When you hear the term “breast cancer survivor”, you probably think of someone who has had AND beat this dreadful disease. Have you stopped to consider the other survivors of this disease, the silent survivors?

First off, I am not taking anything away from the unfortunate people that have been diagnosed with breast cancer — I lost my mother, my maternal grandmother, and a cousin to breast cancer so I have the utmost respect and admiration for these survivors.

However, it is because I lost these loved ones that I feel I am a survivor.

I first realized that there was something different about my grandmother when I was a child. One day I went into her bedroom without knocking (a BIG NO-NO) as she was dressing. I quickly noticed that she was missing a breast and horrifically scarred.

I remember asking her where her “boobie” went. She sat me down on the bed and explained that when she was 33 years old, she had breast cancer and had her breast removed to ensure that she would be around for her grandchildren. I accepted the explanation without much thought and went about my happy way as any child would do.

Nineteen years ago, I was your average 17-year-old when my mother died after battling breast cancer for 16 months. I was thrown into shock and despair. Suddenly, my curiosity about breast cancer became an obsession!

I talked to doctors, specialists, and other breast cancer patients to learn as much as I could about this disease that took my best friend. At that time, my grandmother had been cancer free for almost 30 years, bless her soul. With her guidance, she finished the chore of raising a motherless child.

For eight years after my mother died, I adored, listened, and cherished the bond that I had formed with my grandmother — thankful that I was lucky enough to have another love like my mother. Unfortunately, time was not on our side. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her other breast and the odds were stacked against her. “NOT AGAIN” was my first thought.

I really didn’t think I could bear to lose another person and to the same disease. Being wiser the second time around, we made the best of our time and said our good-byes on my birthday. Three days later, she passed away — from breast cancer.

So you see, I have survived this disease. I survived the deaths of two great women. I have stayed educated and healthy thanks to my doctors.

I have tested positive for the BRCA gene – no surprise there – and I am classified as high-risk. Even though it’s a lifelong fear that I will get breast cancer, I remain positive that I won’t die from this disease. I’ll simply become a different survivor – a breast cancer survivor, not just a silent survivor.

All year long, especially in October, I honor their memories and support the efforts for all breast cancer initiatives. Please do the same.

by— Dana P. at Peapod Studio