Pink Ribbon Review | Raising Breast Cancer Awareness

Reach Out And Get Help

by Karen Lynch on May 8th, 2008

When I was in the midst of my breast cancer treatment, I felt so needy. The last thing I wanted to do was impose on people (I’d felt I’d imposed enough), but I needed help and I needed it badly. Getting around, feeding my family, caring for my kids, running my errands, keeping up with my household chores … my needs were endless.

If you’re in the midst of treatment and you find yourself feeling needy as well, here’s what you need to tell yourself: you are needy so suck it up. As uncomfortable as that makes you (I know, as women, we strive so hard to be independent and them BAM! cancer hits and we’re not anymore) you have to get over that and do what is best for you and your family. You just have to reach out.

You think I’m kidding? I’m not. You have to do the work to get yourself the help you need.

Remember the old tagline for the Bell commercial, “Reach out and touch someone?” Well, that’s what I’m talking about. Pick up the phone and make a call. You know all those people that have been telling you, ‘is there anything I can do?’ and you’ve told them, ‘thanks, I’ll let you know’? THIS IS THE TIME TO CALL THEM.

Last night I received a call from a mother in town who is fighting breast cancer; she was at her wits end trying to find someone to watch her three-year-old today while she attended a funeral.

I commended her because she took control of her health. Today was a day my own three-year-old was at home so helping her was a no-brainer for me.

She reached out … and someone was there. Someone who wanted to help — and there’s lots of people out there just like me.

Reach out … it’s that simple.

P.S. That’s another shot of me in my Pink Ribbon Readers. I just love them!

(Photo: Tim Lynch)

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POSTED IN: Pink Ribbon Products, Self Care