Breast Cancer Awareness Month: choose your own adventure.
From the Sunday Self-Care Chronicles | 10/4/26
Hi sweet friend,
First, thanks to those of you who weighed in on last week's poll on how you are feeling about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was very telling but honestly not all that surprising to me. Here are the rankings in order of most to least votes:
“It's complicated.” (the run away answer)
“I'm over it.” (a close second)
"I'm feeling grounded this year." (got a handful)
“It feels tender and brings up a lot." (and a couple)
“I'm excited!” (but this one got ZERO votes)
Also, based on the second poll of what you want to see (basically a little bit of everything), this will be the only BCAM-specific content that I share with you this year.
Because honestly, like it or not, there are plenty of people out there talking about awareness for early detection, the lack of awareness for MBC, the need for fundraising and research, the shitstorm of pink washing, and all the rest.
For some, this month feels like solidarity and visibility. For others, it’s overwhelming, exhausting, or even painful. Most of us, myself included? We land somewhere in the messy middle.
Lately, I’ve been sharing my evolving point of view, including what I believe are six fundamentals of active healing.
Two of these are Identity and Community:
Identity is about who you are after a breast cancer diagnosis—how your sense of self changes, how you make peace with a body that may feel different, and how you carry that forward.
Community is about connection—finding your people, whether that’s fellow survivors, close friends, or the quiet solidarity of knowing you’re not alone.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is deeply entrenched in both of these.
Since I’ve written a lot about BCAM in the past, I'm doing another round of my “greatest hits” so you can explore the ones that resonate most right now.
As you read, I invite you to notice how they look different through the lens of Identity and Community.
Think of it like a little choose your own adventure:
✨ Why Breast Cancer Awareness Month Feels Complicated
A reflection on why the pink ribbons don’t always feel like enough.
✨ The Silent Majority in Breast Cancer
Honoring the many who live with breast cancer privately, without ribbons or walks, or social media dedicated to their diagnosis.
✨ Let’s Talk About Metastatic Breast Cancer
Because awareness month can’t just be about the survivors.
Take what you need, leave what you don’t, and know that however you’re feeling this month—you’re not alone.
Because, now and every October, I am always in this with you….
P.S. For the rest of the month, I'll be showing up each week with everything else you asked for: self-care practices and activities to help you stay grounded, personal reflections, and practical self-care tools. Because these are the things that make survivorship survivable not only in October, but 365 days a year.
P.P.S. If you follow me on social media, you may see me be more vocal there about BCAM (especially my personal FB page), where I can amplify other's voices and add my own. Not following me yet? I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn so DM me to say hi!