The pink sisterhood

Breast Cancer...they say one in 8 women will get it at some point in their lives. Those aren't good odds in my book because I'm one of the ones that Cancer has chosen. Although I didn't choose this battle, I'm going to fight it with everything in me, and I think that's the attitude most of the women with Cancer  share in today's world.

Isn't it funny how something as devastating as Breast Cancer can unite so many women? Complete strangers feel an automatic bond with one another as the diagnosis of Breast Cancer is shared. I've experienced this over the past few days as first one and then another Breast Cancer patients or survivors contact me through email, my blog, or Facebook. I've been amazed at their generosity and their sweet spirits. They are candid and eager to answer any questions that "newbies" might have, and boy have I given them lots of those! There's a rawness and realness in each of their stories and each of those is very different, but one thing we all share is a warrior spirit. We want to fight. We want to live.


These armies of women are warriors in pink. Many have won their fight and many are still fighting. Some have lost their battle but gave their all during their personal war with Breast Cancer. One thing all of these women share is a zest for life. Their desire to live is strong! They laugh and cry over procedures, reconstructions, and sweet memories. They feel free to talk about things that most women would shy away from but that's the boldness that Cancer affords them, and they deserve that freedom.

We can learn from each other in ways we cannot learn from others. We can support one another in ways that others are not able to support us. We can understand one another in ways no one else can understand. We have a special opportunity to help each other by sharing our common experiences and common load. We empower one another by providing our insight and wisdom, and most importantly, we inspire each other by living full, beautiful lives.

I read this statement about Cancer somewhere... "it’s the best sorority with the worst initiation." When I was in college, I always wanted to be part of a sorority but never had that experience. Now I'm proud to be a new member of the "Pink Sisterhood" a sorority of some of the bravest women I know.

Back in the 70's singer songwriter, Helen Reddy came up with a song entitled "I am Woman." The lyrics are powerful and speak to my heart as I go down this Cancer road. It's comforting to know I'm not on this journey alone...

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
(Strong)
I am invincible
(Invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
(Strong)
I am invincible
(Invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can face anything
I am strong
(Strong)
I am invincible
(Invincible)
I am woman

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

©Bonnie Annis all rights reserved