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mg

boob awareness month

by mg at 11:29 AM on October 15, 2001

Seven years ago, just a few short weeks after I began my freshman year in college, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though, she didn’t know tell me about it for another couple months, since she didn’t want to worry me. Dealing with such a huge problem, and she didn’t want me worrying. How fucking sweet is that?

When I did find out, it didn’t really hit me, at least not immediately. Being so far away from home, and not having to deal with it in “real life” made it almost impossible for me to fully grasp what was going on. My mom didn’t want to tell me because she didn’t want me to worry, and when she did tell me, I wasn’t worried.

Until a few short days later, when I found out one of my teachers from high had died. Of cancer. Now, this wasn’t just any teacher. This man changed my life. I hated school for pretty much 11 straight years, from kindergarten straight on. At one point, in high school, I’d considered just quitting and getting my GED. Than I took a class with Dr. Litwin, and he finally taught me that learning could be challenging and interesting.

Over the next three semesters, my last three in high school, I took two classes a semester with Dr. Litwin. I spent almost two hours a day with him and I learned so much, not just about chemistry, but also about how to be a person. That is something I’m not sure he realized he was doing and something I never got to tell him. Because of his influence, I not only stayed in school, but went on to major in biochemistry (something that only lasted into my sophomore year, but at least I tried).

Over that period of two years in his class, I also saw him struggle with cancer. He was diagnosed shortly before I started in his first class, and as time went on, he underwent numerous surgeries and treatments. His battle was something he shared with the class; it was, after all, a living testament to all the strange chemistry of the human body he was teaching us in class.

I always thought he’d beat it. If anyone could, it would be him.

When I found out he died, it hit me hard. Not just because this was someone I admired and cared about, but because it finally brought to realization the fact that what killed him was now inside my mother.

She was diagnosed more than seven years ago. Most of that time I was thousands of miles away. But I was with her the day she started chemotherapy and I was there, months later, when she had her last treatment.

I was also there with her yesterday at the “Strides for a Cure” walkathon organized by the American Cancer Society. Thousands of people participated in the walk, to support survivors, raise money and awareness, and to remember the victims. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, or anyone I’d rather have spent it with.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I know everyone out there is tapped out having made donations to various September 11th funds, but if you can do anything, whether donating a couple bucks, or just helping to raise awareness, that’d be great. Also remember that October 19th is National Mammography Day; ladies, remember to go get your boobies checked.

comments (2)

And let us not forget that this is not a uniquely female disease - yes, it happens to men as well. So, let's make sure we're aware of those man-titties too!

by kd at October 15, 2001 11:41 AM


MG that is so sweet! (and I wanted to teach but have been told it would be so bleak and it would be useless) Of course, all the more reason why I WOULD do it.

I have delt with cancer in my family as well. Some success and some not. With Aids awareness it seems as if cancer does not seem as deadly to people anymore. It is! It still Kills and it still is just as awful as aids or anything else!

by Pristine at October 15, 2001 2:17 PM