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What Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

One night exactly one year ago — ironically this very month — El Hub and I were sitting in our small living room watching TV when the phone rang.

El Hub answered the call: “Hello?”

“Hi, my darling son,” said his mom.

“Hi, Mom,” he answered, and his eyes locked on me, his face a mask of worry.

It was a night just like any other, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that that’s how these things usually are, these life-changing moments. One second everything’s fine — you’re watching America’s Best Dance Crew, doing your nails on the floor when BAM!

That night started my immediate family’s personal journey through breast cancer, which we’re still working our way through. Things happened fast right after the news — a barrage of tests, long talks with doctors about options, and you’re going along for the ride because the procedures get scheduled before the news has even had time to settle.

Didi, my mother-in-law, is classified as “in remission” now. She’s fine — well, not exactly fine, but she’s hanging in there. She had a double mastectomy shortly after receiving the news last year (first one, and then, two weeks later, the other) and four rounds of chemo. Now she’s dealing with less serious (than cancer) complications resulting from the chemotherapy, as well as the mental and emotional trauma of being basically housebound and afraid for 12 months.

I know it all sounds brutal to hear… The words come flooding out from time to time, but that’s another thing about life — it has a funny way of surprising you when you least expect it.

Every October, women around the world take time to remember friends and family and to increase breast cancer awareness. They promote the importance of early detection, help to raise funds for research and treatment and offer information and support to those affected by the disease.

For us, there is no more worthy cause than this one. Breast cancer targets us (women) at a rate 100 times greater than men.

Here’s a statistic that shocked me when I read it, but one in every eight US women will develop breast cancer… That means some of us, here.

So what are we going to do about it?

Answer: we’re going to stick together.

There are many ways to help and many worthy organizations. No one can possibly support them all, but I would still like to see if we here can raise $250 by the end of the month.

I’ll match your donations (up to $250), which means that if there’s $250 on the ChipIn widget below here, then we’ll have raised $500 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the organization I’m choosing for the donation.

About Susan G. Komen

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find a cure. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, the group has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill Nancy’s promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

How to Give?

How Much to Give?

Every dollar gets us closer to that $250, but there are other ways to help. One way is by commenting on this post about your experiences, thoughts or fears about breast cancer. Ask any questions you might have, and I’ll do my best to find the answer.

This month is about getting the word out there and about reminding each of us that we’re not alone, even if we’re miles apart.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen