I Touch My Boobs

I bet that title got your attention, didn't it? Good. I wanted it to. This is some serious stuff.

We all hear about October being Breast Cancer Awareness month but do we take the time really think about it? What it means to us as women. How serious this can be? You know when we were kids we always thought when something bad happened that it couldn't happen to us. And if you're honest...you still think the same thing. Well, I'm here to tell you it can happen to you. It'll turn your world upside down.

Mom is such a fighter! 

In 2008, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 64 years old when she found the lump. We watched her go through chemo, radiation, and surgery. She lost her hair. She was so sick. And it was scary. Here we are dealing with a disease that kills. I wasn't ready to lose my mommy. You learn to pray a lot and pray hard. Thankfully, she is okay. She was able to beat this and has been cancer free for 3 years now.

Some aren't so lucky ... like my friend Ashley.

Ashley - 1st chemo treatment
- just look at the beautiful smile!

Ashley was 30 years old when she was first diagnosed. She had 2 sons and an amazing husband. She fought with everything in her to try to conquer this evil disease. And she couldn't. Chemo, radiation and it still spread to her spinal cord and brain and in March 2011 Heaven got an angel. Ashley hated the thought of leaving her family behind. She wanted to grow old with her husband and watch her kids grow up, marry and give her grandkids. God had other plans for her and we have to accept that. She had. Ashley told me, "I have to admit I am scared to death, but I know God hasn't been moved off the throne so even if everything is not alright now no matter the outcome things will be ok". I know we will see her again one day and that's how one gets through each day without her.

If Ashley were here today, she would tell you to not be stupid (because Ashley wasn't shy - she told you how it was) and that you needed to do self breast exams. And if you even think that you feel something, anything - go to the doctor. Don't wait. Call right away.

I know it's scary. I'm so paranoid. The thought of going through what these two women went through terrifies me. I don't know if I could do it with the grace that they did. I also don't want to not do anything and then have my kids grow up knowing I didn't fight to stay around for them.

I am begging you to please do self-breast exams and have mammograms. This is a matter of life and death.

To learn how to do a self-check go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation website . Do this once a month (at least) in the shower or when laying in bed at night. Mark it on your calendar. Just do it!