In Sandra's Shoes

I see pink everywhere.

Thre are pink ribbons attached to just about everything. There are shirts, mugs, neckties, T-shirts, pink martinis, pink lemonade and gift cards festooned with the pink ribbons to remind us all that it's Breast Cancer Awareness month. And money raised from purchasing some of these items goes toward cancer research.

Nearly every women's magazine have stories about breast cancer breakthroughs, stories from survivors; stories about what to do if there is a recurrence; what healthy foods we should be eating and what exercises we should be doing.

There are fundraisers led by the fashion industry, research groups and the three-day walk. On television, there are instructions on doing a self-exam and a look at how mammograms are done. It's great to have so much infromation almost everywhere you turn this month.

But what happens when October is over?

The information and the push for early detection and treatment becomes less intense. And we can't let that happen. We need to remind our sisters, mothers, aunts, cousins, in-laws to be vigilant all year long. Schedule your mammogram. Do your breast self-exam. See your gynecologist. Take care yourself.

I received the Tribute Award on Saturday during the 12th Annual Celebration of Life: Sisters Surviving Breast Cancer. The American Cancer Society and Women of Faith and Hope, a support group led by survivor Novella Lyons, presented the award to me during lunch with about 300 women.

It is a beautiful pink vase engraved: Honoring Sandra Long for providing hope, encouragement and strength to women battling breast cancer.

I was very humbled and feel blessed. It was given to me for creating the blog and reaching out to other breast cancer survivors.

I just did what I thought needed to be done _ tell the story of what happened to me and what I continue to face and perhaps I can help one person. Many of you have written me to say that I've helped your or you have forwarded the link to my blog to a friend or family member or you decided to get that mammogram.

Thank you.

You continue to inspire me and encourage me to share my story. And there are so many other stories that are out there. Tell your story. There is power in telling the story that says you are not going to allow sickness to define who you are, Rev. Alyn Waller told the crowd. "It's time to let people know how you made it."

Thank you to the American Cancer Society and Women of Faith and Hope. I'm going to continue telling my story...

It was my annual visit to my gynecologist in October 2006 that led to the early detection of breast cancer for me.

I'd always cysts that had to be aspirated. But last year, my doctor couldn't aspirate the cyst so I had to follow up with a visit to the surgeon. The cells that were discovered showed I had breast cancer. And you know the rest.

But when I visited my gynecologist a few days ago, there were no cysts. No aspirations. It was the best visit ever, she said. Relief and continuing to feel good.