Stand Up To (2) Cancer

        Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer?  Did you know that 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime…1 out of 2 men.  So unless you are a family of one, with no friends and you are the luckiest person in the whole wide world…cancer is going to touch someone you care about, at some point.  If you haven’t had to deal with the enemy cancer yet…consider yourself blessed beyond reason.  There is a movement afoot to Stand Up To Cancer.  It doesn’t matter if it is breast cancer, colon cancer, blood cancers, brain cancer,ovarian, or any other kind of cancer…it is a destroyer and needs to be eliminated.  Please join forces to battle a plague on the world that we live in…help fight cancer.

        The goal is to Stand Up To Cancer and understand it…take it apart…so that we can more efficiently battle it and WIN!  That is the end goal.   Cancer is the enemy…it is a thief…it has stolen enough, artists, doctors, mothers, muscians, pilots, cab drivers, babies, teachers, clerks, lecturers, fathers, students, writers, researchers, husbands, factory workers, miners, fire fighters, sons, nurses, daughters, child care workers, politicians, sisters, waitresses, brothers, lecturers, speakers, wives, caregivers, grandparents, role models, athletes, neighbors, librarians, friends, social workers, police men & women, military men and women, designers, dancers, clergy, you get the idea…Cancer is not picky about who it chooses to invade and try to destroy. 

          It could be you next, or someone you care about.  Cancer claims one life a minute each day!  Can you believe that?  One person a minute per day is too many loses! That is 1,500 deaths per day… that is unacceptable.    Protect your health best way that you can, eat right, exercise, protect your environment, take your vitamins, stay away from contaminants, be aware and educate yourself.  Honor those who have fought with everything they have…help out someone in a health crisis with cancer…be a supporter to someone in need. 

          Once cancer strikes…there are many needs, physical,spiritual, medical, emotional, financial, transportation, and daily care needs.  Do what you can to lift someone up!  Life is precious.  Will you make a commitment to be a force to be reckoned with and help make an impact in the fight against cancer?

         For us to win the war on cancer it requires courage, support, awareness, education and funding.  The television networks are joining together to bring those tools to the public and try to create a historic event that will hopefully rev up the odds of winning.  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/StandUp2Cancer/  There are many celebrities who are adding their voice and their talents to the project.  They have a wonderful website that you can view here that will explain more.  In the meantime, look for the program to hit the networks on Sept 5th, at 8 pm.  You can go to the website and read up on the idea here:  http://www.standup2cancer.org/  Let’s not be idle and let others do the fighting…there is something that we all can do…what are you willing to do to help?  Let’s envision a future without cancer!!!

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Christina Applegate & Robin Roberts Interview

       We all heard the announcement a few weeks ago about Christina Applegate having breast cancer.  She is going to be doing an interview with Robin Roberts tuesday morning, from Good Morning America, and i think that that will be very interesting.  I was hearing in the media people advising her to use her breast cancer for good.  I will be very interested to hear her interpretation of recent events in her life.  Already tonight, i read a report that Christina is declaring herself cancer free. 

          I don’t know what that means…except maybe through the surgery maybe the doctors believe that they were able to remove the cancer cells or tumor…but…for the most part…i don’t think too many doctors would declare someone cancer free after doing surgery…because most doctors believe that when surgery is done…often cancer cells can be spread through the surgery itself…unless maybe the tumor was self contained.

        In any case, we wish Christina well…and with her popularity…she CAN bring additional attention, if and when she chooses to do that, to a very important issue.   Some people are more private about such things…and it is her right to be private if that is what she decides.  I think it was Suzanne Somers who wrote an open letter to her, said for Christina to use her cancer diagnosis to learn and grow.  I think she meant well…she was advising her to take her time and make informed decisions rather than just jump into treatment.   The open letter that Suzanne wrote at first kind of came across presumptious to me…but then i reread it and i believe she was just trying to reach out to her and reassure her. 

          Ultimately, many people have advice…but, Christina will discover her own way of coping and dealing with her health issues before she takes on the larger issue of being a leader or role model; if she chooses to do that.   However, first and foremost…Christina’s responsibility is to take care of herself.  🙂  Can’t wait to see the interview!  See also:  https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/good-morning-america-interview-with-christina-applegate/  or possibly related topics on breast cancer  https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/triple-negative-breast-cancer/ or, https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/women-are-dying-for-size-of-level-d-when-it-comes-to-breasts/

Read Full Post »

National Drive 55 Speed Limit?

        Senator John Warner has asked Samuel Bodman the Energy Secretary to review information that would reveal what the ideal speed limit would be that would allow the most efficient use of gasoline in our vehicles today.  With gasoline prices topping $4.15 cents a gallon around the country the timing couldn’t be better to encourage changes in the way that we drive.

         Many Americans have already started to alter aimless driving habits.  I see nothing wrong with that…we all could do better in planning where we go and what we do while we are out and about.  Some people are in denial about the severity of the situation regarding supply and demand as well as all of the damage to our planet that our carelessness has brought.  

         Would the general population get behind a national drive 55 speed limit?  I think it is going to take some convincing as it will be viewed by many as an inconvience after being legally allowed to drive up to 70 mph on some highways.  After all, it will take longer to get where they are going.  I think more people would be willing to do it if they felt that the automakers were doing more to ensure that we were getting more miles to the gallon by the way that they factory set the computers on our vehicles to use the gasoline we spend our hard earned dollars on.

Read Full Post »

Operation Smile-Cindy McCain

        For those of you who have never heard of Operation Smile it is a great not-for-profit organization that organizes volunteers who team up to medically improve the lives of children who were born with facial deformities.  The non profit was begun by Dr. William P. Magee, Jr. who is a plastic surgeon and his wife.  

         Together he and his wife Kathleen S. Magee, who is a nurse and clinical social worker, put their skills into practice since 1982, working towards helping improve the life conditions of children who have been impacted by cleft palates and other facial deformities.  For a relatively low cost of approximately $240.00 a child’s life can be radically changed.  The impact of this life changing operation can not be praised enough.  Improving a child or young adult’s self esteem is invaluable to the quality of life they will have.  Many people who are born with facial deformities endure physical and emotional hardships due to the mistreatment from others.  Building up children and their families by bringing this kind of health services to them that they could not possibly afford on their own is a major humanitarian contribution.

           Operation Smile has grown to include a large volume of volunteers who labor to bring health and happiness to those who receive the benefit of it’s services.  At this point, over 26 countries are considered partner countries who are actively working with Operation Smile.  Their headquarters are located in Norfolk, Virginia.  They have offices around the world to educate and bring awareness of their cause and in those offices they work to raise funds to pay for the charitable works that they do.

        If you are interested in donating either your medical skills, your time, or fundraising abilities or even donating money here is the number to call 1-888-OPSMILE (888-677-6453) .  In Norfolk they also bring children to America to receive care on scholarships that they might not be able to receive in their own country for the more complicated surgeries.  Training is also provided for those with medical skills who wish to advance their specialized skills for work in the area of facial deformities.

         Cindy McCain, a philanthropist and businesswoman has been on Operation Smile’s board of directors for some time.  She has worked with this organization since 2001; long before her husband, Senator John McCain became a Republican presidential hopeful for the 2008 election.

          If her husband’s run for the presidency brings some attention and focus on her work with Operation Smile; I don’t think that Cincy McCain will mind.  That focus may bring more medically skilled volunteers as well as donations of money that will help Operation Smile to continue bringing, hope and help to those in need.  http://www.operationsmile.org/   Is there a willingness in your heart to help or to donate to this great organization?  https://www.operationsmile.org/help/donate/

Read Full Post »

Suicide On Demand-Washington Tries To Make It Legal

      There are people who wish to die everywhere around the world…they each have their reasons…some actually make it happen.  Those people are often desperate, sick, experiencing financial, emotional or physical difficulties which can cloud, or influence their decision to take their own life.  My concern is, that in those moments of desperation or depression, having the stamp of approval from people approved by the state legitimizing the option of suicide will only reinforce their hopelessness.

     The state of Washington is trying to get 225,000 valid voter’s signatures before July 3rd so that they can get an initiative on the November ballot called Death with Dignity.  If they can accomplish this goal…in November, voters will have the chance to create a new law condoning suicide in certain circumstances.

        If a person has been diagnosed as having a fatal disease; and has less than 6 months to live, and two seperate doctors are in agreement about that diagnosis; the patient will then have the option of submitting a request to receive a perscription for a medicine combination that will cause their death.  When making their verbal request to receive that medication, they must request it twice, 15 days apart; they must also submit a written request, witnessed by two other people who are not their doctor, family or friends who will not benefit, legally or financially, from the death of that person making the request.  It all seems so logical and thought out; however, it doesn’t take into account the possibly opposing wishes or moral convictions of the patient’s loved ones.   What about religious beliefs…suicide goes against the grain of most religious beliefs…and family members who are left behind struggle with their feelings and emotions at the complex blend of rejection,fear,anger and loss..not to mention guilt about being unable to prevent the suicide.  At the end of that person’s life…offering the option of suicide can cause great distress, at a time when support is what is needed most!  I think great harm can come from this with regards to having emotional conflicts between the patient and the people closest to them.  What do you think about this issue?

       Washington state is and will always be my second adopted home state.  I have many loved ones there; I would hate to think that anyone i loved could choose to leave the world in this way.  Every life has value…and is precious…every day is a gift of time with each other.  http://www.save.org/ or http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or http://www.afsp.org/

       

Read Full Post »

Poisoned Piercings

       For those of you considering piercing your body parts…it would be wise to heed the words of a young man who is now hospitalized with a MRSA infection.  A Missouri teen pierced his lip with an un-sterilized needle that he found in a medicine cabinet.

       A few days later he found sores on his body and was achy all over.  He has been diagnosed with an MRSA infection that is resistant to antibiotics.  The doctors have said that the infection has spread thoughout his whole body.  He wants to get the message out to others not to do what he did because of the consequences.

       Fitting in with your peers by piercing your body parts without proper medical guidance can cause more than one problem.  Unsterilized utensils can cause hepatitis, aids, or antibiotic resistent infections that can jepardize your life and your health.  Be informed and make smart decisions…if you still desire to be pierced talk to your doctor first.

Read Full Post »

Illnesses That Doctors Can’t Figure 0ut

     I don’t know about you…but, over the last few years, anytime any of my friends or relatives have gone to the doctor about some major sickness/disease; the doctors have not been able to diagnose it. 

       Now, it isn’t because they all go to the same incompetent doctor or anything like that.  These are all well respected, professional doctors.  What is it then, why is it that illnesses/sickness/diseases are so very hard to pinpoint over the last few years or so?

        When the body functions as it should…it really is a major miracle as far as i am concerned.  With all of the things that can go wrong…when everything goes right…it is truly and honestly because God has designed a marvelous thing…the human body.

          When things go wrong…it is scary and confusing.  At the moment, i have a sister that is very ill and no one seems to be able to figure it out and she is getting weaker and weaker.  I know several people in the same sort of position.  It is frightening. 

           So, I lift up those people to God and pray that wisdom is bestowed upon the doctors and nurses who treat patients that are ill when there is no clear cut diagnosis…may healing flow over those God has created!

Read Full Post »