For The Girls

October is breast cancer awareness month. The chances are very high that you will know someone who has or had breast cancer during your life time. It’s very sad to think about how many women are diagnosed with it and even worse, die from it. Today was the breast cancer walk in downtown Cedar Rapids. Hundreds of people pay to walk/run a 5k to raise money for breast cancer research. A lot of businesses and schools get people to sign up as part of their group. There are also people that make their own groups in honor of someone that have fought or died of breast cancer.

            Last week I was watching an episode of Ellen before I had to go to volleyball practice. In honor of breast cancer month, she had a guest on her show that fought and beat breast cancer. Her and her sister talked about her story and what she went through. They talked about how one of the hardest parts was how she couldn’t play with her kids as much as she used to. The woman who had it was really grateful that her sister was always there to help out with anything she needed. While I was listening to this story, it brought me to tears. It was very inspiring. It makes me see how good most of our lives actually are. I can’t imagine going through that or having my sister go through that.

            Having to go through an experience like cancer would probably be the hardest thing you would ever have to do. Most people that beat cancer are really strong people after. Personally, I think that is a trait you gain while going through that experience. I can’t imagine someone being very strong at the moment they are diagnosed. But during later stages of the experience you have to enough strength to beat the cancer. Whether that strength comes from you are your family, it is a very important part of beating it.

            Cancer stories are some of the hardest things to hear or read about. They are also some of the most inspiring. And I will always have a ton of respect for anyone who has battled cancer.

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