Tuesday, October 4, 2011

It is that time of year again…

(in my best announcer voice)…

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!!!!

Everywhere you turn, you see that pink ribbon. It pops up on everything from cartons of eggs to toilet paper, but do you think people are really aware? I don’t.

Before being diagnosed, I was a happy, 28 year old, mother of two and nursing student. The last thing I thought about was breast cancer. Yeah, I saw the pink ribbons and knew what they stood for, but it didn’t mean anything to me.

When my husband found a lump in my breast, I knew that I should get it checked, but I decided I didn't have the time. Three months later, just after graduation, I finally made an appointment, because the lump was getting bigger. Although my doctor felt it was probably nothing, he sent me for testing. Those tests revealed that I had a 6 cm tumor in my left breast that was Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I had breast cancer at the age of 29!!

Now at age 32, I have made it through chemo, having both of my breasts removed, radiation, and breast reconstruction. Yeah, my breasts are fake, I have scars front and back, but I AM ALIVE!!!

Knowing that I am one of the lucky ones, who are still surviving, I try to do my part to open the eyes of as many people as I can. Everyone needs to know that (according to the Young Survival Coalition) there are more than 250,000 women living in the U.S. who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40 or under, and approximately 10,000 young women will be diagnosed in the next year. Breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54.



Not only do we need to spread awareness that this disease is affecting so many young women, but we also need to raise money. Let’s face it, without money for research, how can we find a cure? My Relay for Life team, Beth’s Believers, raises money all year long for the American Cancer Society, but research is expensive and everyone needs to do their part.

Save the ta-tas (www.savethetatas.com) commits 5% of every sale to the Save the ta-tas Foundation and many of their authorized retailers participate in their donation matching program. From 2004-2010, they have donated roughly 50% of their profits. These funds are then used to support independent scientific research. How awesome is that?!

One of the gifts I received when I was first diagnosed was a Save the Tatas car magnet. I loved it so much, that when that one became sun bleached, I ordered another one for myself and one for my husband. Everyone who saw it liked it. Eventually one person liked it so much; they decided to steal it from my car!!!

Seriously, you don’t have to steal; you can buy one for yourself!!!!!!

My new favorite item that they have available is a shirt that says “Imagine a World without Cancer.

Save the tatas has been nice enough to provide this shirt for one of my lucky readers.




TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY…

1. Become a follower of my blog (on the right side of the page).
2. Leave a comment on this blog entry that includes your shirt size and an email address where you can be contacted. (ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON)





The winner will be chosen one week from today.

GOOD LUCK!!

17 comments:

  1. I love that you do all that you do to raise awareness!! <3 you!!

    Med kmaurice@imprettyboutique.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just signed up to follow your blog (I've got your blog on our favorite blogs list on the Lifting Hearts blog as well. Hopefully I'm now "following" you!

    Shirt size is XL and my email is nafari01@gmail.com

    Thanks!

    -Kara

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  3. Shirt size is XL & my email is SamsFam@gmail.com

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  4. My shirt size is a small and my email is spdancer09@yahoo.com

    I just started following and It is so uplifting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My shirt size is Large and my email is amandamdaley@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for sharing your story. XL

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry my email is diamondnwish@gmail.com

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  8. My shirt size is a small. I love ya Beth. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for sharing your story. Please continue to inspire those that have been affected by this horrible disease.
    calm11@snet.net size: medium

    ReplyDelete
  10. size L
    mommy0408@hotmail.com

    Miss you Beth! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like my shirts really big so a XXL is usually what I order. I LOVE my sweatshirt and I wore it camping this weekend and got a lot of compliments! I just need to get that decal on my car too! I sent you a message about doing a Pampered Chef fundraiser in October. PC is donating 25% of sales to the American Cancer Society or they will donate 15% to your Relay for Life team. I immediately thought of you when I saw that! Please keep me in the loop about future fundraisers!

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  12. I love this shirt!!!! Large email kelliemunger@yahoo.com
    I need a new cancer shirt all mine r too big!! Xoxo

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  13. Hello, Beth. I'm so glad I met you and we became friends. You inspire me with all that you have been through and all that you do for others. Your strength, kindness and generosity carries on to others and brings a smile to all. Your very special and I wish the world had more people like you!Love ya and love all that you do.....your so sweet!

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Great Post!Limited awareness about the causes, symptoms, screening tests, and treatment options for breast cancer One of the simplest ways to ensure early detection of breast cancer is by getting regular mammograms done once you have reached the age of forty, as suggested by cancer specialists at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.

    ReplyDelete
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