mammograms on a daily basis, but they're not the horror story you may have heard. Yes they squish your boobs. Yes, it's more than a little uncomfortable, but not terribly painful. It was probably worse years ago, but most places have updated their machines by now. Once the machine takes your x-ray picture, it automatically releases your boob from it's death clutch, giving you instant relief. Besides, they're boobs - they fluff right back up.

It is important to be aware of your body. Do the monthly self examinations. Keep in mind that breast cancer can show up high on your breast to where it's not even really on your breast but above it. It can also be in your armpit. You know your body - if there's something different see your OB/GYN. If there's concern they'll direct you to a specialist. And men, breast cancer can happen to you too. Be aware of your body.

Generally, the younger you are the more aggressive the cancer is. This what had me so freaked out and expecting the worse. Don't think that just because you're under 40 you can't get breast cancer - and ladies - 40 is young. Again - I cannot stress enough - if you notice any change see your doctor.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a fact that's hard to escape, I know. But there's a major spike in spotting breast cancer in October, so it having it shoved in your face must be working.

It's true that cancer used to be an automatic death sentence, but technology has come a long way. Just because you have cancer it doesn't always mean you're going to die. The sooner you catch it the better chance you have to become a Cancer Survivor.

It may sound strange for me to go on and on when I didn't even have cancer, but the scare was enough for me. The weeks of not knowing scared the crap out of me and my family. And when I see my cancer free mom enjoy her grandkids, it gives me even more reason to be aware of my body and my health.

I don't get up on my soapbox very often, but this is my blog, and in the world of Thirty-Something at blogspot dom com I can do whatever I want! So please just take care of yourselves.