It doesn't have to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month to talk about and support a cure for breast cancer. Did you know that every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer? In 2007, approximately 40,460 women were expected to die from breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 2.4 million women with a history of breast cancer were alive in 2004. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women next to lung cancer. I pray with all the new technology and research we have that one day we will have a cure.

At the age of two, I was affected by breast cancer. My mother lost her life to breast cancer at the age of 27. I grew up in fear thinking that I would never make it to 27. Now that I am 29, I can not imagine what it would be like to lose my life so early. My mother's death wasn't your typical breast cancer story. It was malpractice. A family doctor goofed up, covered it up and lied to her. He told her to go live a wonderful life when he knew that she had full blown cancer. She went to get a second opinion. The next doctor saw what the previous doctor did and tried to cover for him. He said the same, "You're health is great, go live a great life". Both figured that she would die before anyone knew.

I don't remember my mother, thanks to the doctors who turned her away. She was a strong, fierce lawyer from Nachitoches, La. She went to law school in Baton Rouge, La. She was extremely intelligent and these doctors didn't give her enough credit. She went to Oschner's in Texas after a year had passed. It was then that she discovered that she did indeed have cancer and it spread to every bone in her body. Yes, there were chemo treatments but there was little hope. As sick as my mother was, she pulled through as long as she could to put together a case against the doctors. She did a deposition from her death bed. My family still has this video but will not let me see it. They didn't want me to see my mother that way.

It's just a tragedy. A beautiful young woman robbed of her life. A little two year old baby robbed of the one person she was extremely attached to. It didn't have to be that way. If only the doctor would have told her from the beginning. If only he would have sampled the tissue like he was suppose to instead of cutting it out and clipping a tendon.

Even after her death, it wasn't over. My father told her he would find them to the end and he did. I can only imagine how hard it was on my father. He told me years later that he heard from her lawyer every week for twenty years. How could you possibly move on from something like that? It's impossible. The trial did go on for twenty something years. Regardless of winning, there was no victory. I wanted my mother back. During the trial, one of the doctor's died of cancer. Go figure. The remaining doctor tried to blame it on the deceased doctor. I wonder how people like this sleep at night. They have no idea what an impact this had on my life, growing up without a mother. Growing up watching my friends mother's play with their hair and laugh with them, I grew up feeling alone. It was a tremendous void that no one could fill, until my son was born.

Being a mother myself, I cry thinking about having to leave my son to go to a better place. I couldn't imagine having to say goodbye to him at the age of two. But life is what it is and if you believe in something bigger it seems to make things a little bit easier. I believe in that castle in the sky. One day I will be gone to and I hope that I can reunite with my mother and have her play with my hair and laugh with me.

If you would like to get involved in fighting breast cancer in Baton Rouge, there are a number of things you can do.

Relay For Life- Relay for Life Baton Rouge is a special event to help fight breast cancer. Relay For Life will be held on May. This is an event that honors and remembers those who are fighting and for those who have lost the fight. It's also an even to help raise money to fight cancer. At this event, teams gather to take turns walking and running. This event goes on through out the entire night to remind us that cancer never sleeps. Come be a part of a team or volunteer to fight cancer!

Race For The Cure- This is another even fighting against breast cancer. Race For The Cure has already happened this year but be sure to catch it next year. The Komen Baton Rouge Race For The Cure has already invested over $1 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects. Up to 75% of the proceeds generated by the Komen Baton Rouge Affiliate stay in the Greater Baton Rouge area.

Brides for the Cure- This group was formed in 2007. Brides for the Cure is to establish an event unlike any other to increase awareness around breast health issues and to help eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Please consider joining the Brides for the Cure family as a sponsor, volunteer, event organizer or ticket holder! You can help us turn an afternoon of wedding planning into a long-term effort to fighting breast cancer!

Rally for the Cure- Rally for the Cure, presented by Golf For Women magazine, is about golfers who are committed to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. this awareness-driven campaign has spread the life-saving message of early detection to more than one million active Rally for the Cure participants and to the people in their lives. Host an event at your golf club. Do it for your sister, your mother, your daughter, your friend ... yourself.

Passionately Pink for the Cure-The premise of Passionately Pink for the Cure is simple: change your clothes to change the world. Your group or organization selects a day or days in October to wear pink, and participants donate $5 or more to join the fun. We encourage you to be creative and make Passionately Pink for the Cure an exciting and educational day for all.

Co- Survivor- Here is an opportunity to help us recognize the person in your life who has helped you in your journey with breast cancer

Baton Rouge "Hope Chest" Breast Cancer Support Group-Hope Chests is an educational/support network that is led and organized by patients. The program is used to inform, encourage, and meet the needs of breast cancer patients and their family members.Each month, opportunities for education are offered by inviting speakers who are knowledgeable in the field of interest chosen by the group. Emotional support is achieved through group member interaction and group exercises that promote ventilation of feelings and fears.

Here are some national websites that support fighting breast cancer!

Avon Walk For Breast Cancer-For 2 days and 39 miles, you have the opportunity to dramatically impact the lives of millions affected by breast cancer worldwide. By participating in the Avon Walk, you'll allow medically under-insured women and men to receive the screening, support, and treatment they require.

The 3 Day- Bring your energy, your passion, your stories, your humor and your fashion sense to the Breast Cancer 3-Day! More than just 60 miles over a long weekend, the Breast Cancer 3-Day is a months-long journey out of the everyday. It starts the moment you register. Organize a group in your area to train and walk together. You'll have coaches to help you every step of the journey, helping you challenge yourself and succeed.

Breast Cancer Awareness Stores
Pink Ribbon Store
Pink Wings Store
Healing Ribbons 
 Save The Ta Ta's
The Breast Cancer Site

Breast Cancer Awareness Books
Breast Cancer? Breast Health!
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
The Breast Cancer Survival Manual