Breast Cancer Remains a Major Health Concern
Breast cancer remains a major health concern among women. However, this article will not focus on breast cancer patients but on their family members.
Here in the Philippines, breast cancer is one of the most common diseases among women. The number of women afflicted with this condition is growing each year. The Philippine Department of Health reported that cancer ranks third in leading causes of morbidity and mortality after communicable diseases and cardiovascular diseases (Department of Health–Health Intelligence Service or DOH–HIS, 1992, 1996). After more than a decade, its position in the charts remained unchanged. The Philippine government also declared October as the “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” to increase the awareness of women on breast cancer.
With this startling statistics, women should really be aware of the possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer which starts as a small lump in the breast area. Suggested routines in checking up these signs are mammography and physical checkup. Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women. Two recent enhancements to traditional mammography include digital mammography and computer-aided detection.
Also, women are advised to do a monthly self-examination to determine if there is a mass build-up in the breast area. Some women can ask for the assistance of the boyfriends. Lol!
On the other hand, these preventive measures can go a long way since having a breast cancer patient in the family can do a lot of emotional and psychological damage. I have a firsthand experience on this, that is why I know. My aunt is a breast cancer patient and she underwent mastectomy, which is a surgical removal of one or both breasts. Her whole left breast was removed by surgeons in the US. It was an expensive procedure and the whole family just wasn’t the same after the operation.
Her operation happened 10 years ago but the scar on her memory and ours as well can never heal. She’s well now, as physicians claimed a few years ago, but she keeps crying thinking that tomorrow or the next day she’ll die. The psychological damage to us is great. We, too, have this fear she might die one of these days although we know that that is less likely to happen due to cancer. During the time she was on medication cobalt therapy, we didn’t want to pay her regular visits out of pity. And we knew we wouldn’t be of any help if we showed her such pity. We didn’t even dare to cry in front of her even if we wanted to.
Families like ours who underwent such a terrible ordeal with cancer are many. The suffering of a family member is the suffering of all. It wasn’t easy coping up with the situation. Sticking together and praying were the only things we can do at the time my aunt was in pain. It was painful and we hoped that it will never happen again.
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Tags: breast cancer patient, leading causes of morbidity and mortality, mastectomy, Nursing
Lam mo kuya, my mother’s mom died of breast cancer when my mother was in her 20’s. I never got to see her. My mother underwent at least seven surgeries, five of which are breast cyst related. I was also underwent fibroadenoma excision when I was 19 years old. You could only imagine how terrified I was. I was in paranoia that I was sure I had breast cancer. Lahat nga ng docs who I went to see would say that I really am a high risk of having one.
Talagang grace lang ni God that I am still here more than ten years since the operation. Nodules and what nots have tried to scare me off, I am still going back and forth to the doc for regular ultrasound screening just to be sure. I have to be more careful now, I still want to see my son grow up and also get to enjoy senescence with my dear hubby.
Jennie’s last blog post..Errands
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My senior officemate was diagnosed for having breast cancer stage 4. We were all shocked by her revelation after a number of consultations and screenings. This officemate of mine is feared by everyone in the office. She is very strict in not so a nice manner and she could show to everyone how mean she could get.
After having been diagnosed, there was a big twist. She became a very mild-mannered person and was always very silent. I know she is undergoing emotional and psychological turmoils. It’s not easy to face life when doctors are always reminding you that death might come at anytime.
SHe has been undergoing chemotherapy up to this time and has decided to file an early retirement effective July of this year. However mean a person is, we can’t just be happy and laugh for the ordeal she is going through now and to all other breast cancer patients. BE strong, always keep your hopes high and the faith burning. GOD hears our every prayers and He only knows what’s best for us.
Scotty’s Princess’s last blog post..Awesome Awards!
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I am on the “watch list” if I may say. I go to my breast oncologist without fail every six months because of multiple cysts on both left and right breast. Been through surgeries twice, once in the Phil. and once here. They were actually “useless” surgeries because especially the surgery done here, my oncologist really was against the surgery, as he thought they are just fibrocystic cysts, therefore benign, which was confirmed by tests, but I insisted to have the cysts out. I was warned they’ll come back, and yes, they are back in their glory. So, I’m being closely monitored and have both mammogram and sonogram every six months.
I feel like my life is renewable every six months. There’s anxiety and fear whenever I go see my doctor. I’ve just been through it a couple of weeks ago. I’m thankful, I have found and go to one of the best breast surgical oncologist here in NY. Depressing nga lang once I’m in the doctor’s office. I see women in different race young and old alike burdened with the disease.
Oh, and by the way, dami nagtatanong why I go to an oncologist e wala naman ako cancer, I think, going to one that is already a specialist in the field, gives me peace of mind and assurance somehow.
Ay, ano ba yan, feel ko I’m writing in my blog. Sorry, Jessie. BTW, hope you’ll be well soon.
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Early detection is still the best way to fight cancer, along with sticking to a healthy diet. The immune system, if and when nourished properly, is able to fight back against cancer, as our macrophages are are able to kill cancer cells.
Here in the UK, breast cancer cases are quite alarming. There are now studies here linking their heavy on milk and dairy diet as a probably cause of their high incidence of breast cancer.
HotMama’s last blog post..Fussy Eaters
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Here in the UK I work for a major hospice charity in London, and part of our mission statement is ‘adding life to days, when days can’t be added to life’. My father died of lung cancer, as did my sister’s husband (seven weeks after which she was diagnosed with breast cancer), and last week I attended the funeral of my uncle who died of bowel cancer. Both the disease and its treatment are cruel heart breakers. Peace and love, RR
Reward Rebel’s last blog post..Valentine’s Day Link Love
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@ All,
After reading all your comments, I just can’t seem to find the right words to say to you as a reply.
Cancer has been and still is a dreaded disease. My post on this may have hit the bull’s eye when I said that the emotional and psychological damage of having a cancer patient in the family is so huge. Worse, none of us can do anything to ease our loved ones’ pains and suffering.
We, however, can pray to God - and I mean pray a lot. It will definitely help. I know because my family and I have been there before. It’s the only thing we can do in times like these knowing that we’re really helpless. Our emotional and moral support to our afflicted loved ones are also valuable. To them, feeling alone drowning in self-pity, anticipating their death due to their condition can already kill them. Let’s be strong for them.
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