guest blogger: having breast cancer at the age of 30...

I would like to take the time to introduce you all to my first guest blogger!! One of my best friends, Mere, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April.  She wanted to share some things she's learned about it on my blog (and yes, I made her do this!).  Here's Mere!!

Mere and I the night she told our friends about her diagnosis.

Ten Things I Learned About Having Breast Cancer at the Age of 30

      1. You instantly become a 70 year-old woman…I was told to go to this store, “The Special Woman Boutique,” to buy a bra.  Let me tell you, you don’t really feel like a special woman in this store.  The women were nice, but the bras are hideous and the bathing suits are even worse!  Why do I have to wear ugly suits and undergarments just because I have cancer?!   I want to look cute too!  When all is said and done, I am going to start my own line of mastectomy wear…bras and bathing suits for normal people!

what 30 year old wouldn't want to wear this number?? omg!

2. You get lots of stuff for free…for example, I was at Panera one day and ordered my lunch.  Well, if anyone knows me, I love sweets and desserts.  I forgot to order a cookie with my meal and I asked the guy to add it on after he had already rung me up.  He took one look at my bald head and said, “Oh, go ahead.  Just take it.”  He then proceeded to give me a free drink cup too!

3.  Everyone knows someone who has breast cancer…and they are all OVER the age of 65!!!  It just isn’t the same…trust me!  I am sorry your Grandma’s Grandma’s Aunt had breast cancer, but I don’t really want to swap stories with them!  It really isn’t the same!

just a few years older, what's the difference?

4. I have the best friends…I always knew I had good friends, but it wasn’t until I got diagnosed with cancer that I truly saw how great my friends were.  They all rallied around me, made dinner for me (I don’t even cook!!), called, sent cards, offered babysitting, sat through hours of chemo treatments…you name it, the offers were endless.  I just hope that I am half as good a friend to all of them as they are to me. 

some of mere's support system!

5. People come out of the woodwork to rally around you…I was totally amazed by the support I received.  Almost every day, I would come home to cards, books, letters, even gifts from people I barely knew.  It was so overwhelming (in a good way of course)!


  6.  Chemo really isn’t that bad as long as you do it with a smile!  With “Sissy,” my sister, and guest appearances at Club Chemo, we laughed our way through each treatment.  You really can make anything fun as long as you have your friends and a couple of jello shots!

jello shots at chemo!

7. Not everyone has the same view on cancer as I do…I wrote on a forum about my approach to cancer and cancer treatment.  I was upbeat and told everyone that I was working every day, playing with my son, going about regular business and actually had fun at Club Chemo.  The forum came to a screeching halt and no one EVER even acknowledged my post.  I decided they didn’t like my positive attitude and the Debbie-downer forum wasn’t for me.

  8. Hair is overrated!  I’ve embraced being bald.  I really thought it was going to be the worst thing ever, but it didn’t really bother me after all.  I shower and get ready way faster than I ever used to.  I don’t have to worry about my hair getting messed up with the windows down or in the rain.  No bed head or hat head.  I save tons of money on highlights and haircuts.

when you look that cute without hair, who cares if you have it!

 9. Boobs are overrated too! At least I’ll come out of this with nice perky boobs!  There have to be perks to having cancer!


10. Life goes on despite having cancer… 

hasn't stopped her from doing anything!

especially being the best mom!

Thanks to Mere for writing this for us, I think it's great to read a positive attitude on breast cancer from a 30 year old!! Mere has already finished her chemo and  had surgery about a month ago.  In 6 weeks she will be done with radiation!  She can't wait to get this behind her! Please keep her and her family in your prayers! 

xoxo