GET CHECKED!

I hope Lolly doesn't mind, I snagged her cute tag, and it will seem like I'm copying her. I want to help spread the word! In actuality... I'd been thinking on posting about Breast Cancer Awareness Month... as pink ribbons are flourishing this month. In the last 1 year and 5 months, that pink ribbon has meant a whole new thing to me....because my DAD has breast cancer. And like Lolly, I've been inundated with people who want to correct me, thinking I meant my mom. Just after his diagnosis, he stressed to all of us kids to have a mamagram done. When I went in for my initial appointment, my doctor (who considers himself pretty up-to-date) gave me an incredulous look. When I explained, he immediately went to work at finding more about this. (Military Doctors NEVER do this.) As he came to find... there isn't much information about MALE breast cancer....whether it's hereditary or not or what. Here, the only commercials we get are PBS type commercials. As a kid, my sisters and brothers and I laughed at how goofy they are...and they haven't changed much. The one thing I have noticed is the "breast cancer awareness" commercials since my dad's diagnosis. EVERY SINGLE ONE is geared towards making WOMEN aware of doing their own monthly self checks, or the stats of WOMEN getting breast cancer. I always end of making some comment about how they should include MEN. In reality, the statistics are that 1,600 men will be diagnosed and 400 will die this year. And, the first thing my husband said, when I wondered allowed how my dad could miss a golf-ball sized lump in his own breast, was "Well, I'd never think to check mine either.."So, it is a passion of mine to make people aware. So, my friends.....check yourselves...and then check out your husbands. Or have them check themselves. Because it is a lot more common than you'd think. And had my dad been doing his own self exams...
I believe his prognosis would be completely different.