Hello everyone my blog name is. Simply I and I am currently serving a life sentence in the
Arizona Department of Corrections because during the course of a felony act
someone died. I am currently 37 years old and I have been incarcerated since
November 22, 1996. At the time of my incarceration I had just turned 18 years
old and I was 5 months pregnant with my first and only child. If you’re new to
this blog you should probably know that the first 3 sentences I write are the
same every time. I feel it is important for people to know who is writing this
material because it might amaze some that I am a real human being. With that
being said let’s get started.
If you think that by the title of
this post this article will not apply to you - you’re wrong. The reality of the
situation is….Cancer, does not discriminate.
I mean we see it all the time rich, poor, famous, infamous, free,
incarcerated, male, and female. No one is safe from this formidable enemy.
During my 6th year of incarceration there was a woman (whom I’ll
refer to as CC for the purposes of privacy). She was a beautiful Hispanic woman
that struggled with a drug addiction. CC had been in a really bad car accident
which led to her dependence on prescription pills. When her doctor discontinued
her prescriptions she went to what she felt was the next best thing. Need I say more? Like so many others, her
addiction landed her right into the welcoming arms of the Arizona Department of
Corrections. Two years into her 6 year sentence she noticed while in the shower
her breast had a strange discharge- being alarmed she put in to be seen by the
Facility Health Services. After some tests she found out she had breast cancer.
There have been a lot of these stories in DOC but for some reason her story is
more memorable to me. She was a mother
of three the eldest two were teenagers and were pretty angry at her for some of
the things she did to them and their family while under the influence. She was
so adamant about changing her life around for her kids - she programmed, went
to church, taught bible study. CC’s words and behaviors matched a strong indication to me that she was using this time to
get her self together for her family. She never got the chance- CC did not
survive. There have many more women
after CC that suffered from this disease but she is the one I think of when I
think of breast cancer. Watching her deteriorate before my eyes was the hardest
thing or to hear her moaning and crying when she did not feel well. For people
who did not know CC before breast cancer, they just really had no idea how
beautiful she was before cancer began to ravish her body. I don’t know what became of her children but
I often find myself praying for their wellbeing and success in life.
On a lighter note on October 24, 2015 we held our annual walk
for the cure event here in the Arizona Department of Corrections-Perryville. It
may surprise you to know that prisoners celebrate this event and raise a
substantial amount of money for the cause. I don’t have exact numbers to share
but for me it seems like there are way too many women with breast cancer in
prison. I can only imagine how I would feel in a larger population. Almost 12
million Americans are cancer survivors, which is approximately 1 in 25 people. And
what about the ones that did not survive like my friend CC? Cancer treatment
success rates are not wildly impressive for some types of cancer and the risk
of recurrence is always something most survivors think about. Women are informed of how to do a breast exam
and that the enemy exists but there is so much more to learn. How can we take
back some of the ground cover from this common enemy? We can learn to be
proactive rather than reactive.
Here are some tips you can begin to use to be proactive against cancer:
1.
Decide to be proactive
·
We aren’t powerless over breast cancer. Yes, it
happens, and yes it’s scary. But there are things we can do now that can
protect ourselves. But we have to choose to be proactive.
2.
Start with what you’re eating
There
are a number of foods that can aid you in your proactivity with all
cancers. Here are a few…
·
Tomatoes
o Research indicates
that tomatoes have the potential to thwart or reduce the risk of prostate,
breast, colon, lung, and many other kinds of cancer, thanks to their high
concentration of the antioxidant lycopene. In fact, 72 different studies have
been conducted by the National Cancer Institute into the preventative benefits
of tomatoes. Research shows that cooking them concentrates the lycopene, making
tomato-based sauces and stews even healthier than fruits themselves.
·
Summer Berries
o Berries
such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries contain high levels of disease-fighting
phytochemicals that have been found to boost immunity, prevent cancer, lower
heart disease risk and even prevent seasonal allergies. Blueberries, in
particular, have powerful effects in lowering cholesterol, preventing heart
disease, and reducing the risk of diabetes. Blueberries have also received the
most attention as cancer-fighters, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068482/ a study in
the June 2014 issue of Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy identified
a chemical in black raspberries that suppressed the growth of tumor cells.
o Now,
strawberries don’t add as much to fighting against cancer, but they have a phytochemical
called fisetin that recent research found had a powerful effect in preventing Alzheimer’s disease I found it
was still worth mentioning here. All berries are packed with antioxidants, but
blueberries are most potent of all. Cranberries have been found in studies to
be particularly protective against ovarian cancer.
·
Cucumbers
o Cucumbers
have anti-inflammatory properties- this is why most spas put cucumbers on their
client’s eyes to reduce puffiness. Spas will also use them in their water
because they aid in weight loss. And like strawberries, cucumbers also have high
levels of fisetin as stated earlier.
·
Grapes
o Wild grapes,
Table grapes, and wine grapes are filled with beneficial compounds that fight
aging, prevent cancer, and reduce the risk of pretty much all age-related
diseases. Red wine grapes are the primary source of the anti-aging powerhouse
resveratrol, which has been known for its ability to prevent and possibly treat
breast cancer. Published in Cancer Prevention Research, resveratrol was shown
to suppress the abnormal cell growth that fuels breast cancer (this is found in
grapes). In another study, muscadine grapes (grapes found in the southern
United States with musky fruits borne in small clusters), in particular, were
shown to trigger self-destruction in liver cancer cells. And animal studies
found more than 85 percent risk reduction for aggressive prostate cancer in
mice fed a resveratrol-rich diet. In several recent studies, resveratrol has
also been found to cause weight loss.
·
Mangoes
o Mangoes
have copper, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins and that’s just to name a few of
the immune-boosting and anti-inflammatories qualities that can be found in
mangoes. But most importantly, mangoes contain fiber and enzymes that boost
digestion. And because of their color they aid in keeping your vision healthy
(all orange type colors aid in vision health).
·
Green Beans
o Green beans
prevent heart disease, stroke, and diabetes; studies show green beans reduce
the risk of blood clots in the cardiovascular system and brain. Rich in fiber,
iron, calcium and minerals like silicon and manganese, green beans contain nutrients
not commonly found in many other vegetables. They also contain the antioxidant
kaempferol, which research has found to be
anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and even anti-microbial.
·
Walnuts
o Rich in
omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts have been studied for their action against many
cancers, most specifically breast cancer. They also contain compounds that stop
hardening of the arteries, a precursor to heart disease.
·
Prunes
o Prunes are
loaded with antioxidants concentrated by the drying process. They also promote
digestion and detox.
·
Pomegranate Juice
o It’s packed
with antioxidants that mop up the free radicals that cause cancer. Recent
studies have shown that pomegranate juice can lower bad LDL cholesterol and
flush plaque from arteries, too.
·
Broccoli and Other Cruciferous Vegetables
o Sulphur
compounds found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (plants including
the cabbage, turnip, and mustard) have a strong cancer-protective action. One
study found that men who ate broccoli four times a week stopped early prostate
tumors from growing.
Edamame
o These are
immature green soybeans usually in the pod that contain a chemical compound (as
genistein) that occurs naturally in plants and has estrogenic properties that
protects against hormone-dependent cancers. And edamame, the fresh form of soy,
are easy to eat as a snack.
Organic Free Range Chicken
o Lean
chicken meat, served sparingly, packs a protein punch without the
artery-blocking fats present in red meat. And if it’s organic and free-range,
it means chickens haven’t been given feed that artificially stimulates growth
with hormones.
The
truth is, though, that you can’t go wrong with any fruit or vegetable that’s
brightly colored, since the chemicals that provide those colors are also the
ones that prevent disease. But wait – onions and garlic are also powerful
disease-fighters, and they’re white. Think of the farmer’s market as your
pharmacy, and you’re on your way to being proactive against cancer.
3.
Know where you stand
·
Know Your Breast Tissue Density
o Hopefully,
you’ve heard by now that having dense breast tissue raises your risk of breast
cancer. But here’s the more important issue: Do you know whether you fall in
this category? Breast tissue varies greatly in how dense it is, which means
that it has more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fat.
o If you
don’t know where you fall on the spectrum, talk to your doctor and find out.
(Or ask during your next mammogram.) It’s important, because if you fall into
the 66 percent of pre-menopausal women (and 25 percent of post-menopausal
women) who have dense breast tissue, an annual mammogram may not be enough for
you to monitor your breast health.
o One
well-regarded study by radiologist Thomas Kolb, MD, found that mammograms
missed 60 percent of the breast tumors found via ultrasound in women with dense
breast tissue. And thanks in part to Kolb’s efforts, public information campaigns
like “Are You Dense?” are now reaching out to women in
an effort to promote understanding of the importance of breast density. If you
do have dense breasts, talk to your doctor about what type of monitoring is
best for you.
·
Know your Genes and Family History
o Angelina
Jolie had a genetic test done to find out her risk of contracting breast cancer
(as her mother died from breast cancer at a young age). Many thought it was drastic to have a double
mastectomy but not to Jolie as she carries the BRCA1 gene the most dangerous of
a number of genetic defects known to cause breast cancer. (There are two
versions of this gene; BRCA2 also raises breast and ovarian cancer risk but not
quite as much.) Carrying a BRCA1 mutation carries an average risk of 65 percent
for breast cancer, and an accompanying 39 percent risk for ovarian cancer. But
the risk is not uniform; there are a number of possible mutations in each of
these genes, some more dangerous than others. Based on her specific genetic
mutations, Jolie’s doctors put her breast cancer risk at 87 percent. These
aren’t the only genetic mutations associated with reproductive cancers, though.
There is a fairly long list of known genetic mutations that up breast and ovarian
cancer risk. Those listed by the National Cancer Institute and
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are CHEK2, PALB2, TP53, PTEN,
STK11/LKB1, CDH1, ATM, MLH1, and MSH2. Genetic testing for cancer genes is
extremely expensive, and often not covered by insurance. (It usually is covered
in those already diagnosed with cancer.) So instead of spending your money on
frivolous items try saving up for a test that could possibly save your life
o It is
important to know your families history with any form of cancer. Be sure to
learn yours before there is a problem not after you’ve been diagnosed. It is
also important to find out what the signs and symptoms were for those family
members so you can be vigilant in seeking help in case something arises
4.
Connect your mind and body
o It has long
amazed scientist and doctors the power of the mind and how it can be used to
heal the body. I was once told by my doctor that little kids with cancer are taught
to imagine a Pac-man inside of them eating up their cancer. I was told the
results of this study were more than impressive. After all… we each have a
mind, body, and spirit in one it only makes since to me. But try cleansing your
body by envisioning a little vacuum inside of you cleansing any impurities
every night before you go to sleep.
In
conclusion, I wish all of you the best of luck and I pray this article is
useful to you. Do you have any further tips or questions on this subject? If
so, please share your insights with us.
