PRAISE

PINK FOR AFRICA

After much thoughts I decided I'll write something on breast cancer again. The first time, I didn't go in too deep because what I first wrote on was on what I gathered after  a health walk  which I was invited to aimed at educating people on breast cancer; an eventful one and some funds raised to support people with cancer.

Breast cancer as we are all aware, is the most common cancer among women with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2012 which is about 12%  of all new cancer cases . Breast cancer risk doubles each decade until menopause after which the increase slows. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Only lung cancer  kills more women every year. Death rates from breast cancer dropped from 1989 to 2007. Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50 but have continued to decrease in older women. These decreases are believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness as well as better treatments. Symptoms including a lump or thickening of the breasts to changes to the skin or the nipple. The risk factors can be genetic, some lifestyle factors including alcohol intake , environmental factors,estrogen exposure, age, stress and even our diet.

For breast cancer, a range of treatment is available including  surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and the most common one is the chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is the name commonly given to drugs that prevent cancer  cells from dividing and growing by killing the dividing cells. Blood tests are usually needed to assess the patient's health and to ensure  they will be able to cope with possible side effects.

Radiation therapy on the other hand is when controlled doses of radiation are targeted at the tumor to destroy the cancer cells. It is normally used from around a month after surgery, along with chemotherapy and can kill any remaining cancer cells.

Recently, I got the golden opportunity to be ushered as a team member into Pink for Africa a breast cancer foundation in the USA which was set up by a breast cancer survivor; Mrs.Juliette Erawoc Mills-Lutterodt who also happens to be the elder sister of the famous actor Majid Michel and someone I share the same birthday with. I decided to join the foundation since I felt the need that I had to give something to the society by helping with anything that would be of great service to others. Pink for Africa  is a breast cancer foundation aimed at providing cancer awareness, education, raising funds and supporting women especially  in Africa and the USA from  every age range. I also had the privilege of meeting a 24 year old lady breast cancer victim by the name Afua the same day Mrs Mills-Lutterodt welcomed me cordially into the group.  I was really saddened by her plight and was moved to tears with her story.

What started as unbearable pain and a lump turned out to be cancer which she was oblivious to. With several visits to the doctor, she was told she had to undergo a surgery which she didn't ask questions about much and through her struggle, was able to raise funds to undergo her surgery but it didn't make the pains in her breast go away and after a few more trips to the hospital after the surgery, Afua couldn't come to terms  with the fact that she had become every woman's dread: A BREAST CANCER PATIENT. The fact that Afua couldn't ask questions concerning her surgery could have led to her death,  anything could have happened to her if not for the grace of God.

She hails from the northern region and resides at  Ashaley Botwe in Accra with no help from anyone, and is the breadwinner of her family with her parents who are very old and can hardly support themselves with younger siblings to take care of. She's a hairdresser by profession. She really has a bright future and it'll be sad to lose a young soul with extremely great potential. Afua is currently undergoing chemotherapy to help her get better and not being from a strong and financially sound background is having great difficulty coming by  the money needed to go through the whole treatment processes to enable her get back on her feet and fend for her family like she's supposed to
.

Her story is a really touching one and I've decided to help get her message across through writing this to anyone who might see this and would gladly like to assist  in any way and it must be sincerely from the heart... 

What would you do if it happened to a relative? What would you do if she was your daughter? 
Also, a  little advice to any woman out there reading this, be it cancer or not,  we should be able to ask our doctors questions. ASK, ASK, ASK!! You don't need to be afraid or timid, get whatever you want off your chest by asking questions even if they are bound to get angry, still ask!  Your life could be endangered! A life is 
too precious to lose to a sickness!  

The question on my mind now is; with the average /low income earning girl/woman who can't afford money for treatment; what happens to them? Are they left to die? Are they assisted in any way?  What happens to them? I would like to appeal the public to reach out now and let's come together and assist these our sisters who are suffering from breast cancer. Nothing is too small if it comes from the heart. The motive is what really matters.

All thoughts, views and donations are warmly welcomed. 

for more information, kindly contact +233(549561306) /+1(973)-632-4828

LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER AND HELP SAVE LIVES FROM BREAST CANCER✌✌