October is breast cancer awareness month in Canada. I must say it feels a bit strange to have a single month during the year dedicated to breast cancer awareness if you consider the recommended practice of monthly self-exams. Breast cancer has been one of my "causes", or more aptly put, one of my concerns, since my mother's diagnosis at an early age of 47. It's been 22 years since she's been cancer-free so, basically every year that passes I say whew, and also yippee!!!
October is drawing to an end as I write this but like the saying goes, better late than never, right? That could also be said for getting your mammogram. I'm usually such a stickler for making my 2 year appointments but somehow, someway, life just got in the way. So there was delay after delay, until almost 6 months after my April 24th birthday "reminder" I finally "remembered" to have my mammogram. My appointment was made and I had to cancel on a friend for an event planned on the same night. Always the one to make light of a heavy situation, I told him I had a "pressing engagement".
So, if you're thinking "when was the last time I had one?", or "Sheesh, I should get around to it someday.", then maybe it's time to make an appointment with your doctor, just saying!
Random House Canada has a great selection of memoirs and non-fiction titles that deal with the topic of breast cancer so I thought it would be fitting to share this list. Please pass it along to your mom, your aunt, your friend, or your sis. These books are full of hope, happiness, despair, and dark humour. You will laugh, you will cry, but best of all these books don't lie.
When My World Was Very Small: A Memoir of Family, Food, Cancer, and My Couch by Ruth Rakoff (shown above)
Eating Pomegranates; A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters, and Genes by Sarah Gabriel
Her-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer by Robert Bazell
BOOKALICIOUS BOOK GRAB GIVEAWAY
Random House Canada has a Bosom Books prize pack containing Eating Pomegranates and When My Life Was Very Small to give to a lucky Bookalicious reader who leaves a comment sharing their story below.
Yummy Rules and Regulations
You must be a Yummy Mummy Club member to win. Click to sign up! It's free and filled with perks. One comment per member. Entries accepted until November 7, 2011. Contest open to Canadian residents. Winners will be picked using www.random.org. Please mark the email [email protected] as a "safe sender" when you enter a Bookalicious giveaway and respond within 1 week to claim your prize!
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Relish reading,
Wanda Lynne Young
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