This month is also hard for me.  I try to remember it is supposed to be a good thing even though it bothers me. The worst part for me is seeing ultra processed foods with their pink labels.  How about we stop making ultra processed foods which would help reduce breast cancer numbers much more than adding a pink label to the toxic foods?  Hang in there we are almost 1/2 way through the month.

I was diagnosed in August 2013—that Oct. I was watching Good Morning America, and they did free screenings in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - LIVE for all to witness (not the actual mammogram) but we saw people walking into the mobile unit and walking out. Amy Roebach was a reporter for them and hadn't had a mammogram in years. So, she decided to have a screening. Sure enough, she had breast cancer! I remember bursting into tears...for her, for me. I remember that October as a partial blur and a partial ache in my heart. 

Since that year, I've been fine during the month of Oct. I appreciate the world bringing breast cancer back to awareness for folks. Early detection saved my life; if it can help save others, I'm all for it. The pink ribbon doesn't trigger me, either. Other cancer groups have adopted the ribbon theme in various colors. I look at it in a positive way.

I agree with you,  @spschmidt4 ; putting pink ribbons on ultra-processed foods (Pink washing) throws me over the edge. 

The irony wasn't lost on me when I rang the bell after my final radiation treatment on October 1st in 2011. My hair was starting to come back in as dishwater brown fuzz and I was more than ready to bid farewell to this whole experience! It seemed EVERYONE was talking about breast cancer, wearing pink and exclaiming how cool it was that I was done with treatment just as the month of awareness began. But I started hating pink. I started hating talking about breast cancer. I started hating that I was the one people called when their friend or sister or cousin or co-worker was first diagnosed. I started hating that I now had to be "that girl".

I wanted it to be GONE and I wanted to MOVE ON. Sheesh, was every October going to be a rerun of these emotions?

Oh, the joke was on me. Little did I know the changes and adjustments I had ahead...you don't just ring that bell and clap your hands together and shout "DONE!" Tomoxifen and Dr appointments, getting back into the groove - or finding a new groove - and settling with the knowledge that my body decieved me took some time getting used to. That October I did not relish the city being draped in pink as if a semi truck of Pepto Bismol blew up on 435. I turned inward, put on a smile and charged ahead.

13 Octobers have come and gone since I experienced that first October as a "Survivor". I am proud to report that I actually look forward to October now - and not just for pumpkin lattes! I am far enough away from my experience to have a different perspective and truly see the beauty and support on display in October. It isn't about me - it never was. It is about giving hope and support and spreading awareness. It is a solid show of pink love and I am proud to tell my story when the opportunity arises. It is my duty to provide hope and remind others of the importance of self breast exams and regular mammograms often and not just in October!

Someone just brought me cinnamon rolls with pink frosting. It was a miss, but it was her way of showing love and support.

I just wanted to circle back since I am the one who started this conversation last month when I was being touchy about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I'm happy to report that by the end of the month, I was not bothered by it. That doesn't mean that every example of support was perfect. I had a scan during October, and the imaging center attempted to tie in Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness Month by painting a bunch of skeletons pink--thereby  invoking thoughts of "death by breast cancer" when I was already nervous. For the most part, though, I handled it pretty well. For example, at my local post office, the entire back wall was papered in pink and covered with ribbons. That they had chosen to decorate for Breast Cancer Awareness Month over the more obvious and popular Halloween made me think that someone at the branch had been affected by breast cancer and that this was an act either in support or in remembrance, in which case, it just made me think of...love. 😍 

Hi!  Julia Stegeman here... a long time survivor.  love to help others find ways to flip the negativity of breast cancer and all the whoopla surrounding the publicity into positive directions for you... finding positive footing to move forward for yourself!  The cancer journey doesn't end with the last treatment.  Finding ways to build on what life is giving you today is a good start...  :0  913-206-4518  email is: Buttercup_66053 @mokancomm.net

Hi there. I would love to know more about how you flipped the negativity. You mentioned that you were a long time survivor. I don't know how long ago your treatment was or how far back the whole Pink October thing goes, but was it a thing back then? How do you feel during Breast Cancer Awareness Month now?

I was first diagnosed at age 39 in 1992.  The drs knew they didn't have a chemo to use on my type but tried radiation.  I had a lumpectomy done and 13 glass rods in the breast for 36 hours, then removed, and then had 28 external radiation treatments after that.  Six years later in 1998 another separate spot in same breast was changing.  Obviously radiation hadn't made a difference on re-occurrence.  Had bilateral mastectomy with an innovative TRAMP FLAP.  They used my Trans Rectus muscle to transfer the fat from lower abdomen by splitting the muscle between both breast cavities and tunneling all under the skin up into the breast cavity on both sides.  Today with micro vascular surgical techniques they don't need to take the muscle to do fat transfers as they can cut and reconnect blood supply at new location.  Recovery back then was much more involved and much longer healing time.   October Pink for breast cancer goes way back but not that far back.  I got involved with the Young Survival Coalition in 2004 (still a member of that group) and I remember "Pink" was a theme then for a fundraiser that year.  Not sure what year it actually started.  I participated in a few Komen Breast Cancer Walks, but never got into their fundraising.  In the late 80's I became a local driver to transport any kind of cancer patient in our Louisburg (Miami County) area to Olathe for radiation treatment.  In a few years American Cancer Society asked our  our group to be absorbed into their new program for the whole Miami County.  I also became involved with operating that ACS group in our county area.  At that time I joined ACS's Reach for Recovery - a program for breast cancer patients.  I have been actively helping women (and their family/spouses and a couple of male breast cancer patients ) since then.  Every time I think I am too far out from my treatment and quite a bit older, someone contacts me for support.  My husband was employed in a hospital lab for his career and I had many medical connections to stay on top of new developments as well.  I loved helping patients with pre-surgery tips to help them feel more confident of going into the hospital, organizing their questions to medical personnel prior to hospitalization, help them with pre-hospital tips and tips on clothing selection for surgery date and post-surgery, how to prepare home environment to ease the self-care at home post-op.  I also stress to them following the medical recommendations on what activities post op they can do and remind them to not hesitate to call the medical provider if they have any questions that need clarification or modification.  COVID really stressed the patient care and amount of time nurses had to "hold the patient hand" once they left the medical facility.  

In response to my feelings about Breast Cancer Awareness month now...  I think it still helps to minimize the stigma that breast cancer used to have... and hopefully educate younger people that are just beginning their age of susceptibility to breast cancer, as well as, the other productivity cancers.  Decades ago Breast Cancer was an OLD LADIES disease.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  I am here today because even way back then my male doctor was pretty demanding for me to get my mammogram. I had put off making the appointment for 6 weeks after my hysterectomy.  His nurse finally called and said she couldn't get off the phone without the appointment time.  It saved my life!  If i had the scan done 6 weeks earlier, it would have been too small to consider a problem... and if the scan had been done 6 weeks later, I would have been stage 4!  Mine was a very fast growing one and no real treatment but excision when they could get clear margins before it spread.  

So I really felt my life was still meant to live longer... to be a beacon to others.  I could never do enough or pay enough $s to my doctor.  In helping others prevent, or at least detect early enough to manage a cancer, and then how to not just live, but THRIVE BEYOND it is my way of giving tribute to my medical team and passing on the goodness I have been able to enjoy all these years beyond it.  I was a math/science nerd, but my high school counselor had told me to consider social work.  I laughed at him at the time.  Years later, I learned I do have skills along that line that I never realized.  I take calls any time day or night if someone wants to talk or ask questions, etc.  I don't believe my life was spared for just me.   913-206-4518 is my phone and email is:  Buttercup_66053 @mokancomm.net is email.  (there is no space after my zip code but this site keeps inserting it)  Call to leave a message so I know your # is legit.. or text me if you want to talk more about flipping the negative!!!  We can discuss specifics for you.  HUGS!!!