World Cancer Day

Sorry I'm a little behind on posting. It's been a busy week, both at work and with various kids' activities.

So I'm back at a good time -- today is World Cancer Day.

The point of the day is to raise awareness. But it's not just some static awareness, like, "Hmmm...cancer....yeah....sucks....." and then you're done. We're not just slapping a colored ribbon on the day and calling it a success.

If you go to the link above, you'll see a video from Stand Up to Cancer and the folks from around the world who are organizing this day. They're asking you to DO SOMETHING. Something besides buying a particular brand of air freshener just because it has a pink package.

Make a pledge today to do one thing, make one change, big or small, to help prevent cancer in your life.

Quit smoking.

Walk 10 minutes a day. Get a little more exercise.

Add just one more serving of fruit or veggies every day. Slice a banana into your cereal.

Make that doctor's appointment you've been putting off.

Get a cancer screening -- a mammogram, or prostate exam, or colonoscopy. Not fun, but do it anyway.


And I know, everyone's busy. Even small changes take time and effort. Heck, I've been too busy to post a blog entry -- I understand. But two years ago, every Friday for six weeks, I would go into work early, leave by 9:00am, drive for a half hour to the oncologist, sit in a chair for four hours and drift in and out of a Benedryl haze while a monoclonal antibody was pumped into my arm, then go home, grit my teeth through a stomach ache side effect for an hour, and then take a nap. It was a full day.

And guess what? That was considered an easy, mild treatment.

Take the time now. Make the change. It will be time and effort well spent.

Have a Happy World Cancer Day. And make it a happier tomorrow.