Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thousands of people will participate in their local Susan G. Komen races/walks this month. Knoxville’s is on October 21st. I will be walking/running to honor the women in my family who have been affected by breast cancer, as well as the dozens of breast cancer patients and survivors that I have worked with over the past few years.

I had two aunts who bravely battled breast cancer. My Aunt Juanita was a 20+ year survivor before she was diagnosed with either pancreatic or liver cancer a few years ago. My other aunt, Barbara, battled breast cancer for several years, while seeking alternative medical treatments. She, too, passed away. My grandma Lashlee also had breast cancer. When she passed away a few years ago at the age of 90, she had a lump in one of her breasts that was the size of a large orange. She didn’t have surgery to remove this lump because she had congestive heart failure, but she did take an estrogen blocker for a few years. I also think my grandma Howard had a pre-cancerous lump removed, but I’m not really sure about the details. She passed away  (from old age and dementia) a little over seven months after my grandma Lashlee. The spirit of these four beautiful women lives on in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew them. It is for these four women that I walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure every year.

As a Registered Medical Assistant for a general surgery practice, I work with one of the doctors who specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and other breast abnormalities, like fibroadenomas and atypical ductal hyperplasia. I have seen my fair share of patients going through the many phases of breast cancer, from their initial consultation detailing their diagnosis to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and from surgery {with or without breast reconstruction, and with partial or full breast radiation or no radiation at all} to a one year follow-up with normal mammogram results. It is for these women, my patients, that I walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure every year.

But walking only does so much to support the Susan G. Komen foundation, or any breast cancer research foundation for that matter. Donations are nice (and I think, tax deductible), but more funds need to be raised for this research. In fact, there are several companies, like Estée Lauder, who sell specially designed products just for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Want to do your part and “save the ta-tas?” Then check out these products. A portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research.

1. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II & Pink Ribbon Keychain {$94}, Bloomingdale’s
2. S’well Breast Cancer Awareness Karma in Bloom Bottle {$35}, Bloomingdale’s
3. The Breast Cancer Campaign Creme de la Mer {$85}, Nordstrom
4. Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzing Powder {$55}, Nordstrom
5. Clinique Great Skin, Great Cause Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ {$38}, Sephora
6. Avon Pink Hope Oversized Floral Totebag {$30}
7. Avon Pink Hope Iconic Lipstick Set {$10}
8. Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Breast Cancer Awareness Rollerball {$30}, Macy’s

{Images borrowed from Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Avon, and Macy’s}

Because this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you are reading this and you are a breast cancer survivor or if you are currently going through breast cancer treatment, please leave a comment below because I would like to include your name on my “In Honor Of” badge that I will wear at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Knoxville, on Oct. 21st.

Know that you are strong, you are beautiful, and you are a fighter!

Yours Truly,
Vanessa