I have a dear friend who is sending me a quote every day. Every single day. She's done this since she found out I had breast cancer. It's amazing how words can move a person. The quotes she emails lift me up, inspire me and help me put one foot in front of the other -- which is exactly what I have to do right now. This one came just the other day:

Your current safe boundaries were once unknown frontiers.
- Anonymous

This is fitting because I have to say, from the very beginning I have had this 'sense' of the women who've been here before me. From my first MRI to see if the cancer had spread to the lumpectomy and then mastectomy - I feel such a sisterhood with those I don't even know. They inspire me. People are asking me, "how are you so strong?" I am staying strong because I feel a need to talk about what I am learning but I also know I am staying strong because of all of the women who've come before me.

I will tell you though, as a woman it is difficult to lose your breasts AND your hair. That's exactly what's happened to me in the last month and a half. Friday (10/16), I went to my husband's fire station in Everett where more than 40 guys shaved their heads to support me. I couldn't believe that many guys came out. Anyone who has a loved one in the fire department knows they are like an extended family. That has never felt more true to me than it did Friday.

I told some of the guys when they go on calls now and they're asked why they have bald heads it is their responsibility to talk about breast cancer. Awareness. Mammograms. Self exams. I think it's important to just get it out there. I think they'll actually do it, which is awesome.

In my last blog I talked about how mammograms do 'catch' 70-80 percent of breast cancers but mammograms need to be coupled with self exams. I want to tell you what I learned from Dr. Kara Carslon. Dr. Carlson is the director of the Breast Center and Evergreen Hospital Medical Center. She feels it is imperative for women to 'know' their breasts. If you've been reading my blogs -- that is what I've been writing about. If you're a man reading this please don't stop. You probably have a woman in your life -- a sister, mother, wife, girlfriend -- so you can tell them this, too.

Dr. Carlson tells me it's no excuse to say, "my breasts are bumpy and lumpy anyway, I don't know what I'm feeling." Her advice is this: spend a week getting to know your breasts and here's how. In the morning before you get out of bed, do a self exam (remember, to feel into your armpit area too, some breast tissue is there). Then standing up in the shower, do it again. Then that night while your brushing your teeth or before you go to sleep do it again. Do that every day for a week. I'd never heard this before! What great advice. After a week -- you will know what's normal for YOU. Write notes if you have to. Then the next month do a self exam. Just one. You will know if something feels different.

Since we can't control who gets breast cancer, I do want to tell you what we can control. We're talking about behavior and lifestyle. My radiation oncologist, Dr. Eric Taylor has 30 years of experience in this field. I listen when he talks. He tells me we should all be exercising. We all know this, but if it could lower your risk of breast cancer would you be more likely to do it? At least 30 minutes, 5 times a week.

Also, get down to a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated from a person's weight and height and provides a reliable indicator of body fatness. Dr. Taylor also says we should all be eating a good diet (you know, fruits & veggies) to lower the breast cancer risk.

Now about alcohol and nicotine. The American Cancer Society guidelines call for no more than a glass of alcohol a day. Dr. Taylor tells me to reduce your risk of breast cancer, you should quit smoking.

I'll end this blog by saying thank you for all of your words of encouragement. I am humbled that you call me brave. I am just doing what I feel I must to spare all my "sisters" out there from going through what I'm going through. So far I've done 2 chemo sessions and am headed in for my 3rd next Monday. The hair is almost all gone. I am still sick to my stomach a lot of the time, but hey -- I'm still smiling!

Until next time,
Michelle