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Over the years many of us on IOW have talked openly and honestly about family, friends and/or their own battles with cancer. The past three weeks have been a reminder to me that we need to have that talk again. Burying one of our closest friends last week at 58 was a reminder that early detection is key to beating this disease. And along with early detection comes the need for a yearly phyiscal, no one can detect there is a problem if you don't go to a doctor and make them aware of your family history.
In my family cancer is on both sides of the family with nineteen family members having twenty-six episodes of cancer over the years; Dad's side of the family has involved five generations, Mom's side three generations.
My friend that died last week was 11 days away from dying before any of us close to the family knew he was sick. His Dad has had cancer before and actually this week will get test results back that will confirm that he has cancer again in another part of his body at the age of 89. The doctors have all ready told them the type of cancer they are sure he has without the test. My point even though my friends Dad had cancer he himself hadn't seen a doctor since 2006 until it was too late to do anything for him.
31 years ago this month my Dad's sister was just six weeks from dying when we found out she was sick, she more than any other family member has taught me the importance of a yearly phyiscal. Yes, I know the doctors can miss something and you can still go undetected even if you are having a phyiscal. But, I personally believe starting the routine of a yearly phyiscal at a early age for me is what has allowed me to live 13 years longer than any of the females on my Dad's side of the family before me.
So I am asking all of you to take a look at your family history and if you all ready don't make a yearly phyiscal a part of your normal routine......start today. The life you save will be your own. If you see a friend loosing weight and you know they aren't dieting question them when the last time they saw a doctor was? Pay attention to the warning signs.
A few weeks before learning our friend was ill I met a remarkable young 11 year old, Brandon was hosting a Make A Wish event I attended with some friends. None of us really knew Brandon's story nor did we know Brandon or his family, during the event I made a point of talking to Brandon's Mom and learned he not only had never had cancer but he and his family had never known anyone that had cancer. Brandon had set a goal at his young age to raise $6000.00 for Make A Wish and back in March he had raised $3000.00 on his birthday, he then came up with the idea to hold the event I attended all on his own. Brandon touched my heart on this day, he personally went to everyone in attendance and thanked them for coming, helped them in any way he could and was so impressive you just knew in that first meeting he was a young man that had learned compassion for others at a young age. I will admit both Brandon's Mom and I were tearing up before our conversation was over, she should be so proud of the young man she has raised. I hope Brandon's life is never touched by having a friend or family member diagnosed with cancer.
I invite all of you to share your stories on how cancer has touched your lives and help get the word out about how important early detection is.
Patti
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