October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hello,

My name is Swampwitch.
aka: Kathy, Kath, Kats. . . and especially Mom, Gammy, and GaGa
I am a breast cancer SURVIVOR !
Most of the readers who come here, I do not know.
To those of you who post, I have come to know you only through your words and pictures.
In my very first story about Globbing: How Do I Start? I mentioned several reasons for having my own blog.
I had never seen a blog until August.
By the end of September, my objective was to know enough about blogging to be able to share a story . . . . . . a story of fear, hope, love, pain, smiles, tears, and survival.
Many bloggers stopped in and helped me along the way. You have taught me how to post a picture, to add a link, to use Flickr and PhotoBucket . . . you have actually been on the phone with me to help. My blog has taken on a new look because of a blogger friend. She has helped me add my pictures across the top and to the side, organized my stories, and added that pretty pink clock. I THANK ALL OF YOU ! You know who you are. Here is a ((hug)) for all of you.
Some of my posts beginning now will deal with breast cancer.
This is not a ploy to see how many comments I can receive.
It is a sincere effort to reach out to those who lives have been affected or are affected by this disease. You are welcome to ask questions about my experience. Sharing my story is therapeutic.

The statements I make will relate only to my particular case.
My advice to readers who are traveling that journey to survival is to make all your decisions with your doctors and with the support of your family.

When I was conducting in-service workshops for teachers, I made it a point to end each session with statistics, facts and information on how to do self exams. Most of the time I didn’t know the people in my audiences. During that short period of time, two of those teachers contacted me to tell me they had followed my instructions and made appointments for mammograms. Both of these ladies were diagnosed with malignant tumors. Years later, I still hear from those beautiful, healthy ladies.

If you know of someone who would like to spend about five minutes each day to read stories of fear, hope, love, pain, tears, smiles, and survival, send them here. Not every post will be about breast cancer. Some days there may only be a bouquet of flowers waiting here. Some posts will just be random, as that's what this blog is . . . random.

Education is the key to action. Education is power. Early detection is the key to survival. Mammograms are important. Monthly self-exams are important. If only one person is encouraged, uplifted, supported, and instructed, then it has been worth all the time, energy, and effort that goes into maintaining a blog.

"I suppose if I had to choose just one quality to have, that would be it: vitality."

---John F. Kennedy

If you are new to reading blogs, you can click on the underlined/color words which will link you to more information.

Note to my fellow Bloggers: I may not be on your doorstep everyday with a comment as I do have some obligations this month that will pull me away from my computer. I will stay in touch as often as I can. :)