You know, the one nobody likes to say. Possibly the most scary word in the dictionary. Cancer. I'm not talking about the Zodiac sign! Cancer affects more and more people everyday. Billions of dollars go into cancer research every year, and still, we can't stop it. Skin cancer is on the rise. So many young people go tanning 3 times a week to get that 'just got back from the beach' look without thinking how it will affect them in the long run. Many women don't go to the doctor and get their yearly screenings for breast or uteran cancer because of their 'it won't happen to me!' attitude. Men cringe at the idea of yearly colonoscopies.

One of the scariest things I've ever experienced, was my aunt sitting her children and I down and telling us that she had breast cancer. So many things went through my mind. 'Is she going to have Chemo?' 'Is she going to be sick all the time now?' 'Will she have to have her breast removed?' and the scariest of all, 'Am I going to lose her?' It's amazing how much more you appreciate life once you've seen your family go through this. I can't even imagine what it's like for a cancer patient! And, honestly, I wouldn't want to. Aunt Diane had a successful lumpectomy in 2005 and has had regular checkups ever since. She's always checked out clear. Until now. She had an ultrasound that revealed two shadows. Not in her breasts or her uteris, like is common after having breast cancer once, but in her abdomen. She's been horribly sick for the last two weeks and has had incredible pain just below her rib cage. The doctors did a CT Scan on her today but, unfortunately, we most likely won't hear the results until Tuesday thanks to the holiday. Waiting is the hardest part, both for my aunt, and those who love her. We've been down this road before, and even though she came out on top that time, who's to say we'll be so lucky this time? We're all being very hopeful and encouraging, but underneath it there are still all those questions that you don't want to think about.

Sorry this is so long, but I just really needed to verbalize what's going through my head. And I want to let people know that IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! Do whatever you need to do to cut your chances! Make sure you have regular screenings, because the longer it's there without you knowing, the more time it has to grow and destroy valuable tissues! Please. If not for you, do it for the ones who love you.