I was in bed in the hospital, chatting with a senior nurse. I was there for my second mastectomy.

Somewhere in the conversation, I happened to ask – How often do you have a mammogram? She replied – I’ve never had a mammogram!

I was shocked. She was seeing people like me come in for mastectomies all the time!

I asked – Why not?

She said – I don’t want to know.

I was speechless.

Since then, I have met several people who have the same response. I have tried hard to figure out the reasons behind this. As far as I can tell the major reason is fear. There is also still a widespread belief that a cancer diagnosis means dying. Or at the very least major suffering.

There is also the thinking that it can’t happen to me. I’m healthy, strong, I hardly get sick, I take good care of myself.

That was exactly my thought when I got my first diagnosis. What?!! Me?!! I was a poster child for healthy living – eating healthy, exercising regularly, doing my yoga, etc. I was feeling good! There was nobody in my immediate family who had had breast cancer.

Hmmm….

Fortunately for me, I had been trained by my gynaecologist to go for testing every year. Although I generally avoid doctors unless I’m really ill, some instinct made me listen to him and do the annual check-up. Each year I would go and the results would come back negative. I don’t know why, but I kept on going.

It was the mammogram and ultrasound that saved my life. Twice.

As for the fear factor, I can empathise. So many of the cancer stories we hear are horror stories. We don’t hear as much the success stories.

But after three cancer adventures I am here to tell you 1) a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. 2) the major factor in the outcome is your attitude. 3) the earlier the diagnosis, the better your chances.

So please, please, ladies go and get yourself checked. Encourage all your friends and relatives to get checked also. Gentlemen, nudge, support the ladies in your life to get checked. And don’t wait until you are middle aged. Cancer is being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. Just recently a friend shared with me how devasted he was by the death of his twenty something year old relative from breast cancer. Diagnosed too late.

There are people who need you to stay alive!

And if you want to know how to go through three cancer adventures with grace and ease (seriously!!) check out my blogs on my website – https://thinkittalkit.com

I am willing to offer a complimentary coaching session to anyone facing cancer. My contact details are on my website. All my coaching is online so it doesn’t matter where you live.

Meanwhile, look after yourself. Stay safe. Go get checked.

Blessings!