i love…PINK!!!

On the heels of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am recovering from surgery on my breast. About nine/ ten years ago, after a self-examination, I had been diagnosed with fibroadenoma. According to the US National Library of Medicine’s Website, fibroadenoma is

Fibroadenoma is the most common benign tumor of the breast and the most common breast tumor in women under age 30. A fibroadenoma is made up of breast gland tissue and tissue that helps support the breast gland tissue. Black women tend to develop fibroadenomas more often and at an earlier age than white women. The cause of fibroadenomas is not known.

I discovered my first lump my freshman year of college. It was the scariest day of my life! As soon as I felt it – I FREAKED!! Before then, I had been performing self-examinations for about 4-5 years, since I was about 12 or 13. Yes 12 or 13!! I was always Mommy’s shopping-partner-in-crime…so after hour upon hour at the mall, I’d be right there once we were home to help her unpack all the goodies we bought. I can’t recall which brand of sheers (or stockings – for you young bucks) had the self-examination instructions inside their packaging, but I remember every single time Mommy chucked the thin piece of cardboard on her dresser while rushing to church…I was always right behind her dashing to the bathroom to look in the mirror to check to see if there were any lumps in “barely-theres”.

I’ve always been one to explore my body! This truly annoyed my mother – she’d always say I’s get what I was looking for…she never,until this day understood my obsession. But the winter of 2003, when I called Mommy, in tears, she didn’t hesitate to tell me to “go to the student health center first thing in the morning.” I was in Massachusetts, Mommy was in Jersey. I had a few weeks until Winter break, and I wanted nothing more than to be home with my family. After the nurse practitioner examined me, she referred me to the local hospital that would confirm my fears: there was a lump. During Winter Break, I returned to New Jersey to get a second opinion – only for that physician to tell me it was normal breast tissue. I knew my body, and I KNEW she was incorrect. SO, I went another physician to obtain a THIRD opinion, and he agreed with the first physician – there was a breast mass that needed to be removed.

I prepared for surgery…

Surgery day, I was so nervous. I remember laying on the operating table and the physician’s assistant asking me a bunch of questions – two seconds later I was out, only to wake up in a recovery room, in what seemed like 15 minutes! Tests came back…and NE-ga-TIVE!  Yet, here we are again…and again – NE-ga-TIVE! While I give thanks to the Creator for negative/ yet positive results, I know it is my duty to be proactive in my health and caring for this vessel with which I’ve been blessed.

I don’t ever hesitate to share this story because of its importance. My mom and I never shared this conversation, and I give thanks for having the courage, even at a young age, to familiarize my self with my body, and educating myself. Cancer does not discriminate, everyone is susceptible…black, white, young, poor. The important thing is awareness and educating yourself and others to…

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