Breast Cancer Awareness Month

An article from KSL today reports that Utah ranks dead last in the number of women who get breast cancer screenings.

Dead last.  Moms, we need to fix this.

It also quotes Dr Brett Parkinson in saying that four women in 1000 have breast cancer right now, and don't even know it.  Put that math into the female population of Utah, and that means 5,600 women are walking around right now with a disease that can kill them if not caught early.  And they don't even know it.

October 1 kicks off the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  "Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without normal control. It is a widespread and random disease, striking women and men of all ages and races. It is the most prevalent cancer in the world today, with about 1.3 million people diagnosed annually. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, and at this time, there is no cure...But there is hope. Thanks to heightened awareness, early detection through screening, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services, people have a greater chance of survival than ever before."

Regular breast cancer screenings are the best way to detect cancers early, while they are still manageable.  Survival rates drastically increase for women whose cancer is found in the early stages, rather than when it has advanced.  The 5-year survival rate for women with stage 3 cancer is only 41%.  If detected at stage 1, the 5-year survival rate jumps to 93%.

Many single moms spend so much time focusing on their children and running their households that their own health isn't much of a priority.  But look at those 5-year survival rates--all of us want to still be around for our kids in 5 years.  Do you want to have a 41% chance of that happening, or a 93%?  Get your breast cancer screenings early and often.

                                 Personally Packaged, Where You Have it Made!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - 5 Quotes on Survival

 
“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be,you can survive it.” –Bill Cosby
 
“At such moments, you realize that you and the other are, in fact, one. It’s a big realization. Survival is the second law of life. The first is that we are all one.” –Joseph Campbell
 
“If a blade of grass can grow in a concrete walk and a fig tree in the side of a mountain cliff, a human being empowered with an invincible faith can survive all odds the world can throw against his tortured soul.”–Robert Schuller
 
“The future belongs to those who survive their past.” –Gaia’s Mr. Prophet
 
“Damaged people are dangerous.  They know they can survive.” –Josephine Hart

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited.......
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot eat away at Peace
It cannot kill  Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories 
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul 
It cannot steal eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit

Breast Cancer Awareness - Education

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.

The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.

Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to organs called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They filter substances in lymph and help fight infection and disease. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.

Age and health history can affect the risk of developing breast cancer.

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:

• Older age.
• Menstruating at an early age.
• Older age at first birth or never having given birth.
• A personal history of breast cancer or benign (noncancer) breast disease.
• A mother or sister with breast cancer.
• Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
• Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram.
• Taking hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Being white.

Breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).

The genes in cells carry the hereditary information that is received from a person's parents. Hereditary breast cancer makes up approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancer. Some altered genes related to breast cancer are more common in certain ethnic groups.

Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing other cancers. Men who have an altered gene related to breast cancer also have an increased risk of developing this disease. (For more information, refer to the PDQ summary onMale Breast Cancer Treatment.)

Tests have been developed that can detect altered genes. These genetic tests are sometimes done for members of families with a high risk of cancer. (Refer to the PDQ summaries on Screening for Breast Cancer, Prevention of Breast Cancer, andGenetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer for more information.)

Tests that examine the breasts are used to detect (find) and diagnose breast cancer.

A doctor should be seen if changes in the breast are noticed. The following tests and procedures may be used:

• Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.
• Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. If a lump in the breast is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump. Four types of biopsies are as follows:
  • Excisional biopsy: The removal of an entire lump or suspicious tissue.
  • Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue.
  • Core biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wide needle.
  • Needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration biopsy: The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle.
• Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue. If cancer is found in the breast, tissue from the tumor is examined in the laboratory to find out whether estrogen and progesterone could affect the way cancer grows. The test results show whether hormone therapy may stop the cancer from growing.

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

• The stage of the cancer (whether it is in the breast only or has spread to lymph nodes or other places in the body).
• The type of breast cancer.
• Estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor levels in the tumor tissue.
• A woman's age, general health, and menopausal status (whether a woman is still having menstrual periods).
• Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).

Acknowledgement given to the National Cancer Institute as originator of the information provided herein, with the NCI web site www.cancer.gov as the source

Breast Cancer Awareness Inspirational Poems & Quotes

For the next month or so I will be posting nothing but Inspirational Quotes  and Poems about Breast Cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 
From 10.1.11 - 10.31.11, Personally Packaged will donate the profit for every Breast Cancer Awareness basket/carebox purchased and $10.00 for ANY occasion basket/carebox during the month of October! 
We will donate all proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, or the organization with the most likes on our facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/PersonallyPackagedLLC
Todays Poem:

Cancer Faith

Cancer may come unexpectedly into your life,
Bringing fear, hard times, and great strife.

Families suffer and the end clearly unknown.
Families are stronger than ever and not alone.

Our personalities must stay optimistic,
Feeling better and free will be realistic.

The experience could be a long, hard ride,
Twists and turns in which you have cried.

When you fight and beat it and go on to live,
Don't forget the people who are here to give.

Love and care will forever and always stay.
Cancer will be knocked out of the way.

Your soul is and will be stronger than this;
It can conquer cancer, destroy and dismiss.

Courage and memories are very much needed,
As tiring treatments have faithfully succeeded.

Friendship, family, and faith cannot be suppressed;
They are the loving souls that make you blessed.

When my love-filled Mom became a cancer survivor,
I soon realized that I was an underwater diver.

You dive in but you never know what is there for you,
It could be your worst experience or the very best view.

By: Michaela Fournier

WIFE APPRECIATION DAY is SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

About the Holiday

Wife Appreciation Day is a day to honor and celebrate the ways that your wife enhances your life. This is a day for husbands to express their appreciation for all the things that their wife does. Show your appreciation for all the tasks that you may overlook that she completes. Roll up those sleeves and surprise her with some gestures to express your appreciation for her hard work. 

Some great gift ideas are:

• Day at the Spa
• Cooking Dinner
• Cleaning the House
• Recreate your first date
• Spa Baskets

There are few cultural clichés quite as entrenched as the supportive, caring, considerate wife. But believe it or not, it’s not all a big con; the bond between husband and wife runs deep, and it’s important to recognize that level of commitment and dedication to a partner. 

Wife Appreciation Day encourages husbands and partners to surprise their wives (nicely, fellows) with gifts, recognition and above all, appreciation.

Free Troy Davis Text the word Troy to 62227 for further information

Troy Davis in spotlight again as execution nears
By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press – 2 hours ago 
ATLANTA (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people are rallying behind Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis — not just because they oppose capital punishment but because they believe the state could put an innocent man to death.
The case is fraught with drama: The murder of an off-duty police officer. Conflicting eyewitness testimony. Last-minute court decisions sparing a condemned man's life and global dignitaries who say they fear an innocent man could die.
Davis has captured considerable attention because of the doubt raised over whether he killed Mark MacPhail in Savannah in 1989. The U.S. Supreme Court even granted Davis a hearing to prove his innocence, the first time it had done so for a death row inmate in at least 50 years, but he couldn't convince a judge to grant him a new trial.
The officer's family believes there's no doubt that Davis killed MacPhail and prosecutors say the right man was convicted.
Davis is scheduled to die Wednesday, the fourth time his execution has been set in four years. He once came within two hours of being put to death. His attorneys say his legal appeals are exhausted and the chances of him winning another reprieve have dwindled.
Still, supporters hope to convince Georgia's pardons board next week to spare his life.
Executing Davis "risks taking the life of an innocent man and would be a grave miscarriage of justice," said former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat from Georgia and death penalty opponent who wrote a letter on Davis' behalf.
"We believe that in this particular case there's enough evidence to the contrary to prevent this execution from taking place," Carter said Tuesday.
MacPhail was working a late-night shift as a security guard on Aug. 19, 1989, when he saw a homeless man who had been pistol-whipped at a nearby Burger King parking lot. He rushed to help.
Moments after MacPhail approached Davis and two other men, he was shot in the face and the chest. He died before help arrived.
Witnesses identified Davis as the shooter and shell casings were linked to an earlier shooting Davis was convicted of. There was no other physical evidence. No blood or DNA tied Davis to the crime, the weapon was never located and several witnesses who testified at his 1991 trial have disputed all or parts of their testimony.
One of them, Harriet Murray, told the jury she saw Davis pistol-whip her friend. She identified him as MacPhail's killer in a police photo lineup and later pointed to him as the shooter in court, saying he was smirking when he pulled the trigger.
But 11 years later, Murray gave defense attorneys a more vague account of the shooting and didn't name Davis as the killer. Others who did not testify at the trial have since said another man admitted shooting MacPhail.
Prosecutors say many of the concerns about the witness testimony were raised during the trial, and allegations that someone else later confessed are inconsistent and inadmissible in court.
Those questions compelled anti-death penalty groups to get involved. Amnesty International, a human rights organization, started its campaign in February 2007. It printed a report looking at the case and sent it to thousands of members across the globe.
"It took a lot of work for us to break through the noise, and to be serious about the questions of doubt and innocence," said Laura Moye of Amnesty International.
The group inspired Gautam Narula, a University of Georgia student, to fight for Davis' life. Narula plans to attend a rally on Davis' behalf in Atlanta on Friday.
"If it's true that Davis is innocent, this is something that could happen to anyone," said Narula, who has also visited Davis on death row. "Someone was sentenced to death for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. And that means that anyone could be Troy Davis. It happened to be him and it could happen to any of us."
That's the message of the NAACP's "I am Troy" campaign. More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition asking the five-member Georgia pardons board to spare his life. On Thursday, advocacy groups handed over to the board thousands of petitions with the names of more than 660,000 people who support Davis.
Big-name supporters began advocating for Davis in 2007. Pope Benedict XVI's U.S. envoy sent a letter pleading for his life, and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu urged the courts to review his case. The Rev. Al Sharpton visited him on death row, and plans to return to Atlanta Friday to help lead a rally to support Davis.
Conservative figures also got involved. Former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson, who served under President George W. Bush, urged the pardons board to grant Davis clemency because "it is clear now that the doubts plaguing his case can never be adequately addressed." And former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr said in a letter that "even for death penalty supporters such as myself, the level of doubt inherent in this case is troubling."
A group of 27 former judges and prosecutors, including Barr, Thompson and one-time FBI Director William Sessions, asked the U.S. Supreme Court in 2009 for the rare innocence hearing to "prevent a potential miscarriage of justice."
The high court granted the hearing, a momentous decision because death penalty appeals typically look only at questions of procedure and constitutional violations, not guilt or innocence.
During two days of testimony in June 2010, U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. heard from two witnesses who said they falsely incriminated Davis and two others who said another man had confessed to being MacPhail's killer in the years since Davis' trial.
Moore said the evidence cast some additional doubt on Davis' conviction, but that it was "largely smoke and mirrors" and not enough to vindicate Davis or grant him a new trial.
Some of MacPhail's family members blame the advocacy groups for drumming up the worldwide interest.
"I just think they should stay away. They don't know the case, they're just running their mouths," said Anneliese MacPhail, the slain officer's mother. "It's none of their business. They don't know all the circumstances."

Bluestein can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/bluestein
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.