“Breast cancer changes you, and the change can be beautiful.” (Jane Cook, breast cancer survivor). October is the breast cancer awareness month and people are wearing  pink to support the women currently going through it and survivors. Breast cancer is a tragic illness and helping to do anything we can whether it’s charities or wearing pink throughout the month could really make a difference.

   Getting breast cancer is not a choice, yes there are things you can do to prevent it but sometimes there isn’t. Breast cancer is an uncontrolled group of cells. Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. I won’t go too far into the details, but the main point is it isn’t easy. I’ve personally known a family friend who had the disease and it takes more courage and strength than you know. What I say is always keep fighting, the outcome will be worth it.

   Never take for granted the ability to live, one day it could all go away, waking up in the morning, having another chance to make the bad into good and live the life you want it is more than I could ever ask for. Being a survivor of breast cancer is so remarkably incredible that it makes such an intriguing story. For example, Audry Allen, a breast cancer survivor says, “After dealing with cancer, you just never know what the end of the road is going to be, and one thing I’m so thankful for is my family.” She kept hope within her the whole time and pulled through. So many more survivors and their stories are on http://www.cancercenter.com/breast-cancer/stories/ .

   Every person touched by cancer has a story to tell. These stories remind us that there are survivors and people who fight and come out on top. It’s all in the attitude; wearing pink to support is even showing you have the attitude! Michele Hawkins’s, a 27-year-old, states, “I’ll take this bull by the horns. Yes, it might throw me around a bit and knock me to the floor every once in awhile, BUT, after everything is all said and done, I WILL BE THE ONE LEFT STANDING!” (http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_CY14_StoriesOfHope_MicheleHawkins ). Hope only runs out if you let it.