Health Beat

Iwas at an event recently when a woman I know told me she’d been treated for breast cancer. had no idea. She was clear that she hadn’t discussed it with many people. Just not ready to share her story, still making sense of what that diagnosis means to her life as she looks ahead. A relative shared a similar story with me. She told a few friends, but not others. She doesn’t want to be defined by an illness. Our health stories are our own. They are not for others to share. Which is why I share another woman’s public post on Facebook. She’s been treated for breast cancer and has done an interview with me about her experience. She posts that a cancer diagnosis is not something to be ashamed of. It happened. One in eight women will get that diagnosis in her lifetime. By speaking about it, encouraging women to have annual mammograms; seek medical attention if they discover a lump, unusual discharge from a nipple, or dimpling of the breast skin; and to know their family history, she believes she’s empowering other women to take control of their health. And she is. So this October, I send energy to those who’ve been diagnosed, whether they’re still being treated or it’s in their rearview mirror, and heart to those who have lost a loved one to this disease. And if you choose to wear pink, consider the message of awareness it brings. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s meaningless – not if you can encourage one woman to take charge of her health. Trust me, I know.