Caitlin Richards 38

"It's almost unheard of.

Fewer than 0.1% of all those diagnosed with breast cancer are under 30, and it's almost unknown in under 25s. In fact only 5% of all those diagnosed are under 40; and 80% are over 50..

The American Cancer Society and other cancer organisations recommend that women start breast self-examination at the age of 20

No doctor will order a mammogram on an 18 year old, especially one without symptoms. Young women's breast tissue is too dense for mammograms to be a useful diagnostic tool, especially given the fact that young women are so very unlikely to get breast cancer.

Stop worryiing about an illness you haven't got, and are unlikely to get for many years, if at all. Enjoy your life"

Caitlin Richards 35

I could actually use some comments on this post, if anyone would care to share. The questiopn I need answering to is ~ Should I tell?

I am almost broke, and I have almost spent all of my savings on insurance co-payments. If you read my last poem, they think it might be cancer, so thats some bull sha-nay-nay I have been dealing with. I haven't told anyone except 4 of my closest friends. In fact I go in for hopefully my last biopsy Saturday after our performance. I can't bring myself to tell my parents. I have burdened them enough throughout life and to be honest I've been to angry with them to let them care. My little sister called me from home to tell me that she over heard them talking divorce. I'm angry that they would consider that while she is the only one home and about to start high school in a new town with nobody around to be with her. I am at school, my brother is with his new wife in NC waiting to be deployed somewhere overseas. I hate my parents sometimes.

 I love my mother, but I do not like her. She is a good human being, but not always a good mom. I don't feel like she deserves to know. My dad is a stressed human being, and it would break me if I gave him another thing to break him. I've been dealing with this all on my own since September, but depending on Saturday's results I wont be able to support this anymore. That sounds weird, I have to support a sickness I may or may not have. I don't know if I will ever tell them, maybe I'll just let it rock.

Caitlin Richards 34

Cancer

If you win and I lose- then I win

You see, everybody hates you, but I await you

This world has been killing me, everything killing me

I used to be patient, kind, and caring

Now this empty capsule of a being is baring  

Filled to the brim

hatred,pain, and chagrin

Do not drink form me, 

Do and you will drown

Drown in my blissfully wholly dismal demise

Cancer take me away

Hold my hand and let me disband

I bring nothing to this world 

Cancer to you I promise

If I ever leave this world alive, I'll take all of the sadness I left behind