Breast Cancer Knows No Age
By Jenni Haswell
I don't know if it's my generation or simply a habit of humans, but when it comes to breast cancer, I tend to have this thought: "I'm only 30. Breast cancer is nothing I need to worry about." Recently, that thought has changed.
My boss's daughter is 22 years old and got married this past May. Right before the wedding, she discovered a lump in her breast, but wanted to focus on the wedding and decided to wait to have it checked out. In a matter of two weeks, that lump went from the size of a golf ball to the size of a baseball. Her family finally convinced her to see a doctor. Results? Stage 3C breast cancer. Doctor gave her an 11% chance to survive a year. She chose to get a second opinion and this time around saw an entire team of doctors. They gave her the same diagnosis but at least they were willing to try treatment. She has to have 16 chemo treatments and will undergo her fourth one this week. The tumor will be removed and there's a chance that her ovaries will be, too. The tumor is smaller, her hair is all gone, she's lost a lot of weight, and now struggles with depression. This is serious. She's not out of the woods, there's no guarantee she'll be alive this time next year, but there's hope.
The past few months, my heart has broken for this young woman. Not only is she going through chemo and everything that comes with it, but she may never have children because the cancer she has is fed by estrogen, which means to stop it from spreading, they may need to remove her ovaries. She is going through pain that no one should ever have to go through.
I don't know much about breast cancer, so today I asked my boss (who is also a nurse) if there was one thing she could tell people about breast cancer, what would it be? This is her reply, "I would want them to know that breast cancer knows no age or gender. Young. Old. Male. Female. It can happen to anyone. I would then add that everyone should do monthly checks."
So that's exactly what I want you to know. Breast cancer knows no age. The risk of getting breast cancer does increase with age, but it can still happen at any time. Please don't think it can't happen to you just because you're young. Please don't think your nieces or nephews can't get it just because they're young.
Which leads me to point two: Breast cancer doesn't care about your gender. Yes, it's rare for men to get breast cancer, but it can still happen. Men should do regular checks, as well.
So please, from one aunt to another, don't think that you're exempt from this horrible disease. Please don't think your nieces (or nephews) are exempt from it either. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor the tough, and maybe sometimes embarrassing, questions. They are there to help. Please do monthly checks and if you don't know how, then ask at your next doctors appointment. And please don't be afraid to have that uncomfortable conversation with your loved ones encouraging them to do checks and talk to their doctors, as well.
In order to ensure that we're around for a long time for our nieces and nephews, we need to make sure we're taking care of ourselves. So please, I beg you, do just that.
Jenni currently lives in Battle Creek, Michigan. She is an Auntie By Relation to 1 niece and 1 nephew, an Auntie By Choice to 4 nieces, 4 nephews, and many more to come! She has a degree in Music Ministry, was a missionary for 3 years, and serves at her local church. When she's not working, she is either spending time with the kids in her life (whether in person, Facebook, or texting) or enjoying some down time and watching Doctor Who.
Published: October 29, 2014