When a woman dies, a child's cry is left unanswered, a brother's love is misplaced, a husband's heart is broken, a friend's companionship is forsaken and one woman's dreams are forgotten. That is one woman too many, a price too high to pay.It is Breast Cancer Awareness month and that awful, dreaded 'C' word is hot on the minds and lips of everyone. In reality, cancer cannot be dated and regardless of age, education, marital status, income, and occupation, this dreaded disease does not discriminate. Short or tall, slimor pleasantly plump these murderous cells continue to affect one in every eight women every year (2002 statistic).
In the midst of this ugly battle, there are survivors and witnesses to the realities of this disease. "I am a spiritual person, when I found out I decided to be positive and trust in God," says artist Marcia Miranda. "There was nothing else I could do, it was something bigger that I had ever experienced and I was not prepared to deal with it on my own."For Kate (as I will call her), talking openly about such a personal matter wasn't easy for her at first, but when her mother died of brain cancer and a few months her best friend died, there was a feeling that you want to give back something in memory of those you lost and recognition of the friends who remain with you.One of Kate's closest friends is a breast cancer survivor. She has been cancer free for ten years- she removed everything. "At first, my friend was emotionally upset. Focused on what was needed to get this thing out of her body. Then she was angry, her words were brief. Now she is good and is ready to begin constructive surgery."
"Having treatment was a journey for me. It is important that you have confidence in your medical team," says Marcia praising her doctors K. Fung Kee Fung and P. Bovell. "They kept me strong, safe and confident. " Family support also played a huge role for Marcia when she was in her weaker moments.At stage 3, Marcia went about it the traditional way; surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. "I had undergone aggressive treatment and it was rough."Marcia did everything she had to do to get well. Her diet was consistently made of greens, wheatgrass. "I have to keep my immune system strong. Chemotherapy places toxins and it was my choice to clean out my body by the means of oxygenation, a six month raw food diet and other the intake of other detox elements," says Marcia.
Someone's sistersurvived breastcancer.
Cancer changes everything.
Kate has lost five members of her family and friends to cancer. Today, she is a volunteer for several cancer organisations, including a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients.Today, Marcia feels great. "It has been over six years and I feel lucky and blessed. It is a privilege to live."I have been through a lot, and I have had the privilege to meet and chat with beautiful people. Some who are terminally ill, who not so much look at the cancer, but come to terms that their life have been cut short. Sometimes, family members are the ones who have problems dealing with this," said Kate. For Sandra, it was by accident she discovered cancer. She was in the shower when she felt a lump and she decided to have her breast checked out. "I could feel the lump," she said. It was malignant. She had breast cancer."I was just 39, but I caught it in time," she said. "Within a week of my diagnosis, I started chemotherapy, had a mastectomy and radiation therapy. My treatment went well."
Detecting cancer earlier is much better than catching it too late.
Being cancer aware is much more than knowledge, it is about understanding our bodies, doing our self examinations, taking clinical examinations at the right time and age. We cannot become emotionally paralysed and have a hard time deciding to get married, change jobs, or make other major decisions.Nothing tugs at the heart more than a child's cry or laughter. The only difference is that these actions conjure up feelings that allow us to act out our impulses to either give comfort or be part of the laughter. Cancer for many is like that; it tugs not only at our hearts but our bodies, destroys relationships, and ruins us. It sneaks up, disguising itself amongst the masses of our daily aches and pain. It can use stress as its fuel and feed on our vices, whether or whatever we smoke, drink or eat it has no preference it just wants to be fed.
Silently we are among those who suffer, who suffered and survived and those who suffer no more. Many of these persons are women, our family, and our friends. So much more, the reason to pause for a cause. Have we really stopped to think of the value of one woman? What value does one's life mean to the world?Kate, continues to be a volunteer and is a mother of a beautiful young woman. Her daughter is 17 years old, who knows that cancer exists in her family. She also volunteers. Sandra is a survivor, though her children were diagnosed with cancer, she is not giving up. We see the Kate's and Sandra's every day, beautiful women who could be your manager, the one with the friendly smile who gives you your morning cup of coffee, your daughter's teacher, your sister, your mother, a woman.In many respects, there are improved diagnosis and treatment options. But cancer can cause on-going psychological and emotional challenges and even worse are the physical challenges involved in treatments. It is no longer genetic.
It's important to remember, those women who have succumbed to the disease.Somewhere every second, someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer, is in chemotherapy, is suffering or surviving. Let our contributions not be limited by days, or a month but for each moment we can make a difference, let us make it. To looking after ourselves, to sharing our knowledge and to support in any way we can.To our courageous survivors, you have become the beacon of hope to others who may have just been diagnosed or are actively being treated for the disease. Organisations, volunteers, and NGOs continue your role in improving lives of women.In a war, someone wins, someone loses. Let's turn things around. Instead of fighting cancer, let's remove the 'r' and add an 'h'turn that cancer in to chance. A chance for life, in turning our hopes for a cure into reality.