Have you got boobs? Then you’ve got a dog in this fight.

We had an awesome Survivor Saturday this past weekend at the Womens 4 Miler Training Program. Two breast cancer survivors spoke of their personal battles with this disease. There was Patty, a young woman who truly didn’t fit any high risk profile. Even her doctors were skeptical that the lump she found could be anything but benign. Then there was Louise, a woman with a compelling family history of cancer who regrettably let her annual mammogram appointment lapse. She gave us all fair warning not to do the same. Their stories serve as powerful lessons of both warning and hope, and we are blessed by their generosity and celebrate their happy outcomes.

Let me lay a few facts on you:

• One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
• Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.

I had never given a lot of thought to breast cancer. I had no family history, except for my great grandmother who was diagnosed in her mid 90s. I mean at that age, it’s gotta be something, right? But here’s one that really blew me away:

• Women who have a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister) have a risk of breast cancer 2 to 4 times greater than average. [BUT...]
• Genetically inherited forms of breast cancer only comprise about 5 to ten percent of breast cancers cases overall.

Whoa! So having a family history of breast cancer may put you in a higher risk category, but not having a family history of breast cancer really doesn’t afford me any “GET OUT OF CANCER FREE” passes? Maybe I should be taking this whole deal a little more seriously.

I didn’t believe I had too many risk factors aside from poor diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity and having my first baby as an “old” lady (30!). During the course of my own personal wellness journey, I got involved with the Women’s 4 Miler which revolves around education and fundraising for the UVA Breast Care Center.  I started running because I wanted to lose weight; I trained with the W4MTP because it was a kind, safe, and proven training program for women like me.

All that breast cancer stuff was incidental to me, but I started hearing some of these startling statistics, and more importantly, I came to know and love too many women who were in the fight of their lives, or who were survivors, or who had lost a loved one to this disease. For me, it has gone beyond statistically scary to downright heartbreaking.

I know now, that even though I may be doing all the right things, I am not immune to the vagaries of cancer. So for myself and for every friend, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and grandmother out there, I have committed to run for prevention education, better detection, better treatments, and a cure.

So if you have breasts, you have something at stake. Take care of yourself, get your mammograms, and do your monthly breast self exam. If you know and love someone with breasts, this issue is yours as well.  

References:

cancer.org

cancerfacts.com

UVa Breast Care Center

4 Good Reasons to Join 4 Miler Training

Reason # 1: You have breasts.

The Women’s 4 Miler Training Program is for women only, so right away you are relieved of a certain amount of anxiety about performance and appearance. More importantly, however, is that the Charlottesville Track Club sponsored Women’s Four Miler Training Program (heretofore referred to as the W4MTP) occurs in conjunction with the Women’s Four Miler race. The race raises awareness about and funds for breast cancer research, treatments and outreach programs. Last year over $300,000 was raised – all of which stayed in this community, going directly to the UVA Breast Care Center to support cutting edge treatments and programs.

Reason #2: Any movement is good movement.

One of the prevailing themes you will hear as you gather at the track on Saturday mornings is the need to qualify one’s efforts. I’ve been guilty of this myself. Everyone is worried about not being fast enough, not being able to keep up, or looking foolish. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You will find yourself in the midst of the most positive and encouraging experience of your life. Who couldn’t use a little patch of sunshine like that in their week? So if you have legs that work, thank God for them and use them. If you have hands that work, use them to clap or wave to another in encouragement. If all you can muster is a smile for a sister – then work it. There is no effort too small or insignificant to make a difference.

Reason #3: You may need a reminder of what really lies within.

You may be familiar with the words: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Well, with all due respect our Lord and Savior, I think often the opposite is true. We indulge in limiting beliefs about ourselves, that we aren’t good enough or capable enough to accomplish certain things. I’m here to tell you, you will amaze yourself with what you can achieve if you are faithful enough to just show up. You will find something inside yourself that will push you just a little bit farther than you thought you could go. You may awaken from a life through which you had been sleepwalking. You may remember who you really are.

Reason #4: It’s not all about you.

Many women sign up for the training program and/or the race in memory of a loved one they lost to breast cancer, or to honor a survivor, or maybe in gratitude for having survived cancer themselves. Maybe you just want to get in shape and this seems within reach.

If you have even a nanosecond of guilt over taking this time for yourself, or believe your time is better spent running your kids around to their activities or sublimating your needs to everyone else’s – I’ve got news for you: Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it is the first and most important act of stewardship you have on this planet. If it is your responsibility and/or pleasure to care for a spouse, children, aging parents, a job, volunteer activities and all the other demands of a woman’s life, then it is your responsibility to take care of the body that carries you through those committments. You will feel better. You will have more energy. You may lose a couple of pounds. You will definitely have a glow about you as evidence that you are fully alive, and everyone in your circle of influence will benefit.

Opening Day is June 20th, 7:45am at the UVa track. Go to the W4MTP website for more information. If you have questions or need a little encouragement, feel free to contact me directly at mcfulton@yahoo.com.