Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025
I woke up in the middle of the night last night crying. That’s never happened to me before. I had this overwhelming sense of gratitude for my life. It’s a surprising way to wake up, but it’s not surprising that it happened. Breast cancer has been on my mind a lot this month since it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I usually like October, like all the pink, like all the awareness, like all the information about new treatments in the works, like all the information being given about the disease and how to educate yourself about it and get your screening. But, the past couple of years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been hard on me. It’s hard not to think about it and just live life. It’s hard to see all the statistics out there. I was reminded the other day that the median survival rate for triple negative metastatic breast cancer is 12-13 percent and that the 5-year relative survival rate is 12-13 percent. I am beyond blessed to have lived six years past my metastatic cancer diagnosis, but it makes me nervous for my next scan. I am living beyond the five-year mark, so I’m wondering how much time I can have left. The scanxiety is setting in already for my upcoming November scan.
I am also nervous because I had an endoscopy the other day to check on my celiac disease and to check on my hiatal hernia. Procedures and surgeries can trigger immune responses and possibly cause my cancer to come back. I am having another procedure next week regarding my hiatal hernia, and I might have surgery to fix it. So, I’m a little leery about it since surgery can trigger immune responses, and it just always seems like people’s cancer comes back after they’ve had surgery. But I know that God is in control, and that’s why I truly believe I have been given a miracle still being alive almost six years past my diagnosis. I can’t ask for more. When it’s my time, it’s my time, and I will be eternally grateful for all the “bonus time” I’ve received, and I will go peacefully.
I ordered my annual Luke Adams breast cancer awareness buy one, get one free glass pumpkins. It will be my third year collecting them. I love how you can buy one and gift one to someone in your life who is affected by cancer. Life, like the glass pumpkins, is fragile and beautiful.
The one thing I love about Breast Cancer Awareness Month is learning about all the new therapies being tested. There are so many new treatments on the horizon. I just need to hang in there for the next five years or so!!! It would make me mad to die just before the triple negative breast cancer vaccine becomes available for everyone! But, if it’s my time, it’s my time. I know God has perfect timing.
I received an email from a college friend who came across my blog. He said something that really meant a lot to me: Hope that the good run you are on sets longevity records. I would expect nothing less from a fellow journalist, a way with words. I’ve been thinking about that a lot this month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have been on a good run, and I hope that I keep beating the statistics. I am trying to go into this next scan with trust in God, in my miracle. If I have lived this long past my diagnosis, why can’t I continue to do well? I ordered and received my 2026 calendar. I have almost made it through another year! I am so grateful, thankful and blessed, so much so that it brings tears to my eyes – and wakes me up in the middle of the night with tears and gratitude.
I will update again soon! In the meantime, get your imaging scheduled, and do your self exams! Early detection is key! Stay safe and healthy, everyone!