Thursday, May 16, 2013

angelina jolie

I thought about doing a blog post regarding Angelina Jolie's prophylactic mastectomy.  It goes without saying that we have very little in common, though...even cancer-wise.  I had cancer, she didn't, I tested BRCA negative, she didn't, my mother is still a alive, still surviving, sadly hers is not.  Even our mastectomies were different -- hers was bilateral and used implants, mine was unilateral and used my own tissue for immediate reconstruction

Yet it occurs to me in the most fundamental way she and I do share the important issues.  We are both mothers.  Cancer has touched us.  We both did whatever we could to keep it from taking our lives. 

There is a lot more to say on this subject, especially from the perspective of those whose lives have been touched by cancer...but perhaps no one has said it quite so well as Nancy, from the blog Nancy's Point.  I urge you to read her piece on Ms. Jolie.  It really gets to the heart of the matter.

Of course I'm hoping for a future where our daughters (and sons) never have to face these impossibly difficult decisions...a future with nothing to fear from breast cancer.  But until that day, staying informed is our best weapon. 

7 comments:

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

I think you are both immensely brave.

Kayleigh said...

Thanks so much Jane, you always know just what to say :)

Jean (notsupermum) said...

The other thing you have in common is that you have both kicked cancer's backside. xx

Kayleigh said...

Jean -- lol, thanks...so far so good :D

Nancy's Point said...

I think we as women are all in this stuff together don't you? And of course, as mothers, well... you know what I'm talking about.

And yes, wouldn't it be nice to leave a future for our children where there are better choices and answers and less, or even no cancer!

Thanks so much for linking to my blog post and for your kind words about it. I was trying to cover a lot of ground in one post, which is not always wise! So I appreciate your positive feedback very much.

Kayleigh said...

Nancy -- I couldn't agree with you more, but then, I find that is often the case :) It was absolutely my pleasure to link to you. I'll say it again, thank YOU for all you do, and how well you do it.

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