Thinking Pink

October has arrived which means seeing pink just about everywhere.  Watching football games today made me especially aware of just how much emphasis is placed on breast cancer awareness, which is an awesome thing!  I think back to my tenure as Women's Care Coordinator at a diagnostic radiology provider and remember how fulfilling it was to help women keep up with their routine screening mammograms.  Part of my job also involved recalling women for additional views, what's referred to as a diagnostic vs. a screening mammogram, whenever there was anything suspicious or unclear.  I learned first hand how stressful it could be for a woman that required more imaging because their mind instantly determined something must be wrong.  The vast majority of the time there was nothing at all there but it just took a more thorough examination to make that clear.  Women's health is such an important issue and there can't be enough education and promotion.  I think the NFL in particular deserves a great deal of credit for its efforts in bringing awareness to the issue.  And now, after several high profile cases recently, they are finally coming around to recognize domestic violence as well.  I certainly hope they put as much thought and effort into it as they do for breast cancer awareness every October.  But this isn't about the NFL, it's about women and making sure they get their annual screenings and, if there is anything there, catch it early and get it taken care of.  All of my life, the very best friends I've ever had have always been women.  I'm not sure why that's been the case but I am so blessed to have all of them in my life and I cherish each and every one of them.

As an homage to all of these brilliant women I've been so honored to call friends, I thought it was appropriate to post this today.  I think I'm especially aware of how important it is to stay on top of routine exams and be sure to do regular self checks because of what I've been through this year.  I am beginning to understand that my situation, in part, was a result of issues that have been there for a long time festering and eating away at me without any intervention or treatment sought until things were so overwhelming that I simply crashed and burned.  I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy let alone my most special friends and family.  So please don't ever let something go until it is a problem that seems too big or overwhelming to handle.  All of the friends and family that make up my support system have vehemently asserted their love and care for me and made me realize what an impact it would have been on them had I been successful at ending my life.  They continue to be there for me and bolster my resolve to tackle the insurmountable mountain of negative emotions and feelings, and I cannot express enough what a help it has been in my process of recovery.  That's why I feel so strongly that they do the same for me in return and help to assure that they won't be leaving me anytime soon because of something that went unchecked.  Turnabout is fair play, after all!  So please be vocal and spread the word.  Tell every woman in your life to get a mammogram every year and do regular self examinations.  It's not just about saving the ta-ta's, it's about saving a life!