Whenever I would hear that slogan, Think Pink, I was reminded of one of childhood idols: the Pink Panther. No cat was as sly or groovy as that cat. I am sure that is not what they were hoping for when the initiated the campaign, but I can’t stop myself. As cool as that cat was, this isn’t a post about him (although I couldn’t stop myself from sharing). As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At this point in my post I could hook you up with some awesome statistics or link you up to some informative and well done site, nothing wrong with that. Instead, I thought I would introduce you to another of my childhood idols: Great. Coming up with her super secret internet name was easy. She is and always has been Great, and that is what we all call her. She is one of the strongest, bravest, caring, faith-filled and most loving women on the face of the planet. She is a real fighter, my hero, my idol, and my everything. Mother of five, grandmother of six, great grandmother of eight, and great-great grandma to three. She is my grandmother and she is a survivor of breast cancer.

Great, can you tell us a bit about your breast cancer. How you found out, what you were feeling and your treatment? I found out when I discovered a lump in my right breast. It was the size of a pea and hard like a raw pea.  On my next visit to my primary Dr. which happened to be scheduled 2 days later I asked about it.  He immediately referred me to a surgeon whom had already done other surgery for me.  The surgeon said we had to do a biopsy.  I had this done in a lab and the answer came back positive for beast cancer. You, Vix, took me for the biopsy and were with me when it was done.  I began to realize that I was not really feeling upset and that led me to know that I was not really surprised because I knew as soon as I felt the lump that it was cancer . Don`t know why. I never had thought of me having cancer. That was for other people!!!!! The surgeon explained we could go in and see if we could remove the cancer or, if not, we would do mastectomy. I was 80 yrs old and widowed so I reasoned loss of breast would not affect me aesthetically and would remove threat of cancer returning to that breast so I opted to have full mastectomy of right breast…..this, of course, is for everyone to decide for themselves. And how are you now? I did well with surgery and recovery.  I have not had a return of breast cancer. I had 35 lymph glands removed from right arm. I then saw an oncologist who put me on arimadex and saw me every three months. Yesterday I saw him again and he said I have reached the 5 year mark and I am now in remission. Hallelujah and thank you God.
In your life you have survived many things, including a world war, raising five kids, breast cancer and then battling and beating lymphoma last year. Does being a breast cancer survivor change your outlook on life? Surviving breast cancer and lymphoma cancer has changed my life. I now fully realize we never know when or what will happen to us and we should wake up each morning thanking God for this day. If we can do this we can make it through whatever that day brings, be it great sorrow or great happiness and never let ourselves feel despair, because there is always hope.

As the mother of three women, how do you feel about breast cancer awareness, prevention and the race to find a cure? As the mother of 3 women, the Grandmother of three women and the Great-grandmother of two girls I highly support awareness, prevention and the race to find a cure. I pray for these things every day . And i know the Blessed Mother hears our prayers and  supports us, after all she is a mother. too!!!!!

Hope this helps with your post.  Keep telling your females to do breast checks and have mammos faithfully.  Love to all, G

I was tagged by CoastalCommentaries to join the Pink Sisterhood. It is very important that women who cannot afford mammograms still get them. These women deserve to grow up to be someone else’s Great.

And the nominees are: Jessica, Mrs. B, WackyMommy, Shelly, Claudia, Allisone, and Frigga