Truth in the Room – In Respect to October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

TRUTH in the ROOM

A former client asked me recently how I was doing post 2^nd time survivorship from breast cancer and then she did the most remarkable thing….

She leaned in and asked for the “truth in the room” using my own therapy theme against me in her need for me to be authentic…true gut true…pink ribbon honest

It caught me off guard, her need for intimate transparency

It brought a tear to my eye, her need for me to mirror back to her the authenticity of my journey’s truth

Reality is that I don’t talk much about breast cancer any more. I rid myself of most of my “bc pink” items saving back a few to remind me of the long, hard journey I went through.

The reality is that having a breast cancer diagnosis in 2008 just evidenced to me the truth of what my doctor said, “something in your life is causing your body to be too weak to fight to kill cancer – get rid of it”

Then, when it returned in 2024, it felt like a punishment for all the “sins” I had committed since 2008, and it felt like there were many

But the reality is that breast cancer was a gift

In all reality, having a breast cancer diagnosis has changed me in every way and it is my prayer that it has changed me for the better

And, I thank God for both reminders on the brevity of life, the preciousness of family, the importance of forgiveness, and the treasure of love

I would not change a single thing even as I pray that I never hear the words “breast cancer” again in relationship to me

Breast cancer drops you to your knees in fear

In solitude because while loved ones can walk with you

They cannot walk for you

Breast cancer takes you to the pit of almost hell and leaves you there until you raise up your hand to God and pray he grabs a hold of your hand and leads you out of the pit, either to health and remission or to death and a life eternally with him

I know of no other options that I would want

Life abundantly on earth or life eternally in heaven with God

We talked recently in home church about knowing and using our spiritual gifts

One of mine is the ability to lean on God during the hard times in my life and to hold fast until I get to the other side

I may not have always leaned on him immediately, definitely not perfectly, usually not properly or sinlessly, but I have always leaned on Him even in the worst of times

And, He has never failed me

Even when I failed Him

But, as God as my witness, I never doubted His love for me during either of my breast cancer journeys

I was angry at times, hurt at other times, fearful, mind-boggled, pouty, sad, lonely

I was anxious, uncertain, emboldened, inspired, and vulnerable

God took me through all of the emotions using breast cancer as a reminder of who is in charge even when I forget

He loves me so much because He knows that it takes a lot to get my attention and in my case, a lot means something so serious I could die from it but not so serious at this time that I will die from it

Just to remind me that I will die

At some point

From something

So, my time had better be spent close to Him

Leaning on Him

Knowing Him

Studying Him

Loving Him

So, my “Truth in the Room” as we soon close out October 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness is this:

Chose this day for whom you will live: God OR the World
Chose this day how you will live: Fully relying on Jesus, our Savior OR the master of this world
Chose this day when you will live: Every moment and ever decision dependent on your faith in God or willy nilly choices that ultimately take you away from God
Chose this day what you will live: The decision that this world is not your home or the choice to live for the now at the expense of the eternal

My season of Pink has not been wasted. I still love Pink. I am honored to be a two time breast cancer survivor and I claim that survivorship in the name of Jesus and in Faith that He has Healed me

And, likewise, as I enter into a week where I return to Vanderbilt for a check up with my cancer doctors, I pray that God will continue to bless me with evidence of good health and continued remission

But, my truth in the room is that

In sickness and in healthy…God has healed me