I was very pleased to hear the CBC aired my song on their morning program last week. Since a few different people had told me they heard it, I went online to find out when it aired. Turns out it was on “The Current” CBC Radio One program on June 22, 2012, as part of a series they were doing on “Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History.” The song was accompanied by the following introduction:

“We started this segment with a song by Calgary singer-songwriter Jacquie Drew called My Breast Friends. She wrote it following a double mastectomy. Drew’s breast cancer led her to reflect on the importance of her breasts, both to herself and her family.”

OOPS! While I wrote the song in the first person, the song is not about MY breasts. I have not had a double mastectomy, nor ever had breast cancer. I wrote it by putting myself in the shoes of a childhood friend who went through the experience. The song wouldn’t have been half as personal in second person “Your Breast Friends” or third person “Her Breast Friends.”

Here’s a quick overview of the story. One day in spring of 2009, my friend’s mom called me (we live in different cities) and asked if I could perhaps send her a card, or give her a call since she was having a low-point during her cancer treatments/mastectomy process…My thought was that I should be able to do “one better” and write her a song. Actually I wrote her two. But the first one was too sad — and I abandoned it before completing it because I realized the last thing she needed was a sad song. The second one was a pick-me-up…and meant to give her a laugh. Hence “My Breast Friends” was born.

I’ll take it as a compliment that I wrote and performed the song convincingly enough that the CBC assumed it was about me. I have asked them to correct the situation and I’m sure it will be looked after in short order. From my fans’ point of view — no need to worry about me or my health. For now at least, I am chest fine.