Thank you so much for posting this. I just lost an old coworker a few months ago from returning breast cancer. 
One night her and I were talking about how hard it is to take care of our health and medical appointments working night shift. She explained she had not had a mammogram in years and was letting her diabetes appointments go. I told her please go. She did set her appointments and went. Her mammogram showed a spot that did turn out to be breast cancer. It was a small spot and non aggressive at that point. She went for surgery and was told to do radiation after just to be sure. She only went to one radiation appointment. She claimed she was too tired to go after working all night. Said it was too much. I stayed on her but she got mad at me. She never went back for any more radiation treatments. I had to stop encouraging her to go because she felt it was small, non aggressive and that she’d be fine. She would get raging mad at me for telling her to please go to the treatments. She had her mind made up that work was more important. To make money to take her grandchildren out. It came back and aggressively. God test her soul. We are not invincible and anything can happen to any of us at any time. 
So yeah,  don’t put off a mammogram. 

I have a theory, most women are the backbone of any household! You ladies do so much running homes, work, business kids etc that your own wellness gets sidetracked. I know I have to literally drag my good lady to appointments like those. Look after yerself girls PLEASE 🙏

@chelly Such an unfortunate circumstance for her. I hate to see someone putting their health off to the side because they feel they don't have the option to stop everything else to look after themselves. I can certainly empathize, since I was in a similar position as her.

Thank you so much for posting this @dlkfiretruck

@veganostomy yes I teared up when I heard about her passing. They say this happens a whole lot with people that work third shift. We are so tired but yet either can’t financially take off of work or in her case she was tired and wanted money to take her grand kids out to fun places. 
Im guilty of  this sometimes too. But then I get to a point where I get on the ball and get them done. 

I can see any shift this can happen though because most doctors and hospitals are open during the work week and people have to take off to go. so yeah, we as humans have to realize that work is not more important than health. If we are not on top of our health then we may not be around to work any longer. 

Yes Ladies, please take care of yourselves!!  And anyone on biologics for IBD, you have to be extra careful. With Humira, various cancers are among the side effects. I’ve had skin cancer twice since starting Humira. 😟

My mother in law had her left breast removed 30 years ago. She's in an Alzheimer's care facility now, and in a phone call to her only daughter, my bride, said she thinks her right breast may be cancerous. At 86, she says she's ready to meet her maker, and only wants palliative care when the time comes. No more surgery and chemo for her. Wife will be respecting that decision. Her husband died in 2021 and her middle son died in 2020. 2 boys and a daughter left.

God bless her. All good wishes to your mother-in-law and all of you, GoatHerder.

That’s a hard one, my prayers are with you all 🙏

Cancer sucks ! Any and all kinds . A lot of us have been touched with it either friend  , family or self . I pray for everybody affected by it . 🙏 

Just an update... 

I'm booked for Surgery on March 7th. I've had my pre-surgical blood work done & the ECG yesterday.   Today I had my apt. with the Anesthiesiologist. Next week is my GP apt. to get my lungs checked. I won't know the time until the afternoon on the 6th.   

@dlkfiretruck Thanks for letting us know, and we'll be praying for a successful surgery and positive outcome!

Linda, I hadn’t seen your first post on this string until just now - thank you for letting us know. Of course we are thinking of you, wishing you good results, and will throughout this.  Will you need to travel a distance for your surgery?

Linda the very best thoughts and wishes 🙏

@dlkfiretruck I appreciate the update, Linda. Stay strong 💪💪💪

Hello everyone!! ...  Thankyou so much for you kind words & encouragment regarding my upcoming surgery.  To answer a few questions.  I travel only about an hour to the required hospital. I need to be there 3 hours ahead for a few pre-surgical preperations such as under ultrasound & local anesthetic a guide wire will be inserted from my armpit into the surgical area to mark the surgical site inside my breast. Then a treatment on the nebulizer bcus of my asthma.

I'll admit it feels very ...hmmm, strange ... almost, even after nearly 14 yrs a widow not having my hubby by my side for this surgery.  He was always a great support but my Son will be taking me in.  Earlier tonight my son & his wife, my basement dwellers, lol, came in from town & they brought me a single rose w/ babies breath & a stem of leaves. Well, I was not only surprised I practically burst into tears & could hardly speak.  I became so emotional!!  The rose was the same colour of what we had in our wedding flowers & just in time for Valentines!  Its  Such a lovely & thoughtful gift.  My son was not aware of our floral colours & I know it pleased him to know they had chosen a right color.  I've had imflamed eye issues again so I'm only responding now,  besides a like to you all but I had read all of your comments ..... my appologies. 

John... Good on you for dragging your Lady to those & all apts if need be! You are right & THANK-YOU for acknowledging what a Gal does in the family home. Woman... at least the ones I know & I myself are & were sure responsible for anything regarding our home except taking trash bins to the road once a week & mowing the lawns. Those were the 2 things I simply refused to do, lol, as long as I had healthy male beings or capable teens under my care for doing those 2 jobs! Lol!  Anything else I know I did willingly for my family.  So know that I appreciated your comment very much!! 

Eric... Your right! 

Liza... Sheesh! Twice!! Thats on the scarey side of a medication. I hope the benefits of that Med outweighs the two results you've had. Keep on checking that skin of yours!!! 

Interesting little diddy regarding Breast Cancer Surgery recovery "comfort".  I was looking for M9 on the web one a.m. & came across pillows. There is actually a breast cancer recovery pillow. Its usually heart shaped with a hole in the middle for lumpectomy patients & then pockets for holding ice packs about the width of a ladies hand.  Theres also some for mastectomy patients as well. I couldn't help but think what a neat thing it would be to be able to make some extras & donate them to a local surgical suite to send home with a patient. 

Anyways... thanks again you all for the kindness in your messages. 

@goatherder  ... Thank you very much for your Prayers! I appreciate them & all who do pray & I will ofcourse gladly accept all I can get.  I'm  not nervous about it at all & rather appreciate the calm & peace about me.

Well... Hello... I saw my GP last Thursday for my  post Surgical appointment.    The  lab reports were back from my surgery.   My GP tells me that the samples that were sent on for further testing as usual after any lump is removed were back already.   My results are excellent but the samples at the time of surgery were very inflamed which apparently means the pre-cancerous stuff was in the process of turning positive for Cancer!!   My GP tells me another month could have been a totally different result!!  Ugh!! 

So I'm very pleased I made the right decision to have this surgery & not wait to recheck with another Mammogram in 3 months time. 

 All Margins are CLEAR of cancer!  Praise the Lord! Thank you all for your prayers too! 

So... Once again..  if anyone out there is not doing your weekly breast checks and avoiding your Mammograms because you don't have time...

PLEASE, MAKE THE TIME!!

I could not feel the masses it was the Mammogram and Diagnostic Ultrasound that picked them out. I have lumpy breasts (fibrocystic) anyways & it was a little bump in another place that sent me to my GP and then my dog sniffing at my breast in question that nailed it down for me to go get checked & am I ever glad I did!   So..  men can get breast cancer too! Check yourselves & if you find anything go see your doctor!  

Thank you Eric for giving this widow...  a safe place to be! 

@dlkfiretruck I’m so glad your ok! Yes they keep alerting  me I need to go I guess I need to set the appointment.

Hi Linda, That’s brilliant news really pleased to hear. 🙏👍😃👏