Did you know???

This post should have been made May 1st, but as usual I am a little bit behind!

May is brain cancer awareness month and I thought it was appropriate to make a post about this horrible disease...I personally have not known anyone who has suffered from or survived brain cancer, however I have known (as I am sure all of you have) far too many people who have suffered, survived and succumbed to some form of cancer...Cancer is one of my biggest fears...It is far more scary than any horror movie, it seems to be more common these days than the common cold and its more unpredictable than a hurricane...It has affected some of those closest to me and taken people I love well before I was ready to let them go...

Upon learning that May was brain cancer awareness I did some research on the Canadian Cancer Society website...It was estimated that in 2009 there would be 171,000 new cases of cancer (this excludes skin cancers) and 73,500 deaths from cancer. In 2009 the probability that someone would develop some form of cancer in their lifetime was 40% for Canadian women and 45% for men and approximately 1 out of 4 Canadians will die from cancer. The last stat I have for you is that there was an estimated 2,600 new cases of brain cancer and 1,750 deaths from brain cancer. These numbers not only shock me, but scare the living hell outta me!!! On the list of cancer forms, brain cancer is less common, but personally I think its got to be the most difficult and horrifying...

I would also like to share with you a blog that Sandy introduced me to about 8 months ago...It is the story of a 5 year old little girl named Kate who is currently fighting her battle with brain cancer...Here's the link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/mystory . The blog is written by her parents and it honestly makes me tear up every time I read it...The things that this family and poor Kate have gone threw in the last 10 months is unfathomable...No child should ever have to deal with that and no parent should ever have to watch their child suffer like that...I am waiting for the day when I check Kate's blog and see that she is cancer free, it would give me such hope to know that she fought and won!

Take a moment this month and remember those you have personally lost to brain cancer, those you don't know that have lost their battle and those who fought and won...A memory and a prayer can go a long way!