Glennon Doyle’s sister, Amanda Doyle, recently disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis.
In the May 14 episode of their podcast We Can Do Hard Things, co-hosted by Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, the 45-year-old shared the "scary" news about her health.
"Just three weeks ago, I received the news from a biopsy that I have breast cancer. The initial weeks were quite tumultuous, filled with questions like, 'What does this mean? How severe is it? What are the odds?'" she recounted. "It's been quite a shock. I don't think anyone ever fully prepares for news like this."
Amanda expressed her concern, especially after losing a friend to cancer six months ago, about the devastating impact of late-stage diagnoses.
"I kept thinking about how utterly unfair it is and why people often discover their cancer only when it's too advanced," she remarked.
Amanda took proactive steps and opted for genetic testing, but the results unsettled her. Seeking further guidance, she visited a cancer prevention facility where she discovered her heightened risk for cancer.
"Due to the density of my breasts and our family history, they assessed my likelihood of developing cancer in my lifetime to be three times higher than average," she revealed on the podcast.
Armed with this knowledge, Amanda underwent a baseline MRI, despite regular mammograms. The cancer was detected, and shortly after, she received her diagnosis.
"I was sitting on the side of the road with my phone, and it felt eerie and surreal," she recounted, receiving the news during a family vacation. "I remember thinking, 'Wow, I saved my own life.'"
Expressing frustration with the conventional method of cancer discovery, Amanda emphasized her gratitude for catching it early.
Despite receiving a positive prognosis initially, subsequent tests revealed she wasn't a candidate for a lumpectomy, necessitating a mastectomy.
In the upcoming week, Amanda is scheduled for a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction, with further treatment contingent on post-operative assessments.
Acknowledging the early detection's significance, she assured listeners that her cancer poses no immediate threat to her life. Amanda also emphasized the importance of regular screenings and pledged to delve deeper into breast cancer prevention on the podcast.
Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent cancer among women in the United States, excluding skin cancers. Early detection, typically facilitated through mammograms, provides a crucial advantage by initiating treatment promptly and reducing the risk of metastasis.
According to the National Cancer Institute, regular mammograms are recommended for women starting at the age of 40, as advised by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
In addition to mammograms, health experts advocate for "breast self-awareness," encouraging women to familiarize themselves with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts. This practice enhances the likelihood of detecting any abnormalities during self-examinations.
On May 14, Amanda shared a video on Glennon and Abby’s Instagram pages discussing her health journey.
"I’ve learned from Glennon that there is power in sharing from the messy middle and not waiting until you’re on the other side of things. And we’re certainly not on the other side of this but we’ll get there," she stated in the clip.
"In the meantime, I want to ensure that all of you going through this know that you are acknowledged and respected. Moreover, I aim to contribute to efforts preventing others from enduring similar experiences."
The Quran - Chapter Adh-Dhariyat : 09 - 16
Only those ˹destined to be˺ deluded are turned away from it.
Condemned are the liars—
those who are ˹steeped˺ in ignorance, totally heedless.
They ask ˹mockingly˺, “When is this Day of Judgment?”
˹It is˺ the Day they will be tormented over the Fire.
˹They will be told,˺ “Taste your torment! This is what you sought to hasten.”
Indeed, the righteous will be amid Gardens and springs,
˹joyfully˺ receiving what their Lord will grant them. Before this ˹reward˺ they were truly good-doers ˹in the world˺:
قُتِلَ الْخَرَّاصُونَ (Death upon those who make conjectures - 51:10). The expression kharrasun is the plural of kharras which means one who estimates or say things by conjecture. In this context the word refers to those stubborn and obstinate infidels who, without any reason or evidence, say discordant things about the Messenger ﷺ .
Thus it would not be out of turn to interpret kharrasun as kadhdhabun, meaning 'the great liars' as they are condemned, denounced, cursed and imprecated (Mazhari) in this statement. After the mention of infidels, several verses that follow describe the qualities of the righteous people and the pleasant consequences of their righteousness.
