Should I tell my date I had breast cancer? Would this scare them off? When should you talk about serious topics such as illness during the early stages of dating?
Amongst all the good times, the #baddies also came to handle business. We spent a full day learning and strategizing so that we can all contribute to expanding the reach of For the Breast of Us. It was a great time bouncing ideas off one another, learning of each other’s strengths and areas of interest, and committing to work together to ensure that other women get to experience For the Breast of Us. We entered as strangers, but we left as sisters.
After just one day with these women, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was stripped of the armor I seemed to wear daily. The armor of the strong mother and daughter, the wife who was rediscovering her sexuality, the strong black woman at work .. even the model Breast Cancer thriver. Amongst that group of amazing women, I got to shed these layers, bare my soul, and eventually bare parts of my body that others often take to represent the extent of our journeys.
We need to knock and kick down every door possible to let politicians know that this is unacceptable. Money does not need to be spent on making people aware of cancer – we do not need sunglasses and pop sockets and hats and pins.
We need research that produces real results!
Breast Cancer survivor, Marquita Goodluck shares how diagnosis and treatment changed her approach to life.
I told myself I didn’t need a man to make me happy and that was true, but the life partner assigned to me wouldn’t walk away when I felt unworthy, struggled with self esteem and body image or when all the woes of survival came to disturb my peace.
My cancer made it very clear to me that tomorrow wasn’t promised. So, I needed to make the most of my time. I wanted nothing more than to recover what we were rebuilding and move forward.
Unfortunately, his cancer didn’t make him feel the same.
Many times I expected people to know what kind of support I needed. But I realize now, I didn’t know what kind of support I needed. As soon as I was diagnosed, people would offer to help, but I never knew exactly what to tell them. I lost myself. I never truly knew the extent of help I would need.
Signing in at oncology clinics while the older patients question if I’m in the right place. Going to support groups as the “breast cancer baby” because everyone else is two or three times my age. Being constantly told that I am “too young” to have breast cancer and yet, here I am – the odd girl out.
I felt invigorated. I felt inspired. I felt SEEN. I had never been in a situation where I was surrounded by so many kick ass women. They had all been through what I was going through, and that was powerful for me.
Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.
On the Web:
www.breastofus.com
www.breastofusfoundation.org
Email:
hello@breastofus.com
Welcome to our community—where hope thrives, strength is found, and sisters in the fight become family.
