Comments on: Breast Cancer in Africa http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html black looks Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:56:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: owukori http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-873 owukori Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:53:05 +0000 http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-873 I am truely sorry about your Aunt. I wonder if the increase is to do with changes in lifestyle, diet, environment are contributing to the increase? I believe that diet and personal lifestyle eg stress, insufficient sleep and exercise and one's immediate envioronment and pollution levels are contributing factors. All these have changed in the past 20 years in Africa and this may be an explanation. I am truely sorry about your Aunt. I wonder if the increase is to do with changes in lifestyle, diet, environment are contributing to the increase? I believe that diet and personal lifestyle eg stress, insufficient sleep and exercise and one’s immediate envioronment and pollution levels are contributing factors. All these have changed in the past 20 years in Africa and this may be an explanation.

]]> By: Rosie http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-872 Rosie Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:46:05 +0000 http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-872 My aunt recently died of breast cancer. I was shocked. I honestly thought this was a Western disease. I thought African women are not supposed to be susceptible to this disease...furthermore, why is it on the rise in our continent? My aunt recently died of breast cancer. I was shocked. I honestly thought this was a Western disease. I thought African women are not supposed to be susceptible to this disease…furthermore, why is it on the rise in our continent?

]]> By: owukori http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-871 owukori Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:41:53 +0000 http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-871 Thank you Rezwan. Having a mastectomy is one of the hardest decisions a woman may have to make in her life. All societies put enormous pressures on women to have "perfect bodies" and the breast is one of the signifiers of womanhood. We all survive on hope and I can well understand a woman choosing not to have a mastectomy which is a mutilation of her body, in the belief that the cancer will not take her life or other forms of treatment will work. One of the problems is that women who have survived breast cancer and mastectomy are invisible because they use a prosthesis and have reconstruction the end result of which is their pain is hidden. Society does not want to talk about what happens to women, whether it be domestic violence, rape, cancer, HIV/AIDS, FGM or even childbirth. We are asked to be silent not just by men but women collude with being silent. We are supposed to go through life hiding all these things that happen to us. Thank you Rezwan. Having a mastectomy is one of the hardest decisions a woman may have to make in her life. All societies put enormous pressures on women to have “perfect bodies” and the breast is one of the signifiers of womanhood. We all survive on hope and I can well understand a woman choosing not to have a mastectomy which is a mutilation of her body, in the belief that the cancer will not take her life or other forms of treatment will work. One of the problems is that women who have survived breast cancer and mastectomy are invisible because they use a prosthesis and have reconstruction the end result of which is their pain is hidden. Society does not want to talk about what happens to women, whether it be domestic violence, rape, cancer, HIV/AIDS, FGM or even childbirth. We are asked to be silent not just by men but women collude with being silent. We are supposed to go through life hiding all these things that happen to us.

]]> By: Rezwan http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-870 Rezwan Mon, 29 Aug 2005 13:57:53 +0000 http://www.blacklooks.org/2005/08/breast_cancer_in_africa.html#comment-870 Earlier I missed the entry 'One breast beats being dead' posted on Aug 17. I am so moved by it that I am speechless. Thanks for sharing and I am praying that you win every obstacles with this positive frame of mind. One of my friend's sister died leaving 3 little kids because out of fear she resisted a mastectomy and it was too late when she eventually agreed. There are social and cultural pressure in it too that makes a woman sceptical of the consequences. Like movements against Aids, there should be mass awareness programs for BC. And people need to know what you've been through and how you coped with it. Earlier I missed the entry ‘One breast beats being dead’ posted on Aug 17.

I am so moved by it that I am speechless. Thanks for sharing and I am praying that you win every obstacles with this positive frame of mind.

One of my friend’s sister died leaving 3 little kids because out of fear she resisted a mastectomy and it was too late when she eventually agreed. There are social and cultural pressure in it too that makes a woman sceptical of the consequences.

Like movements against Aids, there should be mass awareness programs for BC. And people need to know what you’ve been through and how you coped with it.

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