February is an important month for two reasons.

ONE; it is National Cancer Prevention Month! That means you need to do your part.

• Stay away from tobacco.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get moving with regular physical activity.
• Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).
• Protect your skin.
• Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
• Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests.

(All of this information is available to you at cancer.org)

Gallbladder Cancer Statistics

Bile Duct Cancer Statistics

What is bile duct cancer?

What is gallbladder cancer?

I was a little reluctant at first when I heard about it because I could not understand how this saint had come into her status. I had never heard of her before this week. After Mass I decided to research St. Agatha, determined to learn of her history.

Born in Sicily to a rich, important family, St. Agatha devoted herself to God at an early age. She decided that she wanted to be a virgin and that she did not want to marry.  A man high in rank named Quintian arrested her for being a christian and imprisoned her in a brothel expecting her to give in to him. When brought before him she prayed, “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.”

After a month of assault and humiliation, Quintian sent St. Agatha to prison, but she still professed her faith in Jesus. She was continually tortured until she died after saying a final prayer: “Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul.”

One of the tortures she supposedly suffered was to have her breasts cut off, so she was often depicted carrying her breasts on a plate. It is thought that the blessing of the bread that takes place on her feast (February 5^th – Feast Day) may have come from the mistaken notion that she was carrying loaves of bread.  In some versions, St. Peter appeared to St. Agatha and healed her breasts.

Because St. Agatha was also asked for help during the eruption of Mount Etna she is also considered a protector against the outbreak of fire. She is also considered the patroness of bell makers for an unknown reason. Though some speculate it may have something to do with the fact that bells were used as fire alarms.

The mass was very beautiful. The church had a 125 year old statue of St. Agatha brought over from the Netherlands. It was surrounded by flowers and people also draped donations for the American Cancer Society around her. St. Agatha prayer cards and pink ribbons were given out. I’m very happy that I attended.

St. Agatha History

St. Agatha Parish Family 

This year I think it would be appropriate to talk about the different types of cancer during their months of awareness. It would help teach me about these cancers and help heighten my awareness, while helping all of you at the same time.

The American Cancer Society website is full of information about all types of cancer, statistics, prevention, and treatment. They also have a phone number available to you at all times 1-800-227-2345.

Cervical Cancer
Most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. These pre-cancerous changes are called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and dysplasia. These changes can be detected by the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find cervical cancer early, in its most curable stage. (Make sure you are receiving your pap smears when you visit your gynecologists, they are extremely important!)

Cervical cancers and cervical pre-cancers are classified by how they look under a microscope. There are two main types of cervical cancer; squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers start in the squamous cells that cover the surface of the exocervix. Under the microscope, this type of cancer is made up of cells that are like squamous cells.

Most of the remaining cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Cervical adenocarcinomas seem to have become more common in the last 20 to 30 years. Cervical adenocarcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix. Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas.

Although cervical cancers start from cells with pre-cancerous changes (pre-cancers), only some women with pre-cancers of the cervix will develop cancer. The change from pre-cancer to cancer usually takes several years but it can happen in less than a year. For most women, pre-cancerous cells will remain unchanged and go away without any treatment. Still, in some women pre-cancers turn into true (invasive) cancers. Treating all pre-cancers can prevent almost all true cancers.

In 2011, about 12,710 new cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed. Also about 4,290 women died from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Then, between 1955 and 1992, the cervical cancer death rate declined by almost 70%. The main reason for this change was the increased use of the Pap test. The death rate from cervical cancer continues to decline by nearly 3% each year.

Cervical cancer tends to occur in midlife. Most cases are found in women younger than 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20. Many older women do not realize that the risk of developing cervical cancer is still present as they age. Almost 20% of women with cervical cancer are diagnosed when they are over 65.

The American Cancer Society’s Guidelines for early detection:
• All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) 3 years after they start having sex (vaginal intercourse). A woman who waits until she is over 18 to have sex should start screening no later than age 21. A conventional (regular Pap) test should be done every year. If a liquid-based Pap test is used instead, testing should be done every 2 years.
• Beginning at age 30, many women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may be tested less often, every 2 to 3 years. Either the conventional (regular) Pap test or the liquid-based Pap test can be used. Some women should continue getting tested yearly — such as women exposed to DES before birth, those with a history of treatment for a pre-cancer, and those with a weakened immune system (such as from HIV infection, organ transplant, chemotherapy, or chronic steroid use).
• Another reasonable option for women over 30 (who have normal immune systems and no abnormal Pap results) is to get tested only every 3 years with a Pap test plus the HPV DNA test (see below for more information on this test). The Pap test used can be either the regular or the liquid-based Pap test.
• Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing. Women with a history of cervical cancer, DES exposure before birth, HIV infection, or a weakened immune system should continue to have testing as long as they are in good health.
• Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having cervical cancer testing, unless the hysterectomy was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (called a supra-cervical hysterectomy) need to continue cervical cancer screening according to the guidelines above.

Some women believe that they can stop having Pap tests once they have stopped having children. This is not correct. They should continue to follow American Cancer Society guidelines.

Don’t forget ChooseHope.com for all your cancer awareness items!

What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer statistics
Cervical cancer prevention

I let my private problems and personal anguish keep me from helping others. The things I was going through made me feel spite against The Power of Pink. I didn’t even visit the site let alone think about writing. But it hurt me not to write. It hurt me not to do what I had been doing and help others. I let all of this information pass me by and pass you by without posting it for you read. I hope you came across it by other means. I sincerely apologize for letting my issues cloud my judgment and letting it get in the way of my heart’s work.

If anyone is still out there, let’s get back to it shall we?

On December 23rd, 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act declaring the “war on cancer.” The passage of the Act increased federal efforts to fight cancer. It has since then created the National Cancer Program, which is led by the National Cancer Institute. As a result, there are currently sixty six NCI-designated Cancer Centers in thirty three states. The NCI and the National Institutes of Health fund the work of more than 325,000 researchers at more than 3,000 universities, hospitals, and other facilities in every state.

Forty years later, this past December, the Senate passed a resolution to officially commemorate the anniversary. Since the early 1990s, cancer research has led to a decrease in the death of both men and women and the five year survival rate for all cancers has reached more than 33% since the mid 1970’s. The Senate resolution commemorating the anniversary acknowledges that people with cancer have a far better chance of surviving today than they did 40 years ago. As of now there are close to 12 million cancer survivors in America.

John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society assures us, “Cancer is no longer a virtual death sentence thanks to the significant progress we’ve made as a nation in the past 40 years, however, this is no time to rest on our past success. We need to celebrate this historic milestone by redoubling our efforts, so we can find answers for the deadliest cancers that still elude us.”

Through various research and development, the understanding of cancer has changed, which makes it somewhat easier for scientists and doctors to approach it when a patient is diagnosed. Although there are higher success rates, there is much work to be done, and a brand new year to start doing it.

National Cancer Act Marks Milestone

With our return from Mexico,
The Power of Pink reached 10,000 hits.

I wonder,how did I get here? How did we get here?

I started The Power of Pink a little less than 17 months ago. That’s almost as long as Mom has been a survivor (20 months November 1st). I started this blog as a school assignment and had way too much heart and too much information to share to let it end with the semester.

I remember going around the room, my professor having each classmate say their topic for their blog; “Broadway; books; movies; vampires; breast cancer.” Everyone’s eyes were on me as I explained my inspiration and reasoning behind my choice. I knew I had made the right decision.

And although I know there must be hundreds of breast cancer blogs spreading hope throughout the blogosphere, I’d like to believe ‘Power of Pink’ has been one of the more impactful ones. To reach 10,000 hits, I really hope I’m doing something right.

In the past 17 months, I have written 187 posts and received 131 comments. I have been given amazing opportunities and met amazing people. I have learned so much and been touched by the lives and stories of so many people who have had breast cancer come into their lives. The Power of Pink is by far my greatest achievement because I love the fact that I can reach so many people, and keep them informed while also raising awareness.

But let’s not forget the reason it started. My mother. So besides thanking all of you 10,000 times, I have to thank her. Thank her for 10,000 times she had to pick me up from school; 10,000 scares; 10,000 bedtime kisses; 10,000 baths; 10,000 fights; 10,000 I’m sorry’s; and 10,000 I love you’s. Thank her for staying strong when she had breast cancer even though she was probably scared to death.

Thank you to all my readers, whoever you are, thank you for 10,000 hits, I hope you continue reading. Information is endless and I will continue serving it to you as long as you continue visiting.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

All my love and appreciation,

Nicole

Whose more inspirational than a diva?

Feeling broken
Barely holding on
But just there’s something so strong
Somewhere inside me.
And I am down, but I’ll get up again.
Don’t count me out just yet

I AM FAR FROM OVER
You haven’t seen the last of me.
No, no, I’m not going nowhere
I’m staying right here
Oh, no you won’t see me fade out
I’m not taking my bow
Can’t stop me.
Its not the end
You haven’t seen the last of me
Oh, no – You haven’t seen the last of me.
You haven’t seen the last of me.

I don’t know how I haven’t heard of this till now but thanks to the many breast cancer sites rolling through my Facebook feed, this wonderful video was given to me today.

In July 2009, on the popular show, So You Think You Can Dance, two dancers did something incredible. Inspired by choreographer Tyce Diorio, whom had a friend who battled breast cancer, he had assigned the dancing duo, Melissa and Ade, to dance as couple. Except the woman in this couple was struggling with breast cancer. The song they danced to was Maxwell’s “A Woman’s Work.”

Melissa’s head was wrapped in a pink and purple scarf to suggest a chemotherapy patient who’d lost her hair. Several times during the song they’d break apart to suggest dealing with private emotions before coming back together, with Ade catching her in soaring leaps. There were also moments of even more pain and anger; at one point she flails her hands against him, her face turned away from him.

After a memorable, emotional, and incredible performance, the room was silenced and the duo faced the judges whom were also silenced with emotion. Only having watched the show a few times, I have never seen judge Nigel Lythgoe silenced, or tear up for that matter. Ellen DeGeneres was there that night as a guest judge. Each judge was teary eyed and gave wonderful feedback. When it was time for the last judge Mia Michaels, to speak, she broke down completely. As she spoke, the camera cut to Tyce Diorio who started to cry hysterically as she spoke. The camera also cut to the audience where we got a glimpse of Sarah Drew who plays April Kepner on Greys Anatomy, who was also teary eyed. As were most of the women in the audience listening to Mia breakdown and talk about breast cancer and also how her father had cancer.

I never saw this performance before today. But I am so glad it found me. And I am even gladder I have the opportunity to share it with you just in case you never got to see it.

‘So You Think You Can Dance’ breast cancer video: emotional dance brings judges to tears

Because men’s breast cancer is a 1 in 1000 statistic, the awareness is not as publicized as women’s breast cancer. This is why the diagnosis has been found to be greater in this study. Oddly enough, even though men face worse diagnosis, this study also found that if a man and woman caught the disease at the same stage, men had a better chance of pulling through.

Men’s breast cancer is just as important to learn about and be treated no matter how low the risk is. There are men out there suffering from this, some going through this the same time as the women in their families and it needs to be addressed more fully.

Spread Breast Cancer Awareness for women AND men.

Men face worse breast cancer diagnoses

But today I want to celebrate something more than Halloween or snow. Today is the birthday of the late Susan Komen. The woman who’s memory started one of the greatest breast cancer organizations we know today. She would have been celebrating her 68th birthday today.

Copyright promisemebook.blogspot.com

Susan G. Komen was born on October 31st, 1943, in Peoria Illinois. In her sister Nancy’s book ‘Promise Me’, Nancy mentions that Susan always made a grand spectacle of her birthday because of the conjoining holidays.

Susan & Nancy; Copyright Oprah.com

In 1977, at the age of 33, Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unfortunately, even after surgery, the cancer had spread. On August 4th, 1980 at age 36, she had passed away.

She asked her sister Nancy, now Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, to make her a promise to end breast cancer. And with that promise, Nancy Brinker has built one of the biggest breast cancer organizations and walks for breast cancer in the world.

Susan Komen lives on in her sister and in millions of women all over the world. Her name is a trademark and a revolution to end breast cancer. She couldn’t be saved but with her sister’s help, her name may be associated with a cure.

Susan & Nancy