I am a breast cancer survivor, and there are two reasons why I am happy to be one of those people that have “the Big C”

1.    Getting cancer shows you how many people care about you.

I was overwhelmed with the support from family, friends and people I met during my journey.    Members of our son’s championship high school basketball team and their moms surprised me and joined my family and I in the Denver Komen Race for the Cure, held shortly after my bi-lateral mastectomy.

2.    I believe that I got breast cancer so that I, and my husband, could help others fight and deal with this disease.

I am an author and I have a way to reach people.

One of the issues that the characters in To Tuscany with Love face is dealing with breast cancer. Part of my motivation for including this is to increase awareness of the need for self-breast exams and screening mammograms.

This is an issue near and dear to my heart—a screening mammogram saved my life!

My husband is a physician, coincidentally specializing in breast imaging. When he has to tell a patient that they have breast cancer, he can now relate to his patient not only as a physician, but also as the caregiver and spouse to a survivor. For him, helping women (and men) fight this disease is as personal as it is for me.

To Tuscany with Love – Inspiring Women to get Mammograms

Toni, who I’ve not yet met in person, read To Tuscany with Love as part of her preparation for an article she wrote about me. Toni surprised me in an email sent from her phone. Let me share it with you:

Subject: Inspiration!

Gail,

I haven’t had a mammogram in years. After reading your book I scheduled one.

This is a photo of me and my tech today

Excuse the hair, it was an early morning appt.!

Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Toni

So I leave the rest of you with a plea!

Don’t let fear of bad news prevent you from self-breast exams and screening mammograms. This nasty disease can often be beaten if caught early enough.

Thanks for listening!