Kicking cancer's ass - day 1522

October 30 - Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women who have a genetic predisposition for it. However, women with the gene mutation run a lifetime risk as high as 4 in 5 of developing the disease. The risk of developing ovarian cancer also rises to 2 in 5.

That's not confusing at all, is it?

Let's break it down.  Basically "they" are saying that only 5-10% of all breast cancers are hereditary.  So 90 out of 100 people who get breast cancer do NOT get it because it was passed down through their family....they get it because of other risk factors or just dumb luck.

However, if you carry a gene mutation (for breast cancer), your risk increases to about 80% (as opposed to the 1 in 8 for people without the gene mutations).  So while the majority of breast cancer incidences are not caused by hereditary gene mutations, being a carrier of one of those gene mutations increases your risk of developing breast cancer.  A lot.

That sucks for my children.  They have a 50-50 chance of being carriers of the same gene mutation as me, and if they are positive, their risk of cancer is MUCH higher than average.  

That's something to think about, be aware of, and take precautions for, but not something we can do anything about right now.  They can't even be tested until they are 18.  So.... we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

In the meantime, speaking of my children.... here's some great advice that's been floating around Facebook (and not just for daughters):

Rules For My Daughter:
1. Don’t knock it ’til you try it.
2. Send Thank You cards for every act of hospitality — except another Thank You card.
3. Travel light through life. Keep only what you need.
4. Put cinnamon in your coffee, and twice as much when you miss me.
5. It’s okay to cry when you’re hurt. It’s also okay to smash things; but, wash your face, clean your mess, and get up off the floor when you’re done. You don’t belong down there.
6. If you’re going to curse, be clever. If you’re going to curse in public, know your audience.
7. Seek out the people and places that resonate with your soul.
8. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
9. 5-second rule. It’s just dirt. There are worse things in a fast food cheeseburger.
10. Happiness is not a permanent state. Wholeness is. Don’t confuse these.
11. If you’re staying more than one night, unpack your bag.
12. Never walk through an alley.
13. Be less sugar, more spice, and only as nice as you’re able to without compromising yourself.
14. Can’t is a cop-out. Don’t want to is perfectly acceptable.
15. Hold your heroes to a high standard. Be your own hero.
16. If you can’t smile with your eyes, don’t smile. Insincerity is nothing to aspire to.
17. Never lie to yourself.
18. Your body, your rules.
19. If you have an opinion, you better know why.
20. Study your curiosities and practice your passions.
21. Ask for what you want.
22. Wish on stars and dandelions, then get to work.
23. Don’t skimp on good sheets.
24. Fall in love often. Particularly with ideas, art, music, literature, food and far-off places.
25. Fall hard and forever in love with nothing but yourself.
26. Say Please, Thank You, and Pardon Me, whenever the situation warrants it.
27. Reserve I’m sorry for when you truly are.
28. Naps are for grown-ups, too.
29. Question everything except your own intuition.
30. You have enough. You are enough.
31. You are amazing! Don't let anyone ever make you feel you are not. If someone does....walk away. You deserve better.