Photo courtesy of Rebecca Amber
October is our busiest month of the year here at B4BC for so many reasons. Now that November is here, Health + Wellness Manager Megan Pischke is reflecting on October and what it means to her:
October is a special month. For one my birthday is in there. And another reason is, its (inter) nationally recognized as breast cancer “Awareness” or “Prevention” month. Prevention sounds better, but awareness is also so important.
To take the time to reflect on and honor the loved ones that have been lost to this disease. And to consider how many women (and men) are struggling, fighting and creating courage they never even knew they had to stand up against this disease, at this very moment. And to be aware of how many women have gone before us, paving the way, searching for relief, and a cure. For they have been the ones to try different remedies, medicines, drug trials, pills, ports, hormone replacements, IV’s, hyperthermia, implants, surgeries, scans, biopsies, ultrasound, genetic testing, blood panel after blood panel, radiation, chemo, and all the other stuff that may or may not go along with someone’s breast cancer diagnosis. Because of them, we know numbers and create statistics, and ultimately “plans” for the next persons care. And because of those women (and men), we know a lot.
Doctors, many different kinds of Doctors, know a lot, and this is information that could save your life, and help us grow as a collective healing society. It could possibly help your daughter, or your sister, or your wife, or your best friend. And thankfully for the world wide web, more and more of this information is available to us, so we may also help in creating our own path of healing. Attending “cancer University” so to speak. I speak from personal experience here- I believe our survival is dependent on many things. I guess it depends on where your belief system lies. But this is a multi-faceted healing process here, cancer is complicated.
When I was diagnosed, my spirit was shattered, and aside from losing my breast, I knew there were parts of me that were never going to be the same. Although dim at times, there was light, and I constantly reached for it. I for some reason knew that I was not only going to get rid of the cancer and the things that were “eating” away at my body and spirit, but I was going to grow into a space much bigger than me, and partly because of all those who had gone before me. And I found salvation in knowing that what Im going through will assist others in ways I couldn’t see at the time, but now am beginning to understand. I am part of the healing matrix, and so are you. The one I looked for when I started my own journey. I tried a bunch of different drug combos, I had IV’s for days, years, I kept my hair during chemo treatments by freezing my scalp, I had a full mastectomy/lymph removal with (close) but good margines, I had two vision saving surgeries after chemo, I learned to pray, I learned to meditate, I made friends with my spirit, I learned to sit still and be ok with it, and most of all I learned how to love even the broken parts of me.
This disease affects so many, in so many different ways, on so many different levels. While we are here, I believe we all have a responsibility to ourselves to not only be taking care of our bodies, but talking care of and honoring our spirits as well. The mind body spirit connection creates an unimaginable strength, and its something be practiced and cultivated- Because you never know when you may need it.
