Tag: breast cancer

PINK & TEAL: BREAST & OVARIAN CANCERS

karenringalls8 Comments

Today, Sept. 30, marks the final day of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and tomorrow, Oct. 1, is the first day of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

There are a few facts that about the relationship of these two cancers which every female needs to be aware of.

  1. All females are at risk of contracting either or both of these cancers.
  2. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes exist to repair damaged DNA
  3. When those genes are damaged they are designated as mutated putting the woman at higher risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer.
  4. These mutations are most common in Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish women, followed by Hispanics.
  5. According to the American Cancer Society in Jan. 2020, it was estimated there would be 268,000 breast cancer diagnoses and 41,760 deaths.
  6. And, for ovarian cancer it was estimated that there would be 21,700 new cases and 13,900 deaths.
ROBERT HOLLOWAY, MD, GYN. CANCER RESEARCH
  • According to the American Cancer Society as of March 1, 2020, breast cancer was funded $97,215,750, and ovarian cancer was funded $21,604.
The important message from this blog is:
 1. Be aware, alert, and act on any symptoms if lasting more than  two weeks.
2. Know your risk factors and family history
3. Support research by giving to various fundraisers and contact your Congressman about the need for more cancer research funding.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this blog. As you have learned, cancer does not care what age, race, religion, or our social status. I hope you each have learned something over this past month.

WHEN WILL CANCER & ABUSE END?

karenringalls6 Comments

The TEAL ribbon symbolizes many causes including ovarian cancer and child abuse. I have walked the path of ovarian cancer for 11 years and I wear the Teal ribbon to help bring awareness.

The breast cancer community has done an excellent job bringing awareness and funding to the forefront. The pink ribbon is often mistaken to represent all cancers.

Here is a fact that is not well known by most women, including those with breast or ovarian cancers. THOSE WHO HAVE HAD BREAST CANCER ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR GETTING OVARIAN CANCER and THOSE WHO HAVE HAD OVARIAN CANCER ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR GETTING BREAST CANCER. Please, do your self-breast exams and get an annual mammogram AND get a pelvic and rectal exam every year. Remember: PAP smears do ONLY detect cervical cancer.

I was sexually abused in my early teens by my stepfather as were my two sisters. I am a survivor of the abuse and advocate for awareness, programs, and funding.

In 2017, there were reported 3,051,000 cases of child abuse (americanspcc.org/child-abuse-statistics). The CDC states that in 2018, 1 in every 7 children had been abused.

Many of these cases come from homes where there is alcoholism, drug addiction, poverty, or parents were victims of abuse themselves. Whether the abuse is emotional, physical, or sexual…ABUSE IS ABUSE.

There are numerous health issues related to abuse: diabetes, malnutrition, vision problems, heart disease, arthritis, physical mobility, high blood pressure, and brain damage. The earlier the abuse starts the greater the damage to that person’s health. The sooner it can be stopped, the better. (https://childwelfare.gov/pub/factsheets/long-term-consequences.)

Author, Christina Winds wrote a short but powerful book about abuse, titled Monsters. She states in her author page She prays that it brings strength and hope to anyone living with monsters. Her book focuses on emotional abuse and it was inspired by true stories from abuse victims.

ANY ABUSE OF ANY KIND IS UNACCEPTABLE, HAS LONG LASTING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL SCARS, AND THIS AUTHOR BELIEVES THAT ALL PERPETRATORS MUST BE PUNISHED AND REHABILITATED. WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ABUSE AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog about two important issues. It is my hope that you will be advocates for awareness and funding for both these causes. I do not know when cancer or abuse will end, but each time a woman is proactive with her health and each time we teach about child abuse we are one step closer to ending both of these issues.