October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. October, for me, is so full of emotion already that adding this on top of all of that in some ways is overwhelming but in the long run, it is a blessing. We already have fall weather...finally, Halloween, homecoming, Coming Out Day...etc. So there is a lot going on this month, needless to say.
I really started thinking about BCA month last night. I was watching the DVD of Season 1 of Designing Women. Can't help it...one of my favorites. Anyway, there is an episode in Season 1 where Charlene finds a lump in her breast. Her doctor tells her not to worry about it yet she seeks a 2nd opinion anyhow. The lump turns out to be benign, thank goodness.
Well, I distinctly remember watching this episode when it premiered. I was in the 6th grade. Designing Women was one of our Monday nigh staples. We all loved it. Mom got very emotional watching this episode. I can understand that. She had just had a mastectomy the previous year so, to me, this was a natural reaction. Btw, it's a very good episode if you've never seen it.
It was not until years later, after Mom passed away, that Dad told me about something that truly connected Mom to this episode. When she found the lump in her breast, her OB-GYN told her not to worry about it. It was probably nothing and to come back in 6 months. Obviously, it definitely was something. Something that eventually took her life. But, she listened to her doctor and did not seek a 2nd opinion. The rest, shall we say, is history.
When Dad first told me this, I was very angry. Why would a doctor tell a patient not to worry about a potentially fatal disease? I did eventually cool off and could sit back and reflect in a more open manner. I realized that in the mid 80's, there was still a lot to be learned about cancer and many doctors gave this kind of response. And, Mom's OB-GYN was a family friend. Our families went to church together and had known each other for years. There was no reason for her not to trust him and there was no reason for him not to give the best possible advice her could at the time. Once I realized all of this, the malice was gone from my heart over the issue.
Needless to say, after 6 months, Mom was diagnosed with cancer and it eventually killed her. She fought an extremely long, tough and heroic battle. She is one of my heroes. And, at least to me, she never spoke negatively about how she got into this situation. She confided in me a lot, so if she had bad feelings, she never let on. And that just shows her endurance...to me, anyway.
Bottom line, my friends, male or female...if you find a lump, get it biopsied. And do not be afraid to go for that 2nd opinion. Any doctor who has any compassion will not argue against your seeking that out. Life is to short to do otherwise.
That is all.
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