02.01.26
February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a time when we pause and shine a light on something that touches far too many lives. It’s a reminder that prevention isn’t passive—it’s intentional. It’s choosing to prioritize screenings, paying attention to changes in your body, and having conversations that may feel uncomfortable but could ultimately save a life.
Cancer prevention isn’t just about statistics or medical charts. It’s about real people, real families, and real futures. Early detection remains one of the most powerful tools we have. Screenings can catch cancer when it’s most treatable, giving individuals a fighting chance and giving families more time—time that is priceless.
This month, I want to encourage you to take your health seriously. Schedule the screenings you’ve been putting off. Encourage the people you love to do the same. Prevention is not just a personal act; it’s a community responsibility. Because when cancer shows up, it doesn’t arrive alone—it impacts everyone in the circle.
And I know that truth firsthand.
February hits me hard because my eldest sister, Barbara, died of breast cancer, leaving four young daughters behind. She was diagnosed at a time when medicine had already made significant strides in extending lives, and she fought with strength and grace for 14 years before the disease finally took her. Losing her was a heavy blow for our entire family—one that still echoes.
Her story is why I speak up. It’s why I urge you to be intentional about your health. Early detection saves lives. It gives families more moments, more memories, more years. Don’t wait, assume, don’t put it off.
Your life—and the lives of the people who love you—are worth the effort.