October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that is just what it means...to make us more aware of the possibilities of Breast Cancer. That awareness would include being checked annually for Breast Cancer.

I am a survivor but my story is not what you should do! I attended a meeting urging us to have a breast exam and we were given coupons for discounts to have a mammogram. With no insurance (many reasons why I did not have insurance) and with constant encouragement from my OB to have a mammogram, I used the certificate to be checked out at a very late age. I am a very tough cookie but I remember Dr. Frear made me cry at my first mammogram! My first mammogram and I had cancer!

Now, I made the decision to do the “Tram.” That may be more information than you want to know, but I must tell you that with so many options and choices, if you are found to have breast cancer, it is a hard decision to know what choice to make. If I could give you one piece of advice, I would tell you to talk to past survivors and those who have gone through what you are going through. Get the facts. No one can tell you what you need to do with your body but you. In my questioning, I kept hearing that they dreaded the yearly exam for fear it had come back, perhaps in the other breast.

After talking to so many people and sleepless nights, and lots of prayer, and lots of tears, I finally decided to do the extreme, remove all breast tissue and rebuild with the stomach muscle. I tried to get my husband to make the decision but he wisely refused! It was my decision and I am still thankful, after 15 years, for the choice I did make. Get those checkups!