Welcome to Bumps are Bad!

Personal Statement

Hello friends! My name is Barbara Bee and this is my Bumps are Bad website! In November 2012, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma – Primary Mediastinal – Diffuse Large B Cell Stage 2A…whew that’s a mouth full! Over the last 6 months, I have undergone 6 rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy and 17 sessions of radiation to the neck and chest. This experience has been life-altering and extremely humbling to say the least. The good word is…I am in full remission as of January 25, 2013! Check out my full story here. Although I am the same ‘ol Bee from one day to the next, my outlook and purpose in life has forever changed.
 
Today, I am abundantly grateful that I went into the doctor’s office very soon after finding the bump on my neck. My cancer was an aggressive growing cancer that doubled in size every two weeks. So, if I had waited just a few months to go in and get checked out, I could be in a very different position right now. See my timeline here. Every day I think about this, and how important it was for me to be aware of what was going on in my body at the earliest possible moment. This awareness gave me the opportunity to fight back against cancer and save my own life. 
 
My mission and the mission of Bumps are Bad is dedicated to reminding others to get their bodies checked out, to create avenues for people to read & share their stories, and to join efforts in spreading awareness to help fight back against cancer and save more lives!
 

Purpose

Awareness
Bee aware, there is power in knowing! Early detection literally saved my life. Some bumps are bad, but some bumps are NOT bad, and you will never know until you go a get it checked out.  There are a TON of reasons people do not go in and get checked out. We all live busy lives, some of us are frightened, some of us just don’t think it will happen to us. I didn’t think it would happen to me, but let me tell you – CANCER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. So it is my goal to remind you to call your doctor today. By being aware, you can give yourself peace of mind, a chance to fight, and above all  power,
 
Community
There is power in sharing! No two cancer stories are alike. Sharing your story can help hundreds of thousands of people. I know it helped me! These stories do not only need to be from those people who have gone through cancer themselves, but also the supporters of these people. When I was diagnosed, I spent hours researching others’ stories to try and get a glimpse of what I was about to endure. It wasn’t always easy to find, but what I did find was so beneficial to me. So, it is my goal to share my story, as well as, have a place for people to share their stories to help provide a sense of community for those struggling or coping with this disease.
 
Positivity
There is power in a positive attitude! I am nowhere near perfect. I have plenty of flaws and things to work on, but one thing I do know is that my positive outlook after being diagnosed highly contributed to my successful rode to remission. It is my goal to remain positively healthy and to share my tips, tricks, and words of encouragement with others. If you give positivity to the world, the world will respond with positivity.
 
Remind your friends and family to go in for their regular check-up and screenings.
 
Don’t forget to smile today…it is contagious!
 
With Gratitude,
Barbara Bee