PHOTO BY JODIE BRIM
When I was twelve years old, I remember visiting my grandparents at the beach and sitting me down to tell me some scary news. My mamaw had breast cancer. To a twelve-year-old, the word “cancer” was terrifying. I had never known anyone with cancer. Thankfully, she had a lumpectomy and the cancer was gone. Today, she’s a healthy-as-can-be 81-year-old and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
Fast forward five years to 2007. My parents sat me down to tell me some scary news. My mom had breast cancer. I was worried—of course—but to be totally honest, I didn’t worry about my mom for one second. I know how much of a fighter she is, and I knew she’d conquer breast cancer just like she does everything else in life. And she did! She had a double mastectomy and all was well. Until 12 years later when the cancer came back. This go around, I wasn’t as calm. I still knew my mom was a fighter, but I was really scared. How could it have come back? She had a double mastectomy! In true Keela fashion, she fought hard. Breast cancer 2.0 didn’t stand a chance.
I’m sure you know a breast cancer survivor…you may know someone who didn’t survive breast cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Regardless of how old you are, I want you to take some action. If you are old enough to get a mammogram, schedule your annual mammogram. If you aren’t old enough, consider going to genetic counseling. It’s one of the best health decisions I’ve ever made. You sit down with them and tell them your in-depth family history, get genetic testing done, and they’ll let you know what you may be at a higher risk for. If you’re like me and are at a higher risk for breast cancer, they’ll clear you to go ahead and start getting annual mammograms and/or breast MRIs.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Outpatient Imaging invites you to support the 3P Fund through their virtual event coming up October 4th- 8th! The 3P fund provides FREE mammograms for the underserved in our community.
As always, October is such a busy month! If you’re looking for things to do this month, look no further! This issue is chock full of events. Lewisville Laser is celebrating 13 years on October 14th, we’re having a Girls’ BRUNCH Out (instead of our normal Girls’ Night Out) on Friday, October 8th at Young Cardinal, the 2nd Annual Lewisville Clemmons Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is happening on October 18th and so much more!!
Finally, we’d be honored if you would consider joining the Forsyth Mags team for the Walk to End Alzheimers. My uncle wrote a beautiful tribute to my papaw and we’re so proud to feature it in this issue. You can also see step-by-step instructions and a QR code for joining our team on the following page. The walk will happen on Saturday, November 6th, and it’s FREE to sign up!
As always, be sure to give us a follow on our social media platforms for event updates, giveaways, and more! You can find us @forsythmags on Instagram and Facebook. And if you love listening to podcasts, tune into the Forsyth Magazines podcast! A new episode drops every Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any of the major podcast streaming platforms.
Wishing you a happy and healthy month of October with all the fun things that fall brings!
Best,
