When October comes, it brings many things: Thanksgiving with the family, changing leaves painting the landscape with brilliant fall colours, kids dressed as their favourite characters for Halloween.
But October is also a time to shine a spotlight on the battle against a disease that has touched too many lives. You might have seen people lately at the store wearing pink ribbons as they buy Halloween candy, and if you're a sports fan you have probably seen your favourite teams and athletes wearing pink. That's because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women, and the second-leading cause of death among Canadian women. It is hard to detect without regular checkups, and if not caught soon enough, it can be fatal.
Tammy Ryan, who went to the doctor when she was 43 years old because she was constantly tired, wasn’t experiencing any symptoms of breast cancer when she was diagnosed.
“I was shocked,” Ryan said. “I was so young. Neither of my parents had ever had cancer, so why did I get it so young?”
Thankfully with the support of her loved ones, Ryan is doing well a year later, with only a few lingering side-effects. She said she is shocked at how different everyone's journey can be.
“One thing I learned through this is that so many people of all ages are battling this disease, and not one person will have the same journey,” said Ryan. “You can talk to 10 people with breast cancer, and all 10 people will have different pathology results leading to a different treatment path.”
For Mishleen Khoury, who was also diagnosed after a routine medical checkup, the journey has brought self-knowledge.
“My journey (with breast cancer) has been challenging,” Khoury said. “But I’ve also learned so much about myself, my resilience, and the power of a supportive community.”
Any cancer diagnosis is difficult no matter the circumstance, but thankfully for Khoury she has family to lean on as she continues to battle.
“I am still navigating my journey, staying focused on my recovery, and maintaining a positive outlook. Every day is a step forward,” Khoury said. “The support around me was overwhelming, and comforting. I'm grateful for the support I’ve received.”
“Breast cancer can happen to anyone, so it’s important to raise awareness, support those affected, and spread the message of early detection,” she said.
For more information on breast cancer, visit the Canadian Cancer Society website.
