I have a love/hate relationship with cancer.

That juxtaposition might seem inconceivable, but since getting well acquainted with my family’s arch rival many years ago, I’ve learned more about myself and life than I knew possible. I learned that being “strong” means different things on different days. Some days it’s being able to laugh in spite of adversity, other days it’s giving yourself room to be angry or sad, and sometimes it’s keeping a stiff upper lip. No two days are the same.

Twenty plus years ago, the wicked witch of the breast paid the first of three visits to the McIntyre household. At age 44, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer — the same disease that killed her mother (the grandmother I never knew) when my mom was only 21. My mom’s cancer was invasive, but the tumor was very small. Shortly after being diagnosed, she successfully underwent surgery and radiation treatment.

Thirteen years later, it was back. This time, she found herself staring down the scalpel of a double mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy. Although her doctor wasn’t confident that she’d live two years, treatment was successful once again. Remission, sweet remission.

Seven years later, her cancer had returned. She was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. It had recurred in the bones from her neck to her knees. Unfortunately, this one’s a keeper, because it cannot be surgically removed.

It’s been three and a half years since my mom’s latest diagnosis. Inside the four walls of her oncologist’s offices lie cabinets full of thick folders that tell the grim story of her unending battle. Four oncologists, two radiologists, three psychologists, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, three hospitalizations, and countless medical treatments and complications later, she continues to fight the good fight.

Since I can’t rid my mom of her cancer, I’ve decided to help her fight by committing to the cause. By doing so, I hope we can put an end to the circus of cancer.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yahoo! is teaming up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Throughout October, Yahoo! is donating $1 for each pink photo added to the Passionately Pink for the Cure Flickr pool, up to $50,000. This donation will go towards breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment programs.

Add your pink photos to the more than 30,000 already uploaded to raise awareness and money for this critical cause — then go tell your friends and family to get passionately pink.

Kim McIntyre
Public Relations Manager

Photos from: 1. Balm, 2. 5 yr. old love, 3. Pink Roses, 4. 365 Day 281 – Power of Pink…, 5. Passionately Pink for the Cure, 6. IMG_3288, 7. Pink for the Cure, 8. IMG_3297, 9. for a spring day, 10. Very pink, 11. Autumn for Pink for the cure, 12. Day 415 – Just doing my part, pinkified!, 13. Passionately Pink for the Cure …Pastel Pink Water Lily…., 14. Passionately Pink for the Cure …Pastel Pink Water Lily…., 15. Pink Waterlilly, 16. Pink Flower, 17. Pink Flowers, 18. Pink Waterlilly, 19. Pink Flower, 20. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 21. Think pink and help…, 22. Just Pink, 23. Passionately pink, 24. pink, 25. pink tentacles, 26. Passionately Pink for the Cure, 27. Think Pink!, 28. Soroptimist’s annual, “Walk for Life”, 29. Soroptimist’s annual, “Walk for Life”, 30. Pink October, 31. Pink Ballons, 32. Soroptimist’s annual, “Walk for Life”, 33. Soroptimist’s annual, “Walk for Life”, 34. Jan Eliot’s cartoon Stone Soup., 35. Susan G. Komen for the Cure M&M’s Peanut, 36. Gallagher & Missy Bear