Hello GlobalGrind!

It's Carmelina Vargas here..

I just had a great workout and was enthusiastic about the release of my bilingual debut album, Morena.  It had always been one my biggest dream  - to put out my own album.  Many wait until the opportunity knocks on the door for this to happen, but I’ve always been somewhat different.  I do not fear knocking doors off the hinges.

I had set out to make a small ripple in the latin music industry with a full album after investing all of my lunch money into my work of art but I didn’t know that a bigger hurdle loomed before me  -- Breast Cancer!

During a routine shower, I felt a small lump on my left breast and I was taken by surprise.  This lump was small but it felt strange and hard - like a marble.

Knowing the importance of regular check-ups with my gynocologist, I gave her a call.  A week later we discussed how it didn’t appear to be “malignant” but she still sent me out for a mammogram.  Wow, a mammogram I thought…hum, I thought that was for “older” folks.

I was sent for a bilateral mammogram and it was an uncomfortable and painful experiences.  In order to get an image, they had to turn my breasts into pancakes.  I am not fond of mammograms….The doctor stepped into the room and I knew then that I wasn’t leaving right away.