Unless you’ve been on the receiving end of a breast cancer diagnosis, there’s no way to understand what it’s like. 

It wasn’t up to me.  The breast cancer diagnosis. 

I had zero say in the matter. My opinion wasn’t requested. 

October 27, 2014.

Diagnosis day. 

6 years ago (almost.) 

That upcoming milestone bounces around in my brain.  

There are lots of feels. Lots of thoughts skittering around. Mostly, gratitude. 

Before my diagnosis, if someone mentioned that milestone I’d have thought, “That’s great. You’re good. It’s been more than 5 years.” 

But after 6 years living and working in the trenches, I think differently. 

I know the reality of this disease. 

Before October 27, 2014, how could I have known? 

Years ago, a personal training client shared her experience. She mentioned it during one of our sessions. 

I recall thinking, “Good. You’re okay now.” 

I had no frame of reference. No window in to her actual experience. 

I likely didn’t know what to say. I don’t recall that I said anything. 

She looked fine. She acted fine. She talked about it just fine. 

Fine. 

The word means all right. Not sick or injured. (1)

Lots of us in the breast cancer community walk around looking fine.  

There’s stuff there, though. Beneath the “fine.” 

And, ~155,000 women (and men) in the US live with “mets,” or metastatic cancer. (2) 

They look fine. 

They’re not. 

October is Here. . .Again

PINKTOBER has arrived.  

The ubiquitous pink ribbons. Neon pink-lit buildings. The pink tow truck (not kidding.) 

They’ll be here awhile, before fading for another year. 

Those of us in the community each mark this month in our own way.

Here’s what I’ll be doing.

Continuing to set the record straight about breast cancer and health. Educate. Inform. Inspire.

I want you to know the things I didn’t.

I want you to take charge of your health. I want you to know that how you live each day makes a difference in your overall health and well-being. 

I’ll start by sharing statistics you may not know. Let’s go PINKTOBER. I’m ready for ‘ya.

14 Breast Cancer Truths

• Not all breast cancers are the same. (8)
• Women with dense breasts are at higher risk. (6)
• Most cases of ARE NOT caused by inherited genetic factors. (4)
• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer IN HER LIFETIME. (3)
• The median survival from diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer is 2-3 years. (11)
• The incidence rate for invasive breast cancer has been slowly increasing since 2004. (12)
• Even in early stage breast cancer, recurrence can happen up to 20 years post-treatment. (10)
• On average in the United States, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed. (3)
• 60-70% of people with breast cancer have no known risk factors, including family history. (7)
• Mammograms have limitations. Screening mammograms miss ~1 out of 5 breast cancers. (9)
• Metastatic breast cancer is on the rise in women under 40, and has been for the last 30 years. (11)
• Approximately 40,000 women and men die of breast cancer in the US alone; this number hasn’t changed meaningfully in 40 years. (11)
• In 2020, ~276,480 NEW cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the US, as well as 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. (3) 
• If you’ve had one first-degree female relative (sister, mother, daughter) diagnosed, your risk is doubled (from average risk). If two first-degree relatives have been diagnosed, your risk is 5 times higher than average. (5)

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Cathy Leman is a dietitian, personal trainer, nutrition therapist, speaker, writer and breast cancer survivor. She’s the founder of HIGHER GROUND BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL, and dam. mad. About BREAST CANCER. 

To learn more about using nutrition, exercise and wellness to support and reclaim your health, click here. 

Cathy works 1:1 with private clients. She develops customized strategies for diet, lifestyle & weight loss challenges unique to the breast cancer community.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to get her FREE Lifestyle Choices Matter! Get Started Guide. 

Sources:

1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
2. Estimation of the Number of Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer in the United States
3. Breast Cancer Facts
4. US National Library of Medicine Breast Cancer
5. Breast Cancer.org Family History
6. Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
7. National Breast Cancer Foundation Risk Factors
8. Breast cancer types: What your type means
9. Limitations of Mammograms
10. 20-Year Risks of Breast-Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years
11. MetUP
12. American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2019-2020