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September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It has been called the "silent killer" because early symptoms are often ignored, delaying diagnosis until the cancer is more advanced and all too often fatal. Today I learned about a new campaign to teach people to "look" for cancer, rather than just "find" it. Early detection is key, not just with ovarian cancer, but all cancers. September is now also F-tember. Fuck Cancer is a non-profit oraganization dedicated to spreading awareness about early detection. You can use their Facebook App to donate your status (Facebook and/or Twitter) to share messages talking about risk factors and warning signs of various cancers. So why use the F bomb? They said it so well I'm taking the liberty to quote the site.

WHY "FUCK" CANCER?

Because cancer doesn't deserve to be treated with respect. One question we're often asked is, "why 'Fuck' Cancer? Isn't that a little crude? Won't that turn some people off? Doesn't that limit the scope of your campaign?" Perhaps. But we're done being polite. And with thousands of people proudly involved in the movement already, we think it's a sentiment that is widely shared.

Fuck Cancer is intended as an affront to the disease, not your sense of decency. It's not sexual, it's not violent, it's defiant.

Saying "Fuck Cancer" may make some people uncomfortable; we're okay with that. Talking about cancer openly may also make people uncomfortable; we're not okay with that. Despite the advances in treatment that have been made over the past few decades, cancer remains a highly stigmatized disease.

We're raised not to talk about our bodily functions or to swear. Well, Fuck that. We're going to do both in this campaign. This movement represents a much needed change in attitude as well as diagnosis."

I could not agree more or have said it better. Nearly all cancers (95%) are curable in their first stage, however in order to detect any cancer in its earliest stages you need to know your body, know the risk factors and know the symptoms. Fuck Cancer is a campaign talking about those risk factors & symptoms. So educate yourself and your followers by saying Fuck Cancer!

No, I didn't just fall off the face of the internet. I have, however, been ignoring my blog. Well, let's face it, I've been ignoring me. I have this nasty little habit of throwing my desires, my needs, my health on the back burner. That is until my simmering pot is boiling over onto the entire stove. Then I have no choice but to reluctantly turn my attention back to myself and try to clean up the mess.

In June, my little world was turned upside down and then inside out. I saw the end of a an extremely complicated, two and a half year relationship. Just days later I found out I had a metastatic brain tumor. So, I've spent the summer in shock, in crisis mode, grieving, picking up the pieces, and figuring how to go on from here. Most importantly, I'm learning what it means to take care of myself.

Please take a look at this short video of my friend, Meaghan. She is the founder of Spirit Jump, a non-profit organization that has helped me more than you could know. Be sure to check out their fan page on Facebook or www.spiritjump.org and follow them on twitter @spiritjump.

Cancer Sucks

Do you remember learning about compound words in elementary school? I do, and since then one of my favorite compound words has been giveaway. Well, my friend Amy has a great giveaway going on at her blog Our Daily Blessing...Life .

You could win a handmade bag from Its All In The Bag , a new shop on Esty. First, Liz picks out the best fabrics, bold and bright with some with more subdued colors yet still unique. There is a variety of styles and sizes to choose from. Check out her shop and you will be sure to find something you know your wardrobe would be incomplete without. I fell in love with one bag, the bold pattern of the exterior drew my eye right to it, and I am crazy about the lining. I love when the interior of bags are vibrant it is like a special surprise just for the owner. A little something to put a smile on your face.The giveaway bag has a beautiful paisley print in a color scheme containing one of my favorite colors, chartreuse. I just happen to be a paisley fanatic! Needless to say I want that bag, however if you would like to enter follow the giveaway link. While you are there read some of Amy's other posts, her blog is one of my favorites.

Spirit Jump is an incredible charity that provides hope & comfort to cancer patients by sending them inspirational cards and gifts. They let men, women, and children battling cancer know that they are not alone in their fight, that there are people behind them who care. I say that Spirit Jump fights cancer by giving strength to the fighter. None of this would be possible without people going to http://www.spiritjump.org/ to join Spirit Jump as "jumpers". Jumpers send cards and/or small gifts directly to the "jumpee", cancer patients who have signed up through the website either themselves or through a friend or relative. Jumpers have a profound impact on the lives of the cancer patients they "jump". I know because jumpers who have sent me spirit jumps have changed my life. I look forward to writing more about my personal experience with Spirit Jump in the future.

One very talented spirit jumper is making a very special offer to Spirit Jump starting today. August 10, 2009 through October 31, 2009 DK Designs is donating $5.00 from every sale of her gardenia hair flower to Spirit Jump.

Each gardenia hair flower is a handcrafted with CLAYCRAFT by DECO softclay one petal at a time, and as you can see they are beautiful & lifelike. This is a great deal - buy a lovely accessory and a donation is made to a very worthy cause.

Diane, the artist, has been featured on Martha Stewart, weddingbee.com, theknot.com, In Style Weddings magazine, and more. Click the blog title and the link will take you directly to the gardenia hair flower on DK Designs' Esty shop. Also, please take a moment to check out Diane's blog http://www.dkdesignshawaii.blogspot.com/ to read more about her and Spirit Jump and the DK Designs website http://www.dkdesignshawaii.com/ to see her incredibly beautiful work. You can also add her on twitter @dkdesigns .

A big thanks to Diane & DK Design for allowing me to blog about this offer and the use of picture above, but thank you most of all for making this offer to Spirit Jump.

Be sure to add Spirit Jump on twitter @spiritjump and go to http://www.spiritjump.org/ to learn more about this fabulous organization and ways you can help. They also have a fan page on facebook.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I completely love this idea, come on confession is good for the soul. It is especially good when it wasn't me!

Since I have been confined to bedrest I most certainly did not go to my 4 year old nephew Holden's birthday party. Nope, that wasn't me. Nor would I ever go around my brother's home finding all the toys that had somehow gotten hidden, I mean misplaced. I did not pack my purse with batteries or put them into toys that my nephews thought were broken. No, that was not me!