Saturday, July 30, 2011
Jersey Mike's For The Cure!
Last night, I went out to eat with my family. We decided to go to Jersey Mike's Subs. Sitting in the truck, I could clearly see the window to the restaruant, which was nearly completely covered with pink donation slips for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I thought it was absolutely wonderful that they were doing this. I've seen other stores, restaruants, and businesses doing this too, for different causes as well. I would have bought a donation slip, had I had any money. However, if any of you wonderful people out there would like to donate, please simply go to my donations page and find the link for the cause that you wish to donate to. Also, please don't think that your money is wasted or is unuseful, breakthroughs in research are made everyday, they simply may not be seen as important enough to cause a stir about it.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Underdog Becomes A Hero!!
ABC's world news reporter, Maggy Patrick, wrote an amazing article about a three-year-old goldendoodle named Dozer. He was the underdog as a puppy, the last to be picked out of his litter. Thankfully, Rosana Dorsett's family made him a permanent member of their household in 2008. Three years later he ran past the invisible fencing of his yard. After catching up with the other runners around the five-mile mark, he made his way to the front. When he finished the race, the muddy-pawwed-pup turned tail and started to run the eight miles back to his house. When he arrived home he was awarded a finishers medal by the University of Maryland's Cancer Center. He raised over $17,000 for cancer research and in honor of his awesomeness and enthusiasm, a facebook page has been put together to raise more money for cancer research and he now has 2,500 friends! Way to go Dozer! We love you! <3
To see Dozer's Marathon and A Half page and/or to donate, please click here: http://www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer
To see Dozer's Facebook page, please click here:
http://www.facebook.com/dozerthedogfanpage?sk=wall
To see Dozer's Marathon and A Half page and/or to donate, please click here: http://www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer
To see Dozer's Facebook page, please click here:
http://www.facebook.com/dozerthedogfanpage?sk=wall
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Who Do You Relay For?
Many of you that are involved with Relay for Life have probably heard this phrase before. So, before I ask you, I'll tell you who I relay for.
Besides relaying for myself, several family members and friends of mine have been affected. One of my grandmothers had ovarian cancer. As it turned out, it was somewhat of a good thing that the doctors did find the cancer. By finding it, they could remove it. After they removed it, they reported to us that it was the size of a soccer ball. It was affecting her breathing and mobility for a very long time and no one knew it. The only reason she even found out that she had ovarian cancer was because the tumor ruptured and landed her in the hospital. It was a good thing that she felt that something was wrong enough to go to the hospital after it ruptured, because most women don't realize that anything has happened. Women...get checked, don't wait until it's too late! This ribbon is for her! <3
Besides relaying for myself, several family members and friends of mine have been affected. One of my grandmothers had ovarian cancer. As it turned out, it was somewhat of a good thing that the doctors did find the cancer. By finding it, they could remove it. After they removed it, they reported to us that it was the size of a soccer ball. It was affecting her breathing and mobility for a very long time and no one knew it. The only reason she even found out that she had ovarian cancer was because the tumor ruptured and landed her in the hospital. It was a good thing that she felt that something was wrong enough to go to the hospital after it ruptured, because most women don't realize that anything has happened. Women...get checked, don't wait until it's too late! This ribbon is for her! <3
One of my grandfathers had bladder cancer. He found it by seeing certain symptoms indicating bladder cancer. Men...you need screenings too, not just the women. Some men seem to think that they are somehow invincible and that they can't get cancer. This ribbon is for him! <3
My other grandfather has skin cancer. When he was my age, he spent quite a bit of time in cotton fields and such. As a result of spending so much time in the sun he now has large patches of skin removed and/or grafted almost monthly. Everyone...protect your skin, it's the largest and one of the most important organs. It protects you, it's your turn to protect it! This ribbon is for him! <3
My other grandmother passed away a little over a year ago from lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the biggest cancer killers. She had always been a heavy smoker in her younger years and then started chewing tobacco after she finally stopped smoking. She found it by going to the doctor to have a CT Scan. Soon after that she started taking chemo and then not long after that we spent our last Christmas with her. Lung Cancer doesn't just result from smoking, many carcinogenics cause lung cancer. This ribbon is for her! <3
For those of you who don't know, I had cancer when I was seven. I had Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Here's a ribbon for me! <3
So, who do you relay for?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
July is Sarcoma Awareness Month!!!
Many people don't know what Sarcoma is. Even I had to do a little research. Here are the facts; Sarcoma is also know as Adult Soft Tissue Cancer. There are two types of Sarcoma, Bone Sarcomas and Soft Tissue Sarcomas.
Soft Tissue Sarcomas come from soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, and deep skin tissues. They can be found in any part of the body. Not all Sarcomas are cancerous, in fact, many Sarcomas are not cancerous. For example, a lipoma is nothing more than a benign fat tumor.
Unfortunately, there are about fifty different types of Sarcoma and many of them are cancerous. :(
The risk factors for Sarcoma are being exposed to radiation, genetic syndromes, a damaged lymph system, being exposed to certain chemicals, and injury to certain areas of the body.
The only known way to prevent Sarcomas is to avoid exposure to the risk factors above. However, many Sarcomas develop without being provoked.
P.S. The American Cancer Society's records show that Colorectal Cancer awareness has helped to dramatically decrease the amount of this cancers cases! Yay! =D
Soft Tissue Sarcomas come from soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, and deep skin tissues. They can be found in any part of the body. Not all Sarcomas are cancerous, in fact, many Sarcomas are not cancerous. For example, a lipoma is nothing more than a benign fat tumor.
Unfortunately, there are about fifty different types of Sarcoma and many of them are cancerous. :(
The risk factors for Sarcoma are being exposed to radiation, genetic syndromes, a damaged lymph system, being exposed to certain chemicals, and injury to certain areas of the body.
The only known way to prevent Sarcomas is to avoid exposure to the risk factors above. However, many Sarcomas develop without being provoked.
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| Keep Fighting!!!! :D |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Breast Cancer Genes!!!!
So, how many of you women, or men, out there have found a mass or lump in your breast? Did you set up a doctors appointment as soon as you could? Did you blow it off? Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer, or know someone in your immediate family who was diagnosed with it?
Breast cancer can develop suddenly, without warning or reason, but in this article I will update you on some of the more recent breakthroughs in breast cancer research, signs and symptoms, and ways to help prevent it.
As some of you may already know, several months ago I found a small lump in my breast. I waited for a short while to see if maybe it would go away, but it didn't. I proceeded to tell my mother about it and we immediately set up an appointment with the doctor to have it checked out. We were somewhat worried that with my personal history of cancer and then my family's history of breast cancer (among others) that it could be something that we really didn't want. After having it biopsied, the doctor told us that it was just a fibroadenoma, which if you don't know, is a benign tumor that comes from caffine build up in the breast. We were very relieved. The doctor told me some facts about them and that if it started to hurt or itch a lot, then he would do a very minor surgery to take it out. At that point in time it was not giving me any discomfort, so I elected to leave it alone. Later on, in my second semester of college, it started giving me problems. So, we set up another appointment with my doctor to set up a surgery date.
The surgery was short and sweet, with no pain afterwards, seeing as I was completely doped up on pain meds. My family and boyfriend were there, even though it only took thirty minutes for the actual surgery to be completed. The scar healed and I don't have any more problems with it.
The point of me telling you this is that every lump should be checked out. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing, but it could have easily been something!
Here are some things that I didn't know:
-Though Fibroadenomas (Fibroids for short) can never become cancerous, they do raise your chances of developing breast cancer later in life.
-Fibroids are not cancerous, don't believe everything you read on the internet, much of it isn't true. I did some research on Fibroids and the majority of what I found was quite the opposite of what the doctor told me.
-Where there is one Fibroid now, there will probably be more later. Cutting back on caffine can help with that as caffine is a main contributor to them.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibroids:
-Finding a relatively small to medium sized lump in the breast. Though, some Fibriods can be quite large and take up the entire breast.
-If the lump feels rubbery, round, and smooth, it's probably a Fibroid, but still needs to be checked out, as actual breast cancer can take on many forms
-If the lump moves, as Fibroids often do, it could be one. Fibroids are often called "tit mice," because they move around quite a bit and hide from fingers when they are trying to be found.
-Fibroids can hurt and itch, but this pain and irritation should definitely be checked out if it is more than just once in a while or is of a severe amount
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer:
-Lumps of any kind, shape, or size should be checked out...period.
-The lump is abnormally shaped, very hard, itches a lot.
-The lump does not move. Cancer lumps typically don't move.
-The affected area on the breast starts to take on an abnormal shape or swells
-There is swelling of the lymphnodes in the armpit
-Pain and/or discharge of the nipple. This discharge should definitely be taken seriously, especially if you are not pregnant or breast feeding. The discharge can be cleary to bloody.
-An inverted nipple is often a clear sign of cancer
-Pain anywhere in the breast
-Scaly or pitted spots of skin on the breast
-Breast tenderness
Women should at least have one yearly mammogram and conduct self-exams!
Researchers are finding more and more that genes have everything to do with diseases and their inheritance. Also, smoking has recently been heavily linked with Breast Cancer.
At my latest doctors appointment, the nurses who take my vital signs have recently been told to start asking questions about the patients family medical history. I think this is a good thing, especially because so many different things run in my family and the doctor won't know about them unless I tell him. Like I said, so many diseases and illnesses are being linked to genetics, that people are finding it more important to ask these questions. Any couples that are looking to start a family should consult the elders in their families about any illnesses that their children could inherit, especially if it could be something serious enough that the childs life depends on it. Consulting a family pedigree is a big help with looking at the probability of your child inheriting any diseases.
If you need more information, or would like to donate to finding a cure for breast cancer, please visit the Susan G. Komen website, the link is below:
http://ww5.komen.org/
If you have any question, comments, or concerns, please voice them! I'd love to hear from you! =D
Breast cancer can develop suddenly, without warning or reason, but in this article I will update you on some of the more recent breakthroughs in breast cancer research, signs and symptoms, and ways to help prevent it.
As some of you may already know, several months ago I found a small lump in my breast. I waited for a short while to see if maybe it would go away, but it didn't. I proceeded to tell my mother about it and we immediately set up an appointment with the doctor to have it checked out. We were somewhat worried that with my personal history of cancer and then my family's history of breast cancer (among others) that it could be something that we really didn't want. After having it biopsied, the doctor told us that it was just a fibroadenoma, which if you don't know, is a benign tumor that comes from caffine build up in the breast. We were very relieved. The doctor told me some facts about them and that if it started to hurt or itch a lot, then he would do a very minor surgery to take it out. At that point in time it was not giving me any discomfort, so I elected to leave it alone. Later on, in my second semester of college, it started giving me problems. So, we set up another appointment with my doctor to set up a surgery date.
The surgery was short and sweet, with no pain afterwards, seeing as I was completely doped up on pain meds. My family and boyfriend were there, even though it only took thirty minutes for the actual surgery to be completed. The scar healed and I don't have any more problems with it.
The point of me telling you this is that every lump should be checked out. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing, but it could have easily been something!
Here are some things that I didn't know:
-Though Fibroadenomas (Fibroids for short) can never become cancerous, they do raise your chances of developing breast cancer later in life.
-Fibroids are not cancerous, don't believe everything you read on the internet, much of it isn't true. I did some research on Fibroids and the majority of what I found was quite the opposite of what the doctor told me.
-Where there is one Fibroid now, there will probably be more later. Cutting back on caffine can help with that as caffine is a main contributor to them.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibroids:
-Finding a relatively small to medium sized lump in the breast. Though, some Fibriods can be quite large and take up the entire breast.
-If the lump feels rubbery, round, and smooth, it's probably a Fibroid, but still needs to be checked out, as actual breast cancer can take on many forms
-If the lump moves, as Fibroids often do, it could be one. Fibroids are often called "tit mice," because they move around quite a bit and hide from fingers when they are trying to be found.
-Fibroids can hurt and itch, but this pain and irritation should definitely be checked out if it is more than just once in a while or is of a severe amount
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer:
-Lumps of any kind, shape, or size should be checked out...period.
-The lump is abnormally shaped, very hard, itches a lot.
-The lump does not move. Cancer lumps typically don't move.
-The affected area on the breast starts to take on an abnormal shape or swells
-There is swelling of the lymphnodes in the armpit
-Pain and/or discharge of the nipple. This discharge should definitely be taken seriously, especially if you are not pregnant or breast feeding. The discharge can be cleary to bloody.
-An inverted nipple is often a clear sign of cancer
-Pain anywhere in the breast
-Scaly or pitted spots of skin on the breast
-Breast tenderness
Women should at least have one yearly mammogram and conduct self-exams!
Researchers are finding more and more that genes have everything to do with diseases and their inheritance. Also, smoking has recently been heavily linked with Breast Cancer.
At my latest doctors appointment, the nurses who take my vital signs have recently been told to start asking questions about the patients family medical history. I think this is a good thing, especially because so many different things run in my family and the doctor won't know about them unless I tell him. Like I said, so many diseases and illnesses are being linked to genetics, that people are finding it more important to ask these questions. Any couples that are looking to start a family should consult the elders in their families about any illnesses that their children could inherit, especially if it could be something serious enough that the childs life depends on it. Consulting a family pedigree is a big help with looking at the probability of your child inheriting any diseases.
If you need more information, or would like to donate to finding a cure for breast cancer, please visit the Susan G. Komen website, the link is below:
http://ww5.komen.org/
If you have any question, comments, or concerns, please voice them! I'd love to hear from you! =D
Hello Again!
Hello All,
I'm sorry that I haven't been updating my blog in a while. I really want to get back into my blog topic. Any and all cancer topic ideas to address are welcomed as well as pictures of relay for life and ideas for the blog in general!! =D
I'm sorry that I haven't been updating my blog in a while. I really want to get back into my blog topic. Any and all cancer topic ideas to address are welcomed as well as pictures of relay for life and ideas for the blog in general!! =D
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