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This summer seems to really be flying by. Normally, I hate to see it come to an end…but this year I’m anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving. I should be wrapping up my treatment by the holidays. I’m already more than halfway through chemo, and by my birthday in October, that’ll be done. I still can’t believe it’s been just 4 months since my breast cancer diagnosis. It seems like so much longer than that. Everything has changed. I have gone through every emotion, sadness, anger, fear…yet through it all, there’s something within the human spirit that fights to go on…that fights to get up when you feel like crashing, that fights to smile when you want to break down, that holds your head up high when people stare in sympathy. I don’t just want to go on, I want to go on as a better person. I feel really good, and I feel really happy most days. Life is good.
I’ve been able to come back on the air here and there. Robin Roberts from ABC’s Good Morning America made her announcement earlier this month about her breast cancer. There was some controversy when she had her Dr. on to talk about working through treatment. Some people thought the Dr. had sugar-coated how hard treatment is. She had said that many people can do chemo on Friday and be back to work on Monday. That is true for some, but I know others who had a very hard time. Every person is different, and every body reacts differently. I’ve been lucky that most days I can get up and get to work. However, doing a talk show requires more than just ‘getting up’ and the first week of chemo I get ‘chemo-brain’ where it’s really tough for me to put my thoughts into words. When I do go on the air, sometimes I feel out of the loop, so forgive me if I’m a little ‘off’.
The Race for the Cure is coming up Saturday September 8th in Downtown Scranton. This is a terrific event, and from what I understand, a very emotional gathering. I’m planning on being there, however I am in no condition to race. I manage a few miles on the treadmill a few times a week, and that’s just wiping me out. I’ll just cheer on my ‘brothers and sisters’ and next year I’ll be walking rather than watching.
Ladies, I can’t stress enough how important it is to get a mammogram. If you have a history of breast cancer, start at 35, otherwise it’s 40. I just want to pass on that you should also do a self exam. I had a breast exam by my gynecologist exactly one month before I found my lump, and he found nothing. So be alert, and don’t be afraid of a mammogram, it may be a little uncomfortable, but it’s worth it!
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Sue Henry
