Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As October closes out and we leave October Breast Cancer Awareness Month behind, as a breast cancer survivor, I want to remind everyone that we never leave our women behind—those who have recently been diagnosed, those undergoing surgery or treatment, survivors, and, most importantly, those who have lost their courageous battle.

As women, we are a sisterhood, whether we have had breast cancer or not. We are there to support one another! Being a survivor, I had the blessing of being there for one of my sisters and a sister-in-law as they went through the process.

I was diagnosed in the fall of 2016. At the time, I was a caregiver for my parents in their home. My four sisters had jobs and helped as they could. I had two lumpectomies. During my recovery from surgery, my mother passed away, and four days later, I had to begin radiation treatments. It was a very, very hard time for me. My father was grieving, as we all were, following my mother's passing. I was driving myself to my radiation appointments, which were a 45- to 50-minute drive each way. As my treatments continued, the fatigue set in. However, when I got back home, I could not rest because I had to take care of my father. He needed me more than I needed rest.

In difficult circumstances, such as when women are diagnosed while also managing marriages, children, jobs, meals, and the everyday responsibilities of life, they are simply trying to function mentally and physically through the entire process. I can't stress enough how important it is for us, as a sisterhood and community, to do whatever we can to help someone going through breast cancer. Whatever you can do to assist, do it!

Women are wired to feel guilty when they are going through this while also having a spouse, children, or a job that requires them to change their normal daily routines. It is very stressful and can make healing take longer!

Being a part of Influential Women is a mindset of not only helping empower one another but also tuning in to the women around us who are in need, especially during circumstances when they feel they are losing control.