A Thomas Point of View | Women’s Health, Family, Faith & Breast Cancer Awareness
Well, y’all, here we are.
It’s October 31, the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Throughout October, we’ve seen the pink ribbons, awareness campaigns, fundraisers, walks, and reminders encouraging women to get their mammograms.
And while I absolutely support bringing awareness to breast cancer, I want to take a moment to talk about why this month is so personal to me.
Because for some of us, breast cancer isn’t just something we read about or see represented by a pink ribbon.
It’s a disease that has taken someone we love.
Breast Cancer Took My Cousin
Almost four years ago, I lost my cousin to breast cancer.
And let me tell you something.
There’s a difference between knowing that breast cancer exists and experiencing what it means to lose someone in your own family to this disease.
When cancer touches your family, it becomes personal.
It’s no longer simply about statistics, awareness campaigns, or medical terminology.
It’s about someone you love.
Someone whose absence is felt at family gatherings, during holidays, and in the little moments when you wish you could pick up the phone and hear their voice again.
And even though time continues to move forward, the loss doesn’t simply disappear.
Losing my cousin changed how I think about breast cancer and the importance of taking my own health seriously.
Because the reality is that having a family history of breast cancer means I cannot afford to be casual about my screenings.
My Screening Schedule Is a Little Different
Because of my family history and elevated risk for breast cancer, I follow an enhanced screening schedule recommended by my healthcare providers.
I receive my annual breast screening, and approximately six months later, I return for additional breast imaging.
So, essentially, every six months, I’m doing something to monitor my breast health.
And let me be clear.
Is it always convenient?
NO!
Do I particularly enjoy scheduling medical appointments, taking time away from work, and waiting for test results?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
And if you’ve ever waited for medical results, you know that your mind can start creating scenarios that haven’t even happened!
But here’s what I remind myself.
The temporary inconvenience of getting screened is worth the opportunity to identify a potential problem early.
I don’t get these screenings because I expect something to be wrong.
I get them because I want to give myself the best opportunity to detect a problem before it becomes more serious.
And after losing someone I love to breast cancer, that’s not something I’m willing to take lightly.
Black Women, We Need to Have This Conversation!
Now, here’s the part of this discussion that I really want us to pay attention to.
BLACK WOMEN AND BREAST CANCER.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, even though White women are diagnosed with breast cancer more often overall.
Let that sink in.
Black women aren’t necessarily developing breast cancer at higher rates, yet we’re more likely to die from it.
Breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death among Black women.
And those are statistics we cannot afford to ignore.
There are several issues that contribute to these disparities, including differences in access to timely screening, diagnosis, treatment, and quality healthcare, as well as differences in the types of breast cancer diagnosed.
We also know that Black women can face challenges having their symptoms taken seriously and accessing the care they need.
And that’s why I believe we have to become more intentional about advocating for ourselves.
WE HAVE TO STOP PUTTING OURSELVES AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR OWN PRIORITY LIST!
Now, before anybody gets offended, let me explain.
I understand how easy it is for women, especially those of us who are mothers, wives, caregivers, and career women, to put everybody else’s needs ahead of our own.
We’re making sure the children get to their appointments.
We’re reminding our spouses about theirs.
We’re checking on our parents, managing household responsibilities, working full-time, and trying to hold everything together.
But somewhere in the middle of taking care of everybody else, we have to remember something.
OUR HEALTH MATTERS, TOO!
Because we cannot continue to pour from an empty cup.
And we certainly cannot afford to ignore our own preventive healthcare while making sure everyone else receives theirs.
Know Your Family History!
One of the most important things I’ve learned is the value of knowing your family’s medical history.
And I’m not just talking about whether somebody in your family had diabetes or high blood pressure.
I’m talking about having conversations about cancer.
Who in your family has been diagnosed?
What type of cancer did they have?
How old were they when they were diagnosed?
Has anyone undergone genetic testing?
These are important conversations to have with your relatives and healthcare providers.
Because family history can influence the screening recommendations your medical team makes for you.
Some women may need to begin screening earlier or receive additional imaging based on their individual risk.
Others may benefit from a formal breast cancer risk assessment or genetic counseling.
The important thing is understanding YOUR risk and developing a screening plan that’s appropriate for YOU.
And please don’t assume that because you feel fine, there’s no reason to be screened.
That’s the purpose of screening, to look for potential concerns even when you don’t have symptoms.
Ladies, Please Make the Appointment!
Listen, I know life gets busy.
I know medical appointments aren’t always convenient.
I know some women have concerns about mammograms being uncomfortable.
And I know that waiting for results can create anxiety.
But I want to encourage you to have that conversation with your healthcare provider.
If you’re due for a mammogram, make the appointment.
If you don’t know when you should begin screening, ask.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, make sure your doctor knows.
And if you’ve noticed a change in your breasts, don’t simply wait until your next annual appointment to mention it.
PLEASE DON’T PUT YOUR HEALTH ON THE BACK BURNER!
October may be Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but breast cancer doesn’t operate on a calendar.
It doesn’t disappear when November arrives.
And our responsibility to take care of ourselves shouldn’t disappear either.
In Loving Memory of My Cousin
As this month comes to an end, I want to remember my cousin and the life that was lost to breast cancer almost four years ago.
I wish she were still here.
I wish our family had more time with her.
And I wish that no family had to experience the pain of losing someone they love to this disease.
But since I cannot change what happened, I can honor her memory by being intentional about my own health and encouraging other women to do the same.
If sharing my family’s experience encourages even one woman to schedule an overdue screening, ask questions about her family history, or advocate for additional care when something doesn’t feel right, then I believe this conversation is worth having.
Because awareness is important.
But AWARENESS WITHOUT ACTION ISN’T ENOUGH.
Before We Put Away the Pink Ribbons…
As we close out Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want us to remember that taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish.
It’s necessary.
Especially for those of us who have spent years being the strong women everybody depends on.
I’ve said before that I’m learning to embrace a softer life now that I’m over 50.
And part of that soft life means recognizing that I deserve the same care, attention, and concern that I’ve spent decades giving everybody else.
That includes keeping up with my medical appointments, understanding my risks, and making my health a priority.
I can’t control everything that happens to my body.
But I can be proactive about the things within my control.
And I intend to do exactly that.
So, before October ends, let me leave you with this reminder:
YOUR FAMILY NEEDS YOU, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE TO ENJOY THE LIFE YOU’RE WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD.
Make the appointment.
Ask the questions.
Know your family history.
Follow your recommended screening schedule.
And please, take care of yourself.
To every woman currently fighting breast cancer, every survivor, and every family remembering someone they’ve lost, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
And to my cousin, whose life continues to hold a special place in our family’s hearts, you are remembered with love.
As always…
I may not always be right, but I ALWAYS have a Thomas Point of View!
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
- Have you scheduled or completed your breast cancer screening this year?
- Do you know your family’s history of breast cancer?
- Has your family history resulted in your doctor recommending additional screenings?
- Have you or someone you love been affected by breast cancer?
- What advice would you share with another woman about advocating for her breast health?
Let’s encourage one another to make our health a priority and not just in October, but throughout the entire year.
Early detection matters. Your health matters. YOU matter!
#AThomasPointOfView #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BlackWomenAndBreastCancer #KnowYourRisk #EarlyDetectionMatters #MammogramAwareness #WomensHealth #FamilyHistoryMatters #ProtectYourHealth
