breast-cancer

It’s October and that means it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Breast Cancer is becoming more and more of an issue today.  It is the second highest killer in women, right behind lung cancer.  Surprisingly, the chance of women getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8.

With chances like that, it is extremely important for women to get tested on a regular basis.  The good news is that if it is found early, there is a 97 percent chance patients live five years or more.  The test is called a mammogram, and it is recommended that it be done at least once a year.  If you are older, or are at higher risk, your doctor may recommend that you have a mammogram more often.

I found some resources that provide great information on Breast Cancer, including some services, and an event calendar.  If you or a loved one is concerned about this disease, please visit these links.  The more aware we are about Breast Cancer, the better we can fight this illness as a whole.

Breast Cancer Resources:

National Cancer Institute – A vast amount of information on Breast Cancer

Mammogram Reminder – The American Cancer Society offers an e-mail reminder for a mammogram tests

Special Awareness Month Resources:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Great site for disease information, patient services, and information on how you can support the cause

Event Calendar – Find out what events are being held this month including marches, marathons, and workshops

Share

HIV-AIDS

For the first time in 20 years of HIV vaccine trials, a vaccine has been developed that cuts the chances of being infected by 31 percent. This is being called a “historical milestone” in the HIV/AIDS research.

In what was the largest trial ever held for AIDS research, 16,000 volunteers from Thailand had participated in the experiment.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, clearly stated the development was “not the end of the road,” but said he was surprised and very pleased by the outcome.

This breakthrough is very exciting considering 7,500 people are infected with HIV every day worldwide. According to UNAIDS, in 2007, it is estimated that 32.9 million people are living with AIDS. By the end of 2007, it was reported that two million people have died from the deadly disease.

Hopefully one day, we can look back on AIDS the same way we look back on Smallpox: as a disease that once was deadly but now does not exist.

Share

beach

We can all agree that in these tough times, stress can be a real issue. Relieving stress is easier than you think. Here are 5 simple things you can do to ease your stress. Check back for more quick tips in future posts!

  1. Set your alarm and wake up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. You’ll be surprised how smooth the mornings can go.
  2. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home, and relationships will be less likely to break down “at the worst possible moment.” I bet you wished you cleaned the house before that “surprise” visit from your relatives.
  3. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Never again will traffic cause you to be 5-10 minutes late.

  4. Learn to say “No!” Saying no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for can save you many headaches. It’s a growing problem today how we “bite off more than we can chew.”
  5. Stay away from people who are negative and worry often. Negativity is incredibly contagious. If you surround yourself with positive people, your own mood will be better.

If you have any useful stress relieving gems, please post them here. We can all help each other out to a more relaxed lifestyle.

Share

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »