Having a relative with breast cancer does increase a woman's risk, but a whopping 90% of cases occur in women with no family history of the disease. In fact, 70% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors.

Almost seven years ago, Christmas, my mother fell into that category. October and December are reminders of that painful time in our lives. This year, I wrote this for my mother about a year after she was said to be cancer free and I thought I would share it and will update it every year that she is a survivor:

For My Mother

Seven years ago
You were in a fight for your life
Stage three and a lump as big as a grapefruit
That Christmas was the worst one that I can remember
For all of us
But it was hardest on you
For you lost a part of yourself

While you felt alien after surgery
We wanted to cry
Tears of fear and tears of joy
Tears of sorrow and tears of thankfulness
Good and experienced doctors made you better
And thanks to God
Breast cancer did not take you away from us

And every day we thank Him that you are still here
To share many more Christmases with us
And many more new years and birthdays
With a lot of help
You won the fight
And you are still here
To share your story of triumph and love

© Mriana October 2005

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in women. Currently, approximately 3 million women in the US are living with the disease, including 2 million who have already been diagnosed, and another 1 million who do not yet know they have the disease.