Posted by tildav on April 2, 2009
“Now this is ‘nice’” was my first thoughts. But is it really?
That is the creation of mobile mammography and breast check educational units, which will travel into communities to educate rural women on the dangers of breast cancer and the values of early detection. An initiative that was launched by MNet and supported and funded by a host of South African companies.
I am personally driven by a passion to educate and inform others on health issues, especially how to manage your own health. But sometimes I look at these kind of initiatives and wonder if it is for the good of the people or the good of the sponsor. This caught my attention because when you look at the website it is all about who is involved and who has done great deeds – a huge opportunity to receive free marketing and recognition. I couldn’t find any detailed elaboration of the route the truck will follow, how many mamograms they aim to do within a specific time frame or how they estimate this will indeed reduce breast cancer statistics. Maybe I was just clouded by all the marketing hype that I didn’t see it. You try go here: http://www.shoza.co.za/content/view/85/126/
On the other hand there is so many reports available that warns against mammograms and its possible dangers that my second thought was – is this a death trap in the name of doing good for purposes of the economic well being of others? Are we exploiting the threat of a disease as an opportunity to wealth?
Is early detection really the answer? I think not – prevention is. So what causes breast cancer? Simply our lifestyle! These articles from the Cancer Reference Information and eHealth MD are very informative -
Personally I don’t think this Mobile Mammography Unit is addressing the problem – people need information on how to change their lifestyles in order to avoid diseases in general more. And what is really a great concern – will this in fact address a growing problem or create more agony for those who do not have the means to make informed decisions.
I don’t think Mammograms is the answer. Read some of these articles and see if you agree with me:
What I thought to be a positive move at first seems to be nothing of the sorts. I have the resources to be informed and make informed decisions. Based on that I will not line up – but what about those that just do not know and think that this is for their good?
And maybe it is - but I say if there is one report that warns against mammograms one should rather investigate the issue and ensure that we are indeed treating breast cancer for the good without any doubt!
Posted in Diet, Stop Smoking, cancer, chemotherapy, exercise, health, healthy diet, healthy foods, natural diet, supplements | Leave a Comment »
Posted by tildav on March 23, 2007
by Tilly Davies
Earlier this week I volunteered to accompany my sister and her husband to the oncology centre for her first of six chemotherapy sessions. She had breast cancer seven years ago and suddenly the cancer came back this year. She had her second mastectomy a couple of weeks ago but the cancer spread and must be treated.
We arrived there on time but she had to fill in a form that took almost 10 minutes to fill out. We were all nervous and quiet feeling like cattle at slaughter. Knowing what to expect didn’t make it easier.
Finally she was sitting comfortably in a green ‘lazyboy’ chair in a room filled with very sick people. An elderly women sitting across from my sister was chatty and told me that it is very ‘nice’ of me to support my mother. I felt stupid when I explained that she was my sister hoping that my sister will not be offended. Then she referred to my sister’s husband as our father and once again I had to correct her. My sister’s husband was standing around not knowing what to do with himself.
What felt like an eternity the oncology sister came with a pink box wrapped with a bow and a tray filled with intravenous bags. Methodically she explained the contents of the box; there is ginger tea for nausea, some ointment (I forgot the name) for headaches, gloves for when she lose her nails….. My sister interrupted with big scary eyes “My nails?” The sister explained that there is a slight change that she might lose her nails. “And my hair?” my sister was unsettled. “All of it, head, eyebrows, eyelashes all within 21 days” the sister explained. My sister laid back and exposed the port that was inserted earlier in her shoulder. She closed her eyes for a moment and then turned her head and looked at me. “I never thought I will ever be back here again” she said with tears in her eyes. She abruptly laid back and indicated that she needed time to herself.
The oncology sister started the procedure and reminded me of our gardener. Everything is done in a routine that is embedded by years of practice. Nothing left to do I thought and followed my sister’s husband example by picking up a magazine. Restless I paged through the magazine, that I would not normally read, not reading a word. My sister’s husband chuckled every now and then when he read something funny. We both would just stare at him every time but neither of us said a word.
Then he caught my attention and I was alert. “Look at this” he said proudly to my sister. He showed her an article he just found. “Antioxidant a myth” the headline read. My sister asked what it was all about but he opinioned that it proves the point and not worth reading. Knowing what I do she looked at me apologetically but I just shook my head indicating that it does not worry me. He is going deaf and to argue the point would mean that I would have to raise my voice and that was not the place.
Her husband made an excuse and got up while frantically searching his pockets for his cigarettes. I watched him as he walked away. The oxidative stress on his skin clearly visible; the discolouring, premature wrinkles, age spots were all standing out suddenly. He looked like a very old man much older than somebody in his early sixties. He too is sickly and also adds to his health CV a couple of major operations.
That evening when I got home I looked at my ‘antioxidants’. I fondly took my Multivitamin and Cell Activator and took two each – I missed it this afternoon I thought. What about the shake, I wondered, it is supper time. “Agh what the heck my body needs it.” I said to my grandson as I lovingly picked him up.
The day’s events washed over me and I know that I surely cannot cure but I can certainly prevent. I am an antioxidant believer – and my skin, my health, my energy, my life is evident thereof.
Posted in antioxidants, cancer, chemotherapy, health, oxidative stress, skin, supplements | Leave a Comment »
