The calendar says October 1st or would if I changed it from September.  My month is full to overflowing already but I am going to get back to blogging this month.  To start it all off, I want to talk about October being Breast Cancer Awareness month.

To me, October should be about falling leaves, orange and red and yellow colors, kids in costumes.  Unfortunately, October is about breast exams, pink colors, women advocating for each other.  One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer in her lifetime.  Let me tell you two stories.

The first story is a local one that did not have a good ending.  I do know some of the people involved as I went to high school with Traci Gibson’s sisters-in-law.  Traci was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer at the age of 31.  She had a husband and three small children.  She fought cancer until she was 38.  She died four years ago this Sunday.

Traci’s Hope was started to help those in the area I live in with costs associated with breast cancer.  Insurance, regardless of how good it is, never pays for everything.  This year, tomorrow actually, will mark the seventh annual fundraiser for Traci’s Hope.  If you live in the Southern Tier of NY, the event starts at the Hickories Park in Owego at noon.  Update: due to the rain recently received and flooding at the Hickories Park, the event will be held at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days land in Apalachin. Admission is $12.

My second story hits a bit more close to home.  I was somewhere between 30 and 32 when I got a phone call from a good friend.  This was quite some time ago so the exact year is a bit fuzzy for me.  I am sure the friend remembers exactly.  She wanted to let me know she was going into the hospital to have a mastectomy.  She and her husband had sought second opinions.  This was her decision.  She had been told she had breast cancer in one breast.  She was going to have both breasts removed and re-constructive surgery done all at the same time.  She had looked at the chances for re-occurrence if she only had the one breast removed.  She was not taking that chance.  She had three children and the oldest was close to 10.  That was almost 20 years ago and she is a wonderful person to this day.

So what am I saying?  I am saying be smart about your health.  Get a mammogram when your doctor says you should.  Do breast self-exams monthly.  Support those who are living with breast cancer daily.  Pray for a cure.  Run for a cure.  Donate money for a cure.