The book of Psalms refers tp a scripture in regard to a mother's breast. Below is my story, of all the people in my life that have battled "Breast Cancer".  Our book audience recommends books to the left and the right of each story that may provide you with more information to assist you or a loved one with combating this disease. 

"UPON MY MOTHER'S BREAST"

My mother Gladys, told me of her personal experience and her concerned about a lump she kept feeling in her own breast. She told her doctor about it several times. However, upon examination of the breast he could never feel or locate the lump she spoke of. One day my mother was riding the bus and due to random jarring movement of the bus, she feel up against one of the poles. Again she felt the lump in her breast. She immediately changed her plans and grasped the lump in her breast with her hand and kept hold of it as she traveled straight to her doctor's office. Her doctor examined her for the lump in her breast. This time there was no question that she had a lump in her breast. She opted to have a lumpectomy. No chemo. She had no more health problems concerning her breast.

Even though my mother is not among the living to witness the epidemic of women battling "Breast Cancer", she is the one whom I first learned of the disease in the 60's. My mom had become acquainted with Mrs. Young, my oldest brother's girlfriend's aunt. Mrs. Young told my mom that her doctor had taken test and breast cancer had been detected in one of her breast. Mrs. Young was urged by her doctor to remove the breast. So she opted to have the procedure performed to remove the cancerous breast (a mascectomy), later to find out she did not have breast cancer at all.

As a teenager I made extra money babysitting some of my neighbors children. Keena, was a little girl I sat for. She was very energetic. Her mother Maggie was married to Bill a postal worker. Maggie had a beautiful figure and was always dressed very professional, elegant and classy. She gave me pearls for my 8th grade graduation. Soon after my graduation Keena, Maggie and Bill moved away. Years later I ran into Bill at a post office located in downtown Chicago. I asked Bill how Maggie, Keena and their family were doing. Bill told me everyone was fine with the exception of Maggie. Maggie had died from breast cancer.

My mom's co-worker and friend Mrs. Curry had requested my babysitting services from time to time with her daughters. Angela one of the daughters died of breast cancer.

When I resided in the St. Stephen's Terrace, I had an out-going neighbor named Barbara. Barbara moved away from the Terrace.  We kept in touch for a while. My daughter kept in touch with Barbara's son. Later I found out that Barbara had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had opted to have the cancerous breast removed. Barbara is a breast cancer survivor.

I also had a sisterly neighbor named Betty who had one daughter named Sam.  Sam lost her aunt to cancer and I attended the funeral. I later went to the Sam's aunt's home to pay my respect to there family. I then found out that Sam, who use to sit for my children had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember driving Sam & her mom to college.  Sam married a few years later and had a son. I had been told that the cancer was diagnosed when she could not breast feed her son. Sam went through treatment for cancer. She is a breast cancer survivor.

July 17, 2007, I received an email from one of Winnie's cofidants. The email was about Winnie. The email stated that Winnie had been diagnosed with breast cancer and could I try to get in touch with her. I replied to the sender to make sure she meant "Breast Cancer". I visited Winnie at her residence. She had opted to have a lumpectomy and additional chemo therapy treatments. I wanted to extend my support and offered to sit with her while she recieved her chemo treatments. After her second treatment she started experiencing nausea and some vomitting among other things. Her faith in God is strong as it should be. She is continuing her treatments and is still strong in her battle with breast cancer this October 2007.

My spouse's only sister Gwen had one of the most enviting smile that always made you feel good on any given day. She was a heavy smoker. Gwen was young and married with three children. One son and two daughters. At the last stages of her battled with breast cancer I would accompany her daughters to see her. They were sometimes afraid to see their mother.  Gwen passed away from breast cancer.

In my bible study class the head of the evangelist commitee Job was married to Sharon. Sharon had three sons and one daugher. She and I talked periodically about alternative treatments for breast cancer. She tried juicing vegetables and limiting her diet to natural unprocessed foods. She lost the battle to breast cancer.

Another member of our bible study congregation Gwen had a husband and two sons. One son was very energetic and had autesum. Gwen was always displaying warmth and geniune sincerety to see you with her greetings. Gwen had gone in for her annual physical. They found a lump (tumor) in her breast. She was diagnosed with breast cancer I visited her at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital to sit with her late at night while she was undergoing chemo therapy to shrink the tumor. I had baked her one of my cakes and took it to her while she recouperated at home. Two years later she died from breast cancer.

When I worked for the Board of Education their was a very attractive teacher named Kaloni. We often spoke of the gentlemen she was dating and how she dreamed of marrying him. I noticed that Kaloni always worn long sleeve blouses, no matter what how the seasons changed. She had one arm twice it's normal size and did not want it to be so noticeable. Later she told me she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors wanted to amputate her arm. She had decided against this method to eradicate the cancer. I finally left the Board of Education. Years later when I ran into another teacher who had worked with Kaloni as well, I asked how Kaloni was doing. The teacher told me that Kaloni had died from breast cancer.

My children were enrolled in the Martin Luther King Boys Club on Washington Blvd. in Chicago.  The site director Ms. Johnson was always diligent in working with the children enrolled in the program. She was always giving me special promotional tickets that would able me to expose my children to the cultural events in the Chicagoland area. The opera, art institute, and plays to name a few. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I asked her if she would confide in me to share some of her feelings with her cancer diagnosis she did. I asked her what is breast cancer like. She told me she had a hard lump in her breast and asked if I wanted to feel it. I said yes. She took my hand an pushed on the center of upper portion of the breast. It felt like I was pushing on a hard lump the size of an avacado seed. It was very large with the consistency of a rock. I asked her had it always been that size. She said no. It had been as small as a pea. However, when she first felt the lump when it was the size of a pea she became afraid and did not want to tell her doctor about it. She did not want the diagnosis of breast cancer. Later that year after my daughters eight grade graduation she died from breast cancer.

Sheelah, Pam and Carolyn were my neighborhood buddies in elementary school. We met in the 4th grade. We had decided to buy each other Christmas presents when we were kids. Carolyn asked me what I wanted. I told her that my desire was to have a beautiful ankle bracelet. Christmas eve the door bell rang. It was Carolyn. She wanted to give me my gift. When I opened it I saw the most beautiful ankle bracelet that anyone could desire. Seven years ago Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She opted to change her diet and use holistic methods to cure the cancer. Last year 2006 the cancer had spread to the brain. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with all of her close friends and family. I was invited to the party. Reluctently, I attended. Carolyn use to be taller than me. When I saw her for the first time after all those years I noticed that she had lost a lot of her height and stature. We took photos together, exchanged numbers and talked briefly. The cancer took a turn for the worst early this year 2007. Our other friends kept urging me to go to the hospital to see her. I choose not to. I was becoming weary. She lost her battle to cancer this year 2007 during the time I was working on an one hour production with Senator Mattie Hunter and Dr. Eric Whitaker on Breast Cancer Awareness/Ticket for the Cure. I asked her daughters if I could dedicate the show to the memory of their mother. They declined.

A few months after the completion of the production for "Breast Cancer Awareness/A Ticket For The Cure", with special guests Senator Mattie Hunter and Dr. Eric Whitaker I received a news release via e-mail. The Superintendent of the Illinois Lottery, Carolyn Adams died (April-2007) following a private battle with breast cancer in Chicago. She was 44.

When my mother was diagnosed with Lupus I became her care giver.  This took a toll on me while I was trying to obtain my college degree. As part of my relaxation I wanted to see one of my favorite actresses in person Ms. Diahann Carroll. Years later in the year 2006 an invitation was sent via e-mail to me extending the opportunity for the media to interview a famous breast cancer survivor. That survivor was Ms. Diahann Carroll , now spokeswomen for Breast Cancer Awareness. She was the keynote speaker at a luncheon on the subject at the Apostolic Church on the south side of Chicago - 2006.  

The list goes on..........