What are you waiting for?

Published October 11. 2023 02:45PM

Fact: One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer sometime in their lives.

Fact: These women have parents, siblings, children, friends. They are all affected when the woman (who we all know makes the world run) is diagnosed.

Fact: Early detection is the best chance of beating it.

Fiction: Not knowing you have cancer does not make it go away.

This year I attended the Pink Light Walk in Lehighton for the first time because my daughter-in-law Amanda Lindenmoyer was the speaker. It’s an event we usually cover and play it big in the paper.

I help with the Cancer Telethon and the walk is a great idea, but it wasn’t really on my radar.

Until now.

This year it became personal because at age 44, two days before Christmas, Amanda got the confirmation that the biopsy indeed showed cancer.

As you would imagine, Amanda went through the range of emotions, as did the family. She appeared to be in perfect health. She exercised and focused on nutrition. But a mammogram picked up something she didn’t and the story began.

She is a private person who doesn’t share what she is going through. She wasn’t in denial, but faced that ugly C head-on. But it was her battle and she wanted to keep it quiet.

In the last few months though she has become an advocate for mammograms. “Why wouldn’t you get one every year?” she asks people. It’s paid for, it’s a few moments of discomfort and it’s your best chance of survival.

That was the central theme of the walk that would benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

The evening began with a wonderful basket raffle. I was sure I would win the bird food, but didn’t.

It concluded with a hot dog, cupcake with a “Fight like a girl” decoration and an apple.

But the message in between was what counted.

It was hot and people were melting in the parking lot so one of the vendors with pink merchandise handed out cooling towels dipped in ice water. Instant relief.

I met up with a few friends, one who was also a survivor.

We walked from the Lehighton Boys and Girls band hall to the amphitheater in the park where the program took place. Dr. Ranju Gupta, Lehigh Valley Health Network Hematologist/Oncologist, spoke of the statistics I mentioned, stressing detection and treatment is easier now. She also stressed that exercise helps to beat it off - cancer loves fat cells.

The culmination was when the announcer asked cancer survivors to come up on stage, one-by-one introduce themselves and tell people how long they’ve been a survivor. As the sun was setting on the park, friends and relatives shared their triumphs.

It was a time for recognition, remembrance and celebration.

Hats off to the Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club for putting this together each year. This was the 18th annual event.

The participants certainly change throughout the years.

The purpose of the walk is the same: Stressing that early detection is the key and celebrating the victories.

The inevitable question was asked: Are you getting mammograms on a regular basis? Are you sometimes late with scheduling them? Do you skip them because you are busy? Or just don’t want to get one? Or don’t want to know?

It’s true that women often don’t take time for themselves.

The stats are there. Mammograms make a difference.

Friends, sisters, mothers, daughters, spouses, fathers, brothers should all be asking the same question of the women over 40 in their lives.