In Memory of a Loved One Oct 12 '08    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Books Mark Billingham - Death Message From $20 Michael Abadie - Shiny Side Up: Motivati From $13 The Bottom Line laurashrti's write-off reviews for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 2008 should reach many readers and may save many lives. As most of us know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I saw a few reviews written in honor of all the people who are living with this dreadful disease or knowing a loved one or friend who has it and some reviews were for to go to the breast cancer site to click where a donation was made for every click you make . Epinion writers are taking part in laurashrti's write-off on Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2008. . Since this is a very important subject I believe every person should be aware to have a breast check every time something suspicious is found and to have a mammogram every year. This write-off may persuade people who contemplated making an appointment to finally make one. Be sure to wash off all deodorant and perfume before your exam. Any traces of zinc, aluminum and magnesium can imitate calcifications which can be early signs of cancer and you do not want a scare like that plus a mammogram is very expensive to have a false report or to have to repeat over, so always shower with plain soap that has no deodorant in it and water the morning of the exam. Some of you recall when I mentioned about my sister-in-law Kathy (user ID: kathys3kids) who had been fighting breast cancer for years. Also her husband's review about his dear wife at USER ID: goodluckcharm and Ainsleyjo's comments (Thanks again Ainsleyjo!) on both my brother's and son's review as well as Kathy's. My son wrote about it on: http://www.epinions.com/content_4561477764 I have not been good writing this review in the least as I am writing just what comes to mind as it is a subject that terrifies me. I saw a loved one ravaged with this disease which started outside of her breasts and lose in one year's time back in 1990 and also the dear person I'm writing about now who was so optimistic about herself getting cured. Another fighter who lost just last month was her sister, Susan who I've been very close to since Kathy's death. So, I am writing more as a vent as I think I may need counseling on this matter. Kathy was in her early thirties when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. What she went through down in Florida to have a mammogram was unbelievable. She went to her family doctor and fourteen months later when the lump got bigger she went to five different gynecologists before someone would finally believe her story about the pain in her breast on top of what looked like a mole. All she wanted was for it to be checked further. By then almost another year had passed and it was too late. She had her breast removed of course. Now don't get me wrong, having breast cancer does not usually start with pain. Some women have naturally painful breasts and there is nothing wrong Most times there is no pain symptoms having breast cancer but in most cases there is a small pea-sized lump. Kathy was told by these doctors that she was too young to have breast cancer, too young to have a mammogram and much too young to have the insurance company pay for it because they wouldn't, that breast cancer attacks much older women. NOT TRUE AT ALL!!! Anyone can get breast cancer. It has even been found in men, it's rare, but it has been found in men. But the majority are women. Any female of childbearing years can get breast cancer whether you have had children or not. It is very important to have a breast exam and a yearly mammogram every year. Today you are allowed to get a mammogram at an early age. It's too bad it took all those deaths from breast cancer to wake up the insurance companies. My beautiful sister-in-law was sent from her hometown in Florida to Boston and Pennsylvania a few times during her treatment for breast cancer when new symptoms occurred. One day she started having problems with one of her eyes. Kathy was in remission many times during chemo. Her beautiful spirit kept her going. But always this horrible affliction returned. Then radiation was done on her. The doctors did not know why her eyesight was going blurry in one eye so they sent her to a hospital in Pennsylvania. They thought it was the effects of the radiation but the diagnosis was cancer. Then in a matter of not even two years it spread to her other eye and she became blind. By then her family had deleted every dime they had and it was getting harder and harder trying to get a ride to receive her chemo treatments. My brother was by her side the whole time but then he got cancer himself and it came to a point where he was bedridden. It is sad because she received a call one day from a woman who told her that she wasn't eligible for a ride just because she was blind. However, the woman did not know Kathy had cancer and she called her back a week later telling her she was eligible only because she has cancer. If just blind, she wasn't, but for cancer she was. I don't understand some things. ??? Not one time during those times did this woman complain to anyone. In fact, after I hung up from talking to her I always felt better myself with her optimistic attitude. She always made everyone feel better and she was the one suffering. Kathy treasured each and every moment of life on this planet! They say when you write about your feelings you always feel better venting off but somehow, I cannot explain how or why, I took a lot of courage to write this as it still hurts very much from losing her. I believe with all of my heart that Kathy would still be with us today had her own family doctor ordered that mammogram back when Kathy was only 30. To make a longer story shorter and less painful for me, Kathy passed away on October 28, 2005 at the age of 45, just five weeks after my brother died also at a young age. They left behind 3 young teenagers. Her nine year battle with trying to keep the breast cancer at bay came to an end in a sad way. I also want to thank all of the dear readers at epinions for any contributions to the children made to the church in Dunedin, any letters of comfort and most of all, the prayers you all have said for Kathy's children. I especially thank Ainsleyjo for writing comments to bring readers to my son's review that was written when the children became parent-less. At her funeral mass her priest asked her family and friends in attendance what they remembered best about Kathy. I raised my hand and told everyone about the time she called me when my grandson was going through a temper tantrum. I told them Kathy's words to me "I would give anything to someday be able to hold my grandchild in my arms as you are able to." I was not kidding in the least when I said that this woman always made me feel good after talking to her. In memory of Kathy: I miss you dearly sweet lady. You were not only my sister-in-law, you were my best friend. You left behind beautiful memories that are a comfort to me. You left behind three lovely children who are so very lucky to have the solid foundation their mother set for them to walk on. Kathy was an inspiration to everyone she met and this review was written in memory of her. If Kathy were here today, she'd yell from the highest mountain to PLEASE GO AND GET YOUR YEARLY MAMMOGRAM! DO NOT PUT IT OFF ONE MORE DAY! FOR LIFE IS PRECIOUS!

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