Think Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness Goes Beyond October 2011

Elizabeth Edwards’ journey of Resilience, grace and dignity has been well profiled in the mainstream media of late. We all know the story. Today, she announced her decision to end treatment of  metastatic Stage IV breast cancer that she was first diagnosed with in the fall of 2004, during her estranged husbands (John Edwards) failed campaign for the presidency.

Today, she has rewritten her own story yet again – by opting for control over the disease in one final act of resilience, in choosing to cease treatment for her terminal battle with breast cancer. On her facebook page, she posted:

“You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human.

“But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.”

Having been through this several times with cancer in my own family, I applaud Elizabeth for her openness, and her continued bravery throughout her breast cancer – and this is perhaps the bravest moment of her very public battles and tragedies so far – I hope that she and her family finally find peace in this part of the journey, and make the most of the moments together to last a lifetime.

In an episode of the Nate Berkus Show, which aired last week (December 2, 2010) – Elizabeth Edwards shared her very personal story and a tour of her North Carolina home with the interior designer, she appeared to be upbeat and feeling reasonably well in the pre-taped portion of the interview. Later in the episode, Edwards appeared via satellite, looking much more frail, and had noted that the cancer treatments had been taking a lot out of her, including of course, her hair. But as anyone who has been through this process knows, you could almost tell a shift was happening in her battle against breast cancer.

Screenshot of Elizabeth Edwards appearance

Still, Elizabeth Edwards was as charming and graceful as ever, sharing both personal thoughts and laughter, as well as a few bargain hunting tips, giving a true look at the person she is.