When writing a check to the American Cancer Society we hardly imagine where the money is really going ... straight into some fat cats pocket, affording them a nice comfy jet to take them on exotic vacations.
Cancer isn't just a medical issue. It's embroiled in politics, religion, economic issues, and endless beurocracy. The people affected have lost not only their hair, and firmness, but their earning ability. They often end up living in poverty, exacerbating their suffering. Coping physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially, with family, friends, dailyness, quality of life ... cancer's insidious destructiveness is without end. It attacks the spirit first, then everything else.
Close to 200,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, in the U.S. alone. That is nearly double the amount of new HIV cases. Double! About 23,000 will be diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. Close to 21,000 people will be diagnosed with Thyroid cancer, 15,000 of them will be women.
Women should be twice as terrified as anyone is of contracting HIV. The risks are a alarmingly higher.
Why don't we have a moment of silence at the beginning of the gay parade for all of the lesbians living with, and who have died from cancer right after the HIV moment, is a question I ask with some resentment. "Women" means Lesbians too.
The thing about cancer is ... it's always, the neighbors mom, or your very old uncle, or someone else's friend who get's it. And of course it's tragic, and you feel terrible for them ... but ... it's never You. They just happen to be really unlucky people that you feel really bad for. Not really. Those bald, weak, women had a life just as fun filled as anyone's.
She's one of them: http://www.myspace.com/_lucyfur_
If you do ever feel the urge to get involved there is an amazing organization I'd like to make you guys aware of: http://www.mautnerproject.org/home
I know some of us run "from" this type of thing, and some of us run "to" ... for those of you who are interested. Give them a look up, and if you care to, spread the word, consider it your good deed for the day.
Drinking, smoking, and obesity are just a few things you can moderate to lower your risks. Exercise reduces inflammation everywhere in the body, it's a good start and can only help. There isn't any solid solution unfortunately, and these know nothing know it all doctors, aren't going to give you any answers either.
And get your mammo's. Your baseline mammogram is supposed to happen when you are 30. It should be younger. The follow up is at 35, and then every year after you turn 40. You should demand a sonogram as well, it is well known that mammo's are an incomplete and inferior method of detecting anything.
And everyone says it, but early detection is key. Look how good Kylie looks! What a fox!
Best wishes of health, happiness, and peace in 08.
5 comments:
"Why don't we have a moment of silence at the beginning of the gay parade for all of the lesbians living with, and who have died from cancer right after the HIV moment, is a question I ask with some resentment. "Women" means Lesbians too."
A moment of silence should be done for each and every person that has been infected by cancer .. Straight , Gay, Lesbian, Bi, male, female or child.. Cancer does not discriminate.
Thank you so much Sandi. A LOT of people have no idea how much cancer affects some on a daily level. I would LOVE a moment of silence at Pride, it would bring me so much joy. Even though I can never replace those terrible memories of my sister, mother, and grandmother with good ones, I can always hope that more will become aware of not JUST breast cancer but all KINDS. Thank you thank you thank you. It's not that often a role-model actually reminds her listeners/fans/friends/ to protesct themselves.
-Laura from Orlando.
Great blog. Thank you Sandi. So true!
Thank you for bringing this topic to light Sandi. I think a moment of silence at Pride for women/lesbians affected by cancer is a great idea. It does affect women in our community differently. Lesbians don't fit into regular cancer support "Box."
Thank you for bringing up baseline mammograms at 30. I think it should be younger, too. But that's probably because I had breast cancer when I was 27, so I'm biased. I went to my gyno (a woman) with a lump and she refused to give me a mammogram! I went to a specialist 9 months later, and ended up with a radical mastectomy. I should have been pushier, and not waited. Get your tits squeezed, ladies! It hurts alot less than surgery!
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