Thursday, October 05, 2006

SURVIVOR

I was going to write about something completely different today but a comment someone left yesterday really struck me. I guess it was just a sign that I should highlight something very important.

Kehinde Gbelee is a prominent Nigerian banker and breast cancer survivor; she was one of the key people who inspired the Genevieve Pink Ball.


Michelle Dede was the presenter of extremely popular, Big Brother Nigeria reality show.
She recently revealed that she faced a cervical cancer scare. Fortunately, it was detected early.


So ladies, perform that monthly breast self examination. If you feel or see anything suspicious, please consult your doctor immediately. Early detection is key!
You should also ensure that you see your doctor for your yearly pap smear exam (dont be scared, shy or ashamed) If Michelle did not go for hers, we would be hearing a different sob story now…

Don’t ignore this because it is a sort of ‘serious’ topic……entertainers, celebrities and socialites worldwide host various fab and glam benefits yearly to raise money for these causes… Also, thanks to Genevieve Magazine for highlighting such vital issues.
Much luv and God’s blessings to those presently battling, all the survivors and those who have passed away.
A close relative is presently battling breast cancer, I sincerely hope and pray that noone else in my family goes through this again. AMEN

Please share your input on this issue.

19 comments:

Tutsy said...

Well said Bella, u couldn't have said it any better......my heart goes out to everyone who has lost someone special to that monstrous disease. May God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss, and the strength to move on.

Toni Payne said...

May God never let any of us experience having any disease that may affect our lives drastically. I had a scare once and all I could think about was not being able to have kids or going through the motions of having such a disease. I went for a couple of tests, ultra sounds etc and came out fine but was scared all the same. I really hope they find a cure for all types of cancer soon.

Adaure Achumba said...

We have a survivor in my family and believe me when I say this is a troubling disease. The people getting diagnosed or dying from it are getting younger and younger, it's scary and troubling. It has to be something we are eating (hormones) or doing that's causing it.

Icy PR said...

hmm this hits too close to home. I lost one of my aunts to Breast cancer. It's... it's more real than most people imagine. I guess it's never easy to empathize unless it hits close to home.. But I'm with you.. Since then, I DO NOT PLAY WITH MY HEALTH on that level get checked believe me you are not too young to catch anything these days....I have a friend who is recovering from it right now. She is only 24... So ladies please do get checked Thanks for this Bella!

Anonymous said...

Bella, I think women need to be aware that condoms don't protect you from HPV. HPV, is the virus that causes 85-90% of cervical cancer diagnosis. Most women and men will be exposed to the virus at some point during their life. In most cases the body heals on its own.
In the states, young women(9-24? of age) may soon be able to get a vaccine to help prevent HPV. Which should cut the number of women suffering from cervical cancer greatly.

@Adure- I've read about the meat-hormone-cancer connection. Many vegetarian literature make this a focal point when stating why a vegatarian diet is better than a carnivore's diet.

LondonBuki said...

A friend's Mother (may Her soul rest in Perfect Peace) died as a result of Cancer... It is so Real and noone is immune to it.

Very good post.

Anonymous said...

a friend lost his mother some few months back...

I believe everything has a cure. We just haven't seen it yet!

My heart goes out to... :-(
can't say much...

ABBEY said...

Very deep post bella. There are hundreds of people working in research labs worldwide trying to find this cure. So I'm hopeful, that very soon someone will find a cure to this, and AIDS and all those other diseases.

Let's just keep praying that Bush will set his priorities right and give more money to research rather than to death in Iraq! AMEN!!

Anonymous said...

This just shows that Breast cancer / cancer respecects no one, age color etc..She was born in 1978? ( wife and mother who passed away)

God please...continue to keep us healthy!

When you hear Breast Cancer you look at your tits and your like naaaaa not my girls! My girls are fine even though they are headed south..they are just fine! But nooo we have to check get checked out!

Just scheduled my first mammo! It's not enough that my Gynae fondles me each time I go there. I mean its what they do right? If I have to have these girls sandwiched between a medical panini maker I bloody well will.

She was so so young...

Bells as usuall thanks for shining the light! its all about early detection!

zaiprincesa said...

Great Post Bella. I think most women dont realize how "real" breast cancer is until it hits close to home. And becus of our culture, a lot of young women are "ashamed" and embarrased about pap swears..You do not have to be sexually active to get checked..as long as you are over the age of 16, you shuld get checked at least once a year. In this situation, IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS OH!.
May her soul Rest in Peace..

Life through rose-tinted glasses said...

babe i'm with you on this, breast cancer is a very serious thing and it gets crazier as i heard it could also be hereditary. my mum and all her 4 sisters had it and i lost 2 aunts to it and one of my sisters had it too but i thank God it was detected early and by God's grace she's fine now. its something every female should be aware of and thanks for writting about it. cheers

Anonymous said...

you've all raised important points.
we should all try to get the message across and as bella mentioned, do regular testing and pap smears.
peace to all

Anonymous said...

WoW, It's so sad to hear ppl's Mothers died from this, Coz My Mum is actually a "survivor".....but there's something I'll like to share. It can ALWAYS comeback...So for those that have ppl currently battling you need to let them be aware of this fact. Fortunately science is almost close to finding a cure and you can help make this a reality by donating or even volunteering. More info on how you can help ---> http://www.komen.org/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=301 Nothing is too little!!

Best wishes to those battling it now and the "survivors"

XxLovexX

Anonymous said...

Bella oh..Awon Beyonce and co are arriving for the concert today oh, In naija oh..I hope you are all over this concert for us abroad....You berra bring it oh. Ha I cant wait. Its as if I should be in lagos. the tin pain me sha.

Breast cancer. God will not let us se dis kine tin again oh..amin

Anonymous said...

thanks bella for promoting the fight against breast cancer
a friend of mine passed away this past weekend from this horrible disease.
Thank you again

Anonymous said...

Friend just found out she has HPV...All you sexually active chicks..hmmm. I am not there oh! When he says let me just go there without a condom and you 2 r like No jo, I dont want to catch aids. and then bobo come take say im just do aids test for im immigration interview and im pass test..u to come say okay small, small sha. no be only aids you fit get oh. u fit get herpes and co and Human Papillomavirus..aka HPV.. wich fit cause cervical cancer..aka no pikin. theworst part be say u no go even know who get am! as in whedda na Tunji, Kunle, junior, emeka, Danladi, Donald, or Donald and Danladi together anyway sha ...Bobo's no really get test to show say dem fit catch am. but woman fit get pap smear and wit detection monitoring the situation one fit prevail. My friend dey try find the bobo wey give am. We don write list we are on number 4 now!

Abeg una use condoms oh.

Bella abeg no vex.na u cause dis awarenss stuvvs..I know even fit come out put name I go just be Town Crier..

Anonymous said...

Condoms do not necessarily protect from HPV

Anonymous said...

Yeah, they dont?

Belema said...

A lady I know in Nigeria tried to use urine therapy to cure here breast cancer she died eventually.