February | 2011 | The Power of Pink

Archive for February 2011

A Baby for Christina

I know I’m a little late, but Congratulations to Christina Applegate on the birth of her daughter Sadie Grace born healthy on January 27th. Sadie is the perfect sign that pregnancy after breast cancer is possible for some women.

Add a comment February 26, 2011

Hot Flashes: a Good Thing?

One of the funniest things about my mom is when she gets a hot flash. I even bought her a portable fan that says: “Use in case of hot flash.” We all know what hot flashes are and we can all joke about them. But now according to USA Today, hot flashes may be a decreased risk for breast cancer.

The publication stated in January that women between the ages of 55 and 74, who experienced higher rates of hot flashes, were at a fifty percent lower risk of breast cancer. And because high levels of estrogen may contribute to breast cancer risks, the hormonal changes that hot flashes cause are actually a good thing.

According to BreastCancer.org, a hot flash is defined as a “sudden, intense, hot feeling on your face and upper body, and could be accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and sweating, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, headache, weakness, or a feeling of suffocation.”

Doctors want to better understand hormonal and biological changes before they add ‘menopausal symptoms’ to the list for lowering breast cancer risks, but ladies I think a lower breast cancer risk is something you can thank your hot flashes for.

Menopausal hot flashes a good sign for lower breast cancer

Add a comment February 15, 2011

Aleisha, 4 Year Old Breast Cancer Survivor

Last year, when I first started researching for The Power of Pink, I came across breast cancer cases I never thought possible. On Jacki Donaldson’s breast cancer blog, the blog which helped spark my inspiration, I came across news of 10 year old Hannah who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Hannah was one of the more shocking factors for my classmates to hear about during my blog presentation.

Just when I thought breast cancer couldn’t find any other way to shock me, flipping through a magazine at the nail salon today changed that thought forever. The last words I ever thought I’d read was, “4 Year Old Beats Breast Cancer.”

Although this was a dated article, the news was anything but shocking. I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of this sooner. Canadian native, Aleisha Hunter was only two and a half years old when her mom discovered a lump on her daughter’s breast. She was having problems sleeping and eating as well as suffering severe pain from the lump. At three, Aleisha was diagnosed with a very rare secretory breast carcinoma, also known as a juvenile breast carcinoma.

Aleisha underwent a radical modified mastectomy where doctors removed her entire breast and sixteen lymph nodes. She wasn’t able to go through chemotherapy or radiation because it would have affected her growth. Aleisha will also have to undergo reconstructive surgery when her body has developed. Just to think, she’s a baby, not a woman. They had to remove a part of a her body that she wasn’t even old enough to grasp losing.

The point is Aleisha is now a survivor. And at 4 years old, she is the world’s youngest breast cancer survivor. Parents, need not worry, the cancer that Aleisha and Hannah developed is extremely rare.

This is something I will never forget, and Aleisha is someone who will stay in my heart forever.

Girl, 3, survives rare form of breast cancer; Aleisha Hunter had to undergo radical mastectomy

Toddler Aleisha Hunter Among Youngest to Survive Breast Cancer

4 comments February 12, 2011

My Fair Wedding Survivor

A sucker for wedding shows, last Sunday’s My Fair Wedding with David Tutera introduced me to a bride with a heartfelt journey. Thirty four year old Kimberly Read had beckoned David to help her plan her wedding three weeks to the day, but like most of his brides, Kimberly had a story.

At 30, Kimberly was diagnosed with breast cancer. She then underwent six surgeries plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The chemo unfortunately kept her hair from growing back so she lives her daily life wearing a hair piece. At the beginning of the episode, Kimberly also told David that she and her Fiance were not asking their guest for gifts but for donations for a surrogacy fund. Kimberly had to have her ovaries removed so that the cancer would not spread.

After being incredibly touched by her story, and being somewhat of a cancer prevention enthusiast, wedding planner David Tutera was on a mission. He did so many amazing things for Kimberly. He donated the wedding dress she wouldn’t be wearing to Brides Against Breast Cancer, an organization that collects and sells used and new wedding dresses to raise money for breast cancer research. David fitted Kimberly with a gorgeous wig just for her for her wedding day. He filled her ceremony and reception with waves of pink and 20,000 pink roses, as the bride had requested pink to spread awareness. Each guest of the wedding was given a studded pink ribbon pin to wear at the wedding. David also offered Kimberly and her new husband to join him at a cancer prevention gala he would be attending.

This was truly an inspiring show and not just because of my personal connection to breast cancer but because of this woman’s battle with the disease. She was caught so young yet she didn’t let it break her spirit or her beauty. She is one of the amazing women that should be celebrated. I’m hoping to post a video of the episode when I find one.