12 years ago today I think I was at this literal time getting ready to be put in post op after breast cancer surgery or already there. I still remember the pearls and leopard patten leather clogs that my surgeon Dr. Dahlia Sataloff was wearing.

I had almost forgotten today was the day until another friend of mine who lives with metastatic breast cancer remarked that today was her 84th treatment. She is quite simply one of the bravest women I know. I met her because her husband was a long time friend of mine, and I still remember when he contacted me to tell me his wife had breast cancer.

I would not have met her if it hadn’t been for him. He was taken from her too soon because he passed away a few years ago. But she is kept going and she’s so positive and she’s done so much and she’s one of my cancer heroes.

To say my life is so different than it was 12 years ago on this day is a gross understatement. And it’s not just because of the breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a harsh mistress, it really is. But you have to look for the positive within it because if you do it frees you to be a better person or at least you try to be a better person. (I don’t know that I’m a better person every day of my life.)

12 years ago today the cancer was removed from my body. But it still left so much uncertainty at that time, and I remember that, but I chose to be positive then about it and I’m choosing to be positive now about it even on days when it’s hard.

As a woman cancer plays with your entire self body image. I also had a decade on tamoxifen which caused me to gain weight. Some of the weight is gone, but not enough of it and there are plenty of days I don’t like living in this now 59 year old body, but then again I’m glad I’m living.

I have other lifelong friends, who are probably a year or less into this journey in life called breast cancer. It’s the sorority that no one wants to join. Yet, it is a fellowship.

I have friends that I have lost to this disease, and I think about them all the time. But I am so grateful that thus far (knock on wood) breast cancer has spared me and allowed me to live uneven chest and all.

Anyway, life goes on, we’re doing well, I’m grateful for all of you out there and I’m grateful that I get to live to fight another day.

Please get your mammograms regularly, even men who carry a BRCA gene.

Happy Breast Cancer Liberation Day to me.

12 years what a long, strange trip it’s been.

💖💗