Bakersfield Life
On The Red Couch
Bakersfield Women talk breast cancer "On The Red Couch"
Description: “On The Red Couch,” takes a look at how breast cancer has affected women in Bakersfield.
Topics:
Anonymous user Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:21:12 PDT
Viewed 857 times
0 responses 0 comments October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it was only fitting for Bakersfield Life’s “On The Red Couch,” feature to take a look at how breast cancer has affected women in Bakersfield and how we can unite as a community in support of those diagnosed and battling the disease.
Mimi Audelo
Foundation Director for San Joaquin Community Hospital
Shari Myrick
Owner of Surroundings
Rachel Legan
KGFM Morning Show Co-Host
Emily Moore
Morning Show Anchor on KERO Channel 23
What is breast cancer to you?
Shari - I think every woman's initial reaction to the thought of breast cancer is either fear or avoidance. So much of a woman's identity and how we value ourselves involves our perception of whether we are physically attractive and the emphasis that society places on our sexuality. The thought (or reality) of losing or disfiguring your breast would seem to lessen that sexual attractiveness and consequently increase the fear that your value as a woman is less.
Mimi - A part of my life.
Rachel - At the risk of sounding dramatic, breast cancer is a scary stranger I fear meeting someday.
Emily - Catch it early! It can, and most likely will, kill you if you let it go. There as so many treatments out there nowadays. But you have to be vigilant.
What was your first exposure to breast cancer?
Shari - The paternal side of my family is genetically predisposed to breast cancer. Before I was born, my grandmother died due to complications from breast cancer. I also have an aunt who had a mastecomy and has been cancer-free for over 15 years. Currently, my oldest sister is being treated for breast cancer.
Mimi - My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 49. I was 26.
Rachel - Giggling about it with my best friends when we were all in the sixth. We were participating in a mother-daughter “Get to know your changing body” type of workshop when the nurse who was kind enough to come in and give us the presentation taught us how to do a self-examination on our breasts.
Emily - In the ‘70s my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Back in those days the standard treatment was a complete mastectomy. My mother recently told me that my grandmother wore falsies whenever she went out because she was so embarrassed. But she got too hot, so my mother told her that her flat chest was nothing to be embarrassed about - a lot of women have a double mastectomy. Later, she became more comfortable and just wore them to important events.
Have you personally had a run-in with breast cancer? If so, please share
your story.
your story.
Shari - Thankfully, I personally have not had breast cancer.
Mimi - I was diagnosed at the age of 42, a year after we lost our mom to breast cancer. Mine was detected through my yearly mammogram. I had two lumpectomies (surgery) and radiation. Eventually (7 years later) I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction for my own peace of mind, not a recurrence of cancer. I was pleasantly surprised with the end results. Women need to know they can survive this and look good. Five months after my surgery I turned 50 –50, healthy and perky!
Rachel - When my great grandmother died in 2001 her body was riddled with cancer, including having the disease in both of her breasts. Her daughter, my grandma, the woman I loved and adored more than anything on earth was shockingly taken out by colon cancer the following year just a week after her 66th birthday. Her daughter, my mom, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 35. Luckily she beat it. We had a scare with one of her breasts last year but a mammogram revealed it to be a milk cyst and not cancer.
Emily - My most recent mammogram came back abnormal. That is a word you don't want to hear. There was something in my left breast and I had to go back to get an ultrasound. So of course, this being the age of the Internet, I looked up breast cancer treatments...just in case. I know that as I get older my chances of actually getting breast cancer increase, especially since it runs in my family.
How old were you when you received your first breast screening and why?
Shari - I received my first mammogram after a routine physical when I turned 30.
Mimi - I was 29 and had an immediate family history.
Rachel - I am 33 and although most women don’t have mammograms until they are 40 years old or older, my genes and doctors say, “Get that screening now, girl.” Early detection is key. Personally I don’t associate my breasts with my femininity. If I find out I am in the serious risk category, I would have no problem with a double mastectomy.
Emily - How old were you when you received your first breast screening and why?
I had my first mammogram in my mid-20s. Since then I do regular self-exams, and since I am no longer a spring chicken, I recently had another mammogram.
What do you do to promote breast cancer awareness?
Shari - Contributions to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Anyone can donate at their website www.nationalbreastcancer.org.
Mimi - Besides donating to and participating in fund-raisers for the cause, I talk and talk and talk. I bug my family, friends, co-workers about getting their mammograms, doing their self exams, etc. I also lend support to women going through treatment. I have found that knowledge is power.
Rachel - Having been on 101.5 KGFM for the last 14 years, my morning show partner Dean and I have the unique opportunity to promote the topic of breast cancer awareness. With so many women listening to KGFM the topic comes up often and we are lucky to have such a vehicle to share information and experiences on this terrible disease.
Emily - I think the best way is to share stories and encourage women to get regular mammograms. You may not be able to prevent breast cancer, but you can prevent it from killing you.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |