Tomorrow is Halloween and it’s also the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month for another year. I’m wrapping up October with a Breast Cancer Awareness Month roundup of my posts from the last three years. In addition to tips on how to reduce your cancer risk, you’ll find suggestions on how best to support a loved one with cancer, ideas on what not to say and do, and more.

Every woman needs to know the facts. And the fact is, when it comes to breast cancer, every woman is at risk.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Three simple pleasures and highlights

Continuing my practice of celebrating the simple things in life, here are three simple pleasures and highlights of the last week.

• After we arrived home from Vegas last weekend, we had a nice visit with our daughter Laura, who had returned from Australia a couple of days earlier.
• The beautiful fall weather continued this week with several sunny days. Wednesday’s sunrise was especially beautiful.
• Our daughter Colleen passed her driving test to get her full G licence. In Ontario, we have a graduated licensing system that requires new drivers to pass a written test, and two road tests to get their full licence. It’s a big relief for her to have that out of the way.

This week’s simple living focus: Breast Cancer Awareness Month roundup

As we end Breast Cancer Awareness Month for another year, I’m feeling especially grateful and reflective after receiving the all-clear this month following further investigation into a suspicious area spotted on my mammogram in September.

This recent scare was a sobering reminder that, despite what many people think, breast cancer patients can really never simply “put it all behind us”. Breast cancer can return many years after treatment has ended. That’s why it’s critical to stay on top of regular checkups. Early detection is key to survival.

Since starting my blog in 2019, every October I’ve made a point of sharing things I’ve learned since my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. If you’re a new reader, or missed any of these posts, here is a roundup of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month content I’ve published over the last few years.

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October 2022

This year, I refreshed the posts I originally published in 2019. If you missed any of them, here are links to the updated posts:

• Finding an aluminum-free deodorant that really works
• Dirty dozen ingredients to avoid in cosmetics
• Helpful tips for chemical-free cleaning
• You need these cancer-fighting foods in your diet

And, here are the posts from October 2021 and 2020.

October 2021

• Breast cancer survival stats and trends – there is hope
• 12 things you should never say to someone with cancer
• It’s time to end cancer cure conspiracy theories once and for all
• Are you at risk for breast cancer? Here’s what you need to know

October 2020

• Best ways to support someone with cancer
• What you need to know about exercise and cancer
• How a breast self-exam saved my life
• Terry Fox – Inspiration in the fight against cancer

To do this week

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. So the only thing to be really afraid of is if you don’t go get your mammogram.

Cynthia Nixon

I have heard people say they avoid regular screenings because they’d rather not know if they have cancer. This makes no sense to me at all. When detected early, many cancers can be treated and cured.

If you’ve been putting off your mammogram, pap test, or any other screening tests, give yourself a precious gift this week and book your appointment. A few minutes of discomfort could literally save your life.

My cancer scare changed my life. I’m grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life.

Olivia Newton-John

Sadly, cancer extinguished another bright light recently when Olivia Newton-John passed following a well-publicized 30-year battle with breast cancer. Like Olivia, I feel my cancer experience changed my life for the better. Read more about my experience in 10 Years, 10 Lessons – What cancer taught me about life.

Which post in my Breast Cancer Awareness Month roundup did you enjoy the most? Tell me your thoughts below.