October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Maria Dweggah, WHO

Yes, but this is December, you say. This following story came to me in an e mail at the end of October, too late for the November issue. As I read it, my eyes started to fill up. I wanted to share this with you readers.

I have good friends and family members, as I am sure you all do, who have survived this disease and others who did not. What is so tragic about breast cancer is that it is preventable. How many of you women spend five minutes a month self-examining your breasts? Breast self examination (BSE) is useful in detecting early lesions, and can increase the chances that an abnormality will be found early. If you are like me, I would say very few of you do so. We find all kinds of excuses: “We don’t have the time” “We don’t know what to look for” “We don’t know how” “We are too young” We are too old.” If you are the lazy type like me, then go for the exam. The mammogram takes less than ten minutes. As with other cancers, the goals of breast cancer screening are twofold: to detect cancer at the earliest possible stages and consequently to improve the patient’s outcome by managing the early stages of the disease. This is an individual decision. Discuss with your physician who will better inform you and guide you.

Early breast cancer detection–it could save your life! There is general agreement that the standard of care is a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40 and yearly from age 50 upward. It’s been demonstrated that annual mammograms for women over 50 reduce mortality.

For the SIXTH year a pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness. Wear a pink ribbon, so that people will ask you what it’s all about.

A good-looking, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn’t help notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn’t until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about. The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically...

“This?” With that the men all began to laugh out loud. The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter...

“Sorry mate, but we were just commenting on how pretty your little ribbon looks against your blue jacket!”

The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said

“I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother’s honour.” “Oh, sorry mate. She died of breast cancer?”

“No, she didn’t. She’s alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I’m very grateful for my mother’s breasts, and her health.”

“Umm,” the stranger replied, “Yeah.” “And I wear this ribbon to honour my wife,” the middle aged man went on.

“And she’s okay, too?”, the other guy asked.

“Oh, yes. She’s fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife’s breasts, and for her health.”

“Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?”

”No. It’s too late to honour my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn’t painful, it must not be anything to worry about.” Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said...

“Geez mate, I’m really sorry”. “So, in my daughter’s memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends.”

And here the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.

The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked... “Can you help me put it on?”

October is “cancer awareness month.” Do regular breast self-exams and have annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. And encourage those women you love to do the same.