Those of you who have been following Tough Cookie Mommy for a while know that cancer advocacy is a cause that I am deeply committed to. As a Leukemia Survivor, I know all too well the importance of being proactive about my health and the medical care that I receive. Additionally, I also educate myself on the foods that I eat as well as what I expose my body to on a daily basis. In my role as a parent, I have also worked hard to impart this awareness on to my children. Since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is fitting that we should discuss how we can attempt to lower the risk of breast cancer by having these important conversations with our daughters, our nieces and the other women in our lives. We all try to help our children grow up healthy. But the environment around a young girl may change the way her body develops. It is too soon to say for sure that avoiding certain chemicals or foods lowers the risk of breast cancer. Still, to help protect our … [Read more...]
What You Need To Know About BRCA And Ovarian Cancer #beBRCAware @beBRCAware @SheSpeaksUp #Ad
As many of you know, I have been a Leukemia Survivor for the past almost eight years. Throughout this time, one of the things that I have maintained as a Survivor is the importance of advocating for your health and of early detection when it comes to cancer. In today's modern medical times, getting treatment early on, and taking advantage of modern detection and treatment options, can mean the difference between life and death. When faced with such a serious health crisis, it is normal to be afraid and to break down but, after that, you have to move forward and fight the good fight. Many of you are probably not aware of the fact that there is a test you can take that can identify whether you are at a higher risk for a gene mutation that is commonly associated with breast and ovarian cancer. Being armed with knowledge about your BRCA status can assist you in making important decisions about cancer treatments that are currently available. What is a BRCA gene? In … [Read more...]
Support The Creative Cups™ Project To Raise Breast Cancer Awareness! @AdelphiU #Sponsored
*I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour on behalf of TapInfluence and Adelphi University and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own. As a Survivor, cancer awareness is a cause that is extremely personal to me and close to my heart. I'm a seven-year Leukemia Survivor and my family and loved ones have also been affected by other kinds of cancer. My great-grandmother died from Breast Cancer and I actually had my own mammogram scare last year when I was asked to return for further testing because they saw something on my images. One of the things that most people will tell you is that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be devastating and extremely lonely. At that moment, you feel like you don't have anyone to talk to or who understands what you are going through. I was very excited to find out that Adelphi University is home to the NYS Breast Cancer Hotline. They realized that … [Read more...]
Early Detection Saves Lives! #PhilipsBCA @PhilipsHealth #Giveaway #Ad
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Philips Healthcare. However, all opinions expressed are my own. My Mammography Story: Many of you have virtually held my hand recently when I went through my first mammogram screening and callback scare. Although it was terrifying to worry about possibly being told I have breast cancer, I am aware that early detection saves lives and the earlier, the better. That is why Philips is taking action to fight breast cancer by raising awareness through education, empowerment, and encouragement. I never imagined that I would be getting my first mammogram at age 36 but, this summer when I had my yearly gynecological appointment, I shared on my health screening form that my paternal great-grandmother had died of breast cancer. As a result, my gynecologist gave me the option of having an initial mammogram screening before age 40 due to the family history. Believe me, I was very scared but I knew that it was better to be … [Read more...]
The Dreaded Mammogram Callback
As many of you know, I went in to have my first mammogram last week after I was advised to do so by my gynecologist due to my paternal great grandmother having had breast cancer. It was supposed to be just a screening and, although the technician warned me that many women get callbacks after their first exam, I didn't really expect that it would be anything but normal. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy so I received a letter from the imaging place over Labor Day weekend asking me to return for a follow-up mammogram. The letter said that there was a "finding" that they wanted take further images of. It was terrifying and I couldn't help feeling that I was part of a cruel joke. You see, I'm only 36 so I was expecting everything to be alright because most women don't even have to have a mammogram until they turn 40. Also, I'm already living with Leukemia so the thought of having to deal with a secondary cancer is just too much to even have to wrap my head around. … [Read more...]
I Had My First Mammogram!
This past week, I scheduled my yearly appointment at they gynecologist to get a pap smear before going back to work in September. Prior to being examined, I answered a series of routine questions about my health and the medications that I am currently taking in order to get my doctor up to date on everything. One of the questions asked if there is a history of breast cancer in my family and I remembered to jot down that my paternal great-grandmother died from it. It never occurred to me that this would bring up the whole issue of having a mammogram with my gynecologist. After all, women don't have to start having them until they are forty, right? Apparently I was wrong because my doctor explained to me, as we debriefed in her office after my physical exam, that she likes to schedule an initial mammogram consultation for patients who are 35 if they have any kind of family history of breast cancer. I was faced with the following choice: Have a mammogram now and … [Read more...]
