Happy New Year!

I just finished the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Boston (a 6 mile walk to raise money & support for breast cancer research, early detection, and survivor support programs), which this year I dedicated to my “aunty” Daisy who is a survivor. I’ve heard that cancer changes you, but if she didn’t tell you she had cancer you wouldn’t even know it. She’s the same bubbly, humorous, and loving person I’ve grown to love all these years. There’s nothing like beating cancer to make you feel like you’ve been given a new life, another chance.

And while I’ve not had to deal with cancer, birthdays give me the same feeling of starting anew (and it makes me wonder if this is why the American Cancer Society is now the sponsor of birthdays…). I recently celebrated mine and I usually treat mine as a new year in addition to a birthday. I reflect on how my life was the year before, and appreciate the blessings I have now.

Last year I created a list of things I wanted to do before my next birthday, and this year the list continues, with an added emphasis in giving more to others. Prior to beginning law school, I worked for a company that allowed me to do a lot of volunteer work, and I fear that due to my workload I won’t be able to volunteer as much as I used to. Donating your time to help others is a great way to celebrate life. It reinforces our purpose, and reminds us that we all need each other. I hope others treat their birthdays as new years in which they can make a difference in the lives of others as well as their own. Forget what happened before, and treat today as if you’ve been given a new life. And who knows, maybe you’ll help to sponsor some birthdays, too!

Breast Cancer Month

In case you didn’t know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer awareness is something I’ve been very passionate about, as I many people who had or died from it. Breast cancer affects all of us, and it has a different effect on men and black women.

Although rare, men can get breast cancer. And because this is rare, men aren’t routinely screened for breast cancer, thus when they are diagnosed it may be too late.

Black women are another group of people who suffer from breast cancer because they don’t get checked in time, if at all; and because they tend to get the triple negative form of breast cancer (a type that does not respond well to hormonal therapy) their chances of survival are harder than white women, who tend to get other types of breast cancer.

A lot of work still remains to be done in breast cancer research, and triple negative breast cancer isn’t as thoroughly researched as other types- because black women are less willing to participate in research and clinical trials for breast cancer than white women.

While it is still debatable whether or not breast cancer is preventable, one of the ways in which you can decrease your chances of getting it is through exercise. I’ve read many different articles and medical journals that have said that regular exercise can cut your breast cancer risk (among other things) by 64%.

In light of this fact, I’ve committed to exercising everday in the month of October, and I’m hoping others will join, too. I’ve already done my workouts the past few days, and tomorrow I’ll be walking again in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, joining others working to find a cure.