I gave my first speech at Toastmasters today. Since it was my first speech, it was supposed to be an "Icebreaker," that is, all about me. However, I wanted to give the (severely edited) speech I gave at the Reception and Tea for cancer survivors.

In a way, it was an Icebreaker, in that I talked about my relationship with my daughter and how it grew after she took care of me when I had the first mastectomy.  We were never close, and in fact, I was pretty much the enemy when she was growing up.

She turned out to be a loving and supportive daughter.  I still talk to her when I need to talk out a problem. She's very wise.

I had some very nice comments on my speech, and in particular about warning the men present that it isn't only women who get breast cancer.  I suggested that they each ask the significant woman in their lives to show them how to do the breast examination. I added that they should be serious about the self-examination because "the life you save could well be your own."

I concluded with: "So, the child who wanted nothing to do with me, Megan became a trusted friend as well as an attentive and loving daughter.  Maybe the cancer was a blessing in disguise."


Bless