Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Bitter & The Sweet

Early this morning I spent time reading about a good friend of mine's new battle with breast cancer. She was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. Fortunately it hasn't spread to the rest of her body. She is journaling each day on a private blog and it's heart-wrenching to read it. How did she find out? A dentist wouldn't treat her because of a sore in her mouth and told her to see a doctor for an antibiotic. One thing led to another and she is now fighting the beast.

Her advice? If you are 40 or older and have no history of cancer in your family, get a mammogram each year. If you are under 40, with history, start earlier.

So, next Monday (after the craziness of the Storymakers Conference & Mother's Day), I'm scheduling a mammogram.

In other, much better news, I found out this morning that ALMA THE YOUNGER won 2011 Best of State in Literary Arts for Fiction. A couple of years ago, ABINADI won. My husband said to me, "Are we going to get another parking ticket?" Hope not! (for the torrid details of my last Best of State adventure, read here)

4 comments:

Charlie Moore said...

That's great about the award, Heather, and not so great about your friend. A young boy, four years old, in my ward was recently diagnosed with cancer. He is scheduled for eight months of aggressive chemo. Best of luck to your friend and do get that mammogram. My wife gets one every year. So far good news each year, but knowing give us peace of mind.

Charlie

Lopez Family said...

thanks for the giveaway!

Heather Moore said...

Charlie, thanks for the wise advice.

Michele Holmes said...

Thanks for the reminder, Heather. I'm overdo for my yearly check. Having a history of breast cancer in my family, I've been having mammograms since I was seventeen---when my first lump was discovered. For anyone avoiding getting in to get checked, don't! It's an inconvenience to be sure, but far more convenient than dealing with cancer.

Congratulations on another win! And it was so nice to see you last night. You're an awesome friend.