Janet L. Casey

The Mammo-go-round Janet L. Casey

Breast cancer is something that happens to other women, not me. And then I became one of the other women. When first diagnosed I questioned 'why me? ', as time progressed that changed to 'why not me? '. We are all susceptible to dying. Even though I cannot name one individual who has been exempted, I never saw myself as one who would pass from this world to another. That was just to much reality for me. When reality hit, the ride of unreality stopped. This was my life and I was now no different than all the 'other women'. I took on the challenge of breast cancer with humor. This is my all to true story of a ride that took 16 months from diagnosis to determining treatment. I could have chosen anger, sadness, depression, pity, fear and a plethora of other emotions that came with this diagnosis because those too were a part of daily survival. But humor would be my choice - if and when (I'm still holding out for an exemption!) I have to go I will do so leaving a smile with someone.