Breast Cancer Anniversary

Eighteen years ago (on 17th May 2005) I was diagnosed with breast cancer while in the middle of a world tour. I was in Melbourne and my stage was being built in Sydney when I got the news. I was shocked and scared and uncertain about many things. You can't help but let your thoughts turn dark at times. When you're fighting for your life... when it's the fight of your life, literally... everything turns on its head. I was lucky enough to have a great team and suport system around me. I was given the all clear a year later, on 16th June 2006. And as I enter the seventeeth year of my remission, very much healthy and happy, I just wanted to take a second to thank everyone who's been part of the journey with me. I don't often talk about it, only when asked. It's painful and personal, but I think it's important to take a second to acknowledge the war my body went through and all the lessons learned along the way. I'm a better person becaue of that fight. Something good did come out of all of this. Something I didn't have a direct responsability of, but my platform and may spotlight were a vehicle to show that this too can happen to a seemingly healthy thirty-three year old woman. So, on this (belated) anniversary of my remission, be aware of your body. Be good to yourself, listen to your body when it speaks to you. We push and push ourselves to the limit, but sometimes we have to pause. And as annoying as it is, go to your doctor every once in a while to get checked. It's important.