Every year during the month of October, the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign makes a huge push to raise funds and awareness regarding this aggressive killer. Survivors, caregivers and countless others come together in walkathons to lend a voice to the cause and honor themselves and those who lost their battles with breast cancer.
The current state of the world in light of the global COVID pandemic should not be a deterrent for sounding the alarm and bringing awareness to breast cancer. There are many ways in which we can still help. Here are a few:
Know your lemons!! Test yourself regularly. Self testing should begin as early as possible with testing by a physician beginning at age 20.
Get annual mammograms if you qualify. Request the added 3D scanning if possible.
Encourage family and friends to get tested.
Contact your local or regional American Cancer Society office and volunteer in any way you can.
Donate to cancer research. If you're in SL, visit the ACS regions to donate and learn more. [American Cancer Society in SL]
Encourage the MEN in your lives to get tested regularly as well.
Do NOT wait until you are in your 40s to start self testing. If there is a family history, push for greater comprehensive testing such as mammograms.
Get together with family and friends to pool resources to donate.
Check on your loved ones who have survived breast cancer.
Check on your loved ones that were or currently are the caregivers.
Breast cancer in women is well known. However, what many are unaware of is the fact that men get breast cancer too. Men carry a much higher mortality rate with breast cancer than women, primarily because awareness among men is less. One of the most ignorant thing a man has ever said to me regarding this is, "men don't have breasts." That is a false statement...don't believe me, check an anatomy chart.
Caregivers oftentimes are the forgotten victims of this disease. Left to pick up the pieces, caregivers face depression and a host of other emotions which amount to survivor's guilt. I personally encourage every caregiver to join a support group and speak to a trained and licensed psychologist to help with navigating the ups and downs of caring for a loved one during care and even after they have transitioned from this life.
Allow me to introduce you to my amazing sister Samena Shamen.
"Besides this being a very worthy cause, I support breast cancer awareness not only for women, but for men as well. I do this to honor the memories of my late aunt and my late husband who fought valiantly against breast cancer. Let's normalize men getting checked regularly and not being ashamed about it." - Samena
Next, meet my awesome brother Kevin Himanez
"I'm doing this because my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2015, she has been cancer free for 5 yrs. I encourage all to do monthly self exams and yearly mammograms. If caught early chances of survival go up and chances of needing a mastectomy go down." - Kevin
As for me, I do this to honor caregivers like Samena and Kevin and their loved ones, as well as two of my closest and dearest sister-friends, Ms. C. Caldwell, diagnosed during a routine mammogram in her mid 40s while actively battling Lupus and Dr. V. Wyatt, diagnosed after feeling a lump under her arm during a self exam before she even reached her 30th birthday. Lumpectomy and aggressive radiation and chemotherapy saved them thanks to early detection. They are my warriors!!!
What am I wearing?
::FOUNDATION::
Head: CATWA HEAD HDPRO MajerSoft BentoEar v1.3
Body: Belleza - Freya V6 BOM/BENTO
::OUTFIT::
Gown: {ABC} Bao Chanchi Dress FATPACK - Blue [Main Store]
Shoes: Phedora ~ Sumi Heels FATPACK [Main Store] *not shown*
::MAKEUP::
Eyes: VELOUR: Merllin Eyeshadow [Main Store]
Lips: IVES. Saharan Lipcream. (CATWA) HUD 'PACK001' [Main Store]
::ACCESSORIES::
Hair: DOUX - Medusa Unisex Hairstyle [DELUXE] *new* [DUBAI Event]
Nails: Lueur - // L // - LEO Nails [Main Store]
Jewelry: KUNGLERS - Jonelle Set FATPACK {unrigged} [Main Store]
What is Samena wearing?
::FOUNDATION::
Head: LeLUTKA - lel EvoX LILLY 3.1
Body: Belleza - Freya V6 BOM/BENTO
::OUTFIT::
Gown: JustBECAUSE~PhoebeGown~RobinsEgg [Main Store]
Shoes: -KC- ELLE Heels [Main Store]
::ACCESSORIES::
Hair: TRUTH / Delicate [Main Store]
Nails: Le Forme Bento Nails M02 Nature [Main Store]
Choker: [VO.Z] Full of Flowers Choker [Main Store]
Other Jewelry: ~~ Ysoral ~~ .:Luxe Bracelet Melody Set {rings rigged} [Main Store]
What is Kevin wearing?
::FOUNDATION::
Head: LeLUTKA.Head.Luka.2.0
Body: Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0)
Ears: L'Etre - Basic mesh ears
::OUTFIT::
Jacket: [Deadwool] Sean jacket - Legacy - blush [Main Store]
Shirt: [Deadwool] Sean shirt [Main Store]
Pants: [Deadwool] Sean trousers - Legacy - (long) - blush [Main Store]
Shoes: [ hoorenbeek ] Double Monks [Main Store]
Eyewear: -MONCADA PARIS- Malcom Eyewear [Main Store]
::NOTABLE MENTIONS - NOT WORN::
Backdrop 1: FOXCITY. Photo Booth - The Lux (With projectors & props)
Backdrop 2: FOXCITY. Photo Booth - Celestial (White+Lights)
Female Poses: FOXCITY . Delicate
Male Poses: FOXCITY . Men's Cold Outside
Listen to this Q&A from Memorial Sloan Kettering Oncology Experts
Looking at SL through the "Eye of the Storm"
On to the next project...
Love & Light,
乇мzz:::ƒιуαнѕтσям™:::qυαи [Emerald Ishtari]
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