October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everywhere we look, we see pink ribbons, walks, and reminders to get screened. But sometimes, it doesn't really hit home until someone we love, or we ourselves, face it.

I'm writing this as someone who needs this reminder herself. 😅 I don't like going to doctors. Wellness visits, appointments with different specialists, all the things we're supposed to keep up with... let's just say I'm not the best at it. I tend to think everything is fine and there's no need to go looking for problems. Now, my husband, you know he's all about prevention. He's the complete opposite of me. He's the one who pushes me to make appointments, helps get them scheduled, and then has to deal with my grumpiness about the whole thing. 😂 God bless him!

But I'm hitting my 50s now, and I'm learning that this season of life comes with more things that need to be checked. Pretending everything is fine is not a plan. It's just a way of not looking.

Last week, my doctor was talking with me during my wellness visit (and thank God, all is well). She mentioned that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Then she shared something that really made me stop and think: more than 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

No family history. That means "it doesn't run in my family" is not a shield.

I sat there thinking about all the women I know, and those I've known, who have walked this road. I don't have enough fingers on my hands to count them all. Faces came to mind, one after another. Women who laughed with me, prayed with me, and worked beside me. Some are survivors today, and I praise God for that.

And breast cancer isn't the only concern. Women can also face ovarian, uterine, cervical, and other cancers. There are so many reasons not to take our health for granted.

So, friends, here's my gentle reminder, especially to those of you who are like me and tend to put off appointments: please don't wait. Schedule your wellness visit, talk to your doctor about the screenings recommended for your age and personal risk, and don't ignore changes in your body. Know what's normal for you, and speak up if something doesn't seem right.

And please remember, taking care of your health is not a lack of faith. We can trust God's sovereignty while also being wise stewards of the life He has given us. Faith and practical action are not opposites.

We make time for so many things in life. Let's make time for this, too.

May we encourage one another, pray for the women facing these battles, celebrate those who have come through them, and remind the people we love to take care of themselves, too.

Consider this a little nudge from a friend who needs this reminder herself. And if you're anything like me, maybe you need someone who loves you to help you get that appointment scheduled. ❤️

God is good.

Love,

Andrea Anderegg