Here's the 411...

Yesterday I was watching the Oprah Show and it was about Breast Cancer and all different types of women and their stories. The main topics were topics that women tend to stray from or ignore. Like, updated stats, mammograms, breast cancer affecting women of any age and any ethnicity. Breast cancer does not discriminate and that is something women forget about. You do not need a family background of breast cancer to be disgnosed.
Actress Christina Applegate appeared on the show to tell story about her experience with breast cancer. She shared on the show that she choose to remove both of her breast. Throughout the show you could see her obvious emotional trauma from her battle to rid the cancer from he body. Christina said, "I made sure that I have close-up photographs of them from every angle so I can kind of remember them," That was a very moving part of the show for me. Those words touched because as a woman our breast are something that makes us a woman. They are glamorized and to just give them up to win the fight for your life is an amazing thing. She showed her strength and not only put on a hard exterior she also showed how she would miss having her breast and how she went about dealing with them being removed. Kudos to Christina and her bravery.
Throughout the show I have learned that breast cancer may sometimes not be detected with a mammogram. Christina A. said she would fight for women to have MRI's and genetic testing. Many insurance companies do not pay for those procedures. I learned that a simple blood test can determine whether a woman has BRCA gene mutation and if you have a gene mutation, your chances of developing breast cancer are higher. It was said on the show that you should get tested if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer before you turned 50, had ovarian cancer, had a male family member with breast cancer, had breast cancer in one breast and then again in the other breast, or if you have lost family members to breast cancer before they turned 50. All the information given on the show was so enlightening. I think every women should go to Oprah. com and watch the episode. Just type breast cancer in the search box and the episode will come up.

How Much Is Our Government Helping?

This article was written by a new reporter from the Medical News Today paper. This article stated that, "Congress adjourned earlier this month without the Senate or House passing bills aimed at allocating funding for research into the environmental causes of breast cancer," the CQ Healthbeat reports. The bill to have research funding for breast cancer was sent to the Senate and the House and debated by many different reps. Each had different adjustments and opinions to the bill.
The Senate sponsered by Senator Lincoln Chafee, offered 30 million dollars through the years of 2007 to 2012 for research. The House sponsered by representative Nita Lowey, would give the same amount of money for research for the years of 2006 to 2011. As the bill was being debated Senator Tom Coburn disagreed with what they were proposing to help breast cancer. He stated that they should not focus onpassing bill on specific illness and diseases but reforming bills. The House actually continued to support the cause, and are working to get the legislation passed.
I think the Senate should reconsider their idea to reform. I think there needs to be an actual bill passed to support breast cancer and its research because its affecting so many of our american people. The House and representative Nita Lowey are advocating for the bill to passed althought they have little or no support from the Senate. Although there was no definite conclusion for outcome of fundingfor breast cancer research I think there will be soon if there is persistance.

Celebrities that have battled cancer...

Cynthia Nixon from sex and the city was getting her yearly mammogram when she found out she had a tumor growing in her right breast. It wasnt very public at first because she did'nt want paparazzi to blow her situation out of proportion. She under went radiation treatment and an lumpetomy. Cynthia won her battle with cancer as did her mom who also had breast cancer. Cynthia decided to finally tell her story and now she inspires many women today.

I think that Cynthia is an icon for women battling cancer. She is already a well admired woman because of her role on sex and city and looked up to for amazing fashion on the show but now she is a guiding light for woman today. She has not been shy or secretivbe about her situation. She let the world know how important itis to be open and supportive and that it is okay to be vulnerbale.

DID YOU KNOW???

Studies are showing Bone Drugs that help combat osteoporosis, and joint issues are being tested as an effective way to treat some breast cancer diagnosis.!