RAISING Awareness for Breast Cancer

It was only a matter of time before my wheels started turning on ways to help OTHER young women and mothers experiencing this horrible phase that some unfortunately encounter in their lifetime.  I've decided that it is my obligation to help raise the awareness for breast cancer and I am going to fight like hell for the rest of my life until we are all AWARE!  

definition  Awareness: having knowledge of

SO many women are affected by Breast Cancer - (and all other Cancers - this one just happens to hit home with me).  I hear a small voice telling me to educate, speak about IT, stand strong, be a friend and rock to someone who needs it, and more than anything to be a Survivor.   When I'm done with my treatments and my energy levels come back and I return to the "old Mindy", I will be all over the place trying to help others in this situation.  This is a down right scary time and I want to give back by educating and raising awareness. 

I have read TONS of books from Crazy Sexy Cancer, Stand By Her, Dr Susan Love's The Breast Book, and every piece of literature and pamphlet thrown my way.  I have researched, compared my notes from my surgeons, and changed our way of living.  This will be shocking to most because you probably know that never, in my adult years, would I have ever picked up any reading material that didn't say "US Weekly or People". But I feel a NEED to know EVERYTHING about breast cancer.

Here are some Very Scary but REAL Statistics, but because of my new found obsession I felt the need to include these here:

 *  One in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime
 *  Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54
 * 70% of breast cancer occur in women without a family history of the disease
 * There are more than 250,000 women UNDER the age of 40 and currently living with breast cancer
 * Breast Cancer in women under 50 is more agressive and virulent
 * The five year survival rate for young women with Breast Cancer is 83%

On a different note - but still the same .... My treatment was last week (Tuesday).  The days following were terrible.  I was sick, tired, and I had a near fainting spell at Waterloo on Saturday from the heat.  I napped often and was in bed by 7pm most nights.  I caught myself thinking: "If I go to bed now then I'll get to the next day much sooner and start feeling a little better".  I've never considered myself as lame or boring, but that's me right now.  I'm finally feeling better and have some energy back.  My treadmill is calling my name!  I guess its safe to assume that my treatment weeks are going to be tough.  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 SUCK.  I've got 2 weeks of goodness until my next one.  Got so much to do!!