Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness

I lost my mother to breast cancer and she was also a victim of domestic violence. October touches me in many ways.

Women, please don't be fearful of having a breast exam or going for a mammogram. Prevention can help slow down breast cancer rates and also detect early cancers and make it possible for you to be a survivor.

My mother's fears made her cover up a blatant symptom of breast cancer from her family's eyes. She concealed a tumor that she allowed to grow until when it was finally discovered she unfortunately was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She fought a courageous battle but lost her battle two years after initially being diagnosed. Still she outlived her doctor's initial terminal diagnosis of six weeks. I and my family altered our lives to become her caregiver. My sisters and I were with my mother when she passed away in my home. A tragic scene I'll never forget.

I don't want to continue hearing sad stories of other women and their families who've lost their fight. We need more survivors, but more importantly we need a cure. Women take care of your breasts and get familiar with them. Learn to perform a self-breast exam and get your yearly mammograms. Be aware of breast cancer's early warning signs, and don't be fearful of telling your doctor. Tell your female sisters, family members, and friends, to do the same because you love them. Be supportive to each other. Also contact your congressmen and senators and demand they find financial means to find a cure for breast cancer.

Men, support us in this breast cancer awareness cause. You love admiring our cleavage so help us fight to keep our breasts healthy. You're not immune to breast cancer either. Men have been diagnosed with breast cancer but rarely speak about it. Men created Viagra, a cure for erectile dysfunction. It was developed so quickly because of a male oriented problem. Now men jump on the bandwagon and fight for the women you love in your lives that are joined by other women who are losing their lives to breast cancer.

This brings me to domestic violence awareness. My mother tolerated being in a marriage with a man who doled out domestic abuse. She also remained silent, accepting unwarranted behavior. Men, grow up and be real men. Beating a woman or verbally abusing a woman is a sure killer for romance. Women get the strength to ask for help and walk out of a domestic violence. Domestic abuse is an evil scorn on our world, and in many countries women are still considered to be second class citizens or even property. We all have the right to live without a threat of violence over our heads. This includes, women, children, and men. Battered men are a subject we sweep under the rug, because of the male ego or sense of shame at being battered by a female. Men deserve to live violence free in a relationship too. Partners have the right to live in a domestic free relationship. And children most certainly have the right to live without viewing domestic violence or being a victim themselves.

In October the subject of breast cancer and domestic violence awareness are being discussed. These two important life saving subjects should be freely and openly discussed the entire year. We need and deserve a quick cure for both.

For further information on breast cancer awareness please check out, National Breast Cancer Foundation at www.nationalbreastcancer.org

For further information on domestic violence awareness please check out, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at www.ncadv.org

Please check out my dramatic video on domestic violence awareness at this link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjZuOVbnwM0

The End