Stop, Look and Feel: Doing Your Breast Self-Exam Right

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Do you know that "breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide," notwithstanding the fact that it is also one of the major causes of death among women globally? In the Philippines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona cited  the 12,262 new breast cancer cases with 4,371 deaths in 2010. Moreover, he revealed the health department's latest findings, which state that three out of 100 women in the country are likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime. (A woman's risk of developing the cancer increases with age.) Sadly, breast cancer survival rates in the Philippines is one of the world's lowest at below 40 percent compared to developed countries which have achieved 80 to 90 percent survival rates.

The thing is, breast cancer is a curable disease . . . when detected, treated and managed early. Beginning in your 20s, you should already be taking conscious efforts to protect yourself. The Breast Self-Exam (BSE) is a widely recommended method of ensuring early detection among women. It is easy to perform, aside from being free and having no known side effects.

So this is how you go about your BSE:

STOP

Source:
http://www.eventpromotionsnow.com/images/Products/12485_sml.jpg

Count seven to 10 days after your first day of menstruation when your breasts are no longer tender. This is the best time to perform your BSE. (For women who no longer menstruate, determine a fixed day for your monthly BSE, e.g. every 18th day.)

LOOK

If this is your first time to do BSE, then take this as an opportunity to get to know your breasts. Stand in front of a mirror and take note of the shape and size of your breasts, the color and shape of your nipples, and so on. Get to know your breasts through these four simple steps: 1) with your arms at your sides; 2) with your arms overhead; 3) with your hands pressed firmly on hips; and 4) while bending forward. Soon, you would have to compare this first thorough look at your breasts with your next inspections. You have to take note of any changes, including the retraction/inversion/pulling in of nipples, any bloody or colorless nipple discharge, persistent lumps, and dimpling of the skin.

FEEL

You may perform this BSE method while lying down and/or in the shower. Women with fuller bosoms are advised to go for the first option.

While Lying Down

To examine your right breast, simply follow these steps:

1. Place a pillow under your right shoulder.
2. Put your right hand under your head.
3. Check the entire breast area with the finger pads of your left hand.
4. Use small circles and follow an up-and-down pattern.
5. Use light, medium, and firm pressure over each area of the breast.
6. Feel the breast with the surfaces of the second, third, and fourth fingers, moving systematically and using small, circular motions from the nipple to the outer margins.
7. Gently squeeze the nipple for any discharge.

For your left breast, repeat these steps using your right hand.

While in the Shower


It is said that many women discover masses on their breasts while in the shower. These steps should be easy to administer.

1. Raise your right arm.
2. With soapy hands and fingers flat, check your right breast.
3. Use the same small circles and up-and-down pattern described earlier.

Repeat on the left breast.


Should you notice any changes, abnormalities, lumps or anything unusual with your breasts, DO NOT PANIC. See a doctor immediately for the next exams to be administered.

* * *
In the meantime, I am sharing Philippine-based I Can Serve Foundation's Early Breast Cancer Detection Guidelines, as narrated by Ms. Lea Salonga. (Please visit http://www.icanservefoundation.org/ for the Filipino/Tagalog and Visayan versions.)



Sources:
1. Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast Self Examination.
2. Department of Health. Breast Cancer Medicines Access Program Grand Launching.
3. E-medicine Health. Breast Self-Exam.
4. Parenting Weekly. How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam (Photos).

RH Bill: The Lost Equation

There is much greater hype these days regarding the very controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. Much has happened since my first post. Developments include the recent revision on the Bill's full-text, as well as the issues raised and defenses made by the anti and pro-RH advocates, respectively, during the past interpellations in Congress and debates on national TV.

I remain steadfast on my belief that a bill seeking to protect women's reproductive health and promote responsible parenthood should be passed into a law. Doing this provides an enabling mechanism to promote development in the country.

With this, let me break some more myths, half-truths and false assumptions regarding the Bill, as well as summarize the reasons why I think it should be passed.

1. Half-truth: The RH Bill cannot solve poverty.

The truth is, the RH Bill alone cannot solve poverty. But it intends to complement all other development programs of the State through population control.

At this point, it is fitting that we take a look at poverty using the lens of a social entrepreneur. As such, let us use a simple business equation:

Revenue – Expense = Net Income

Revenues should be the returns on the State's social investments like training teachers, building infrastructures, and generating employment. This is the area where most of the nation's development efforts go to. Over the past decades, we've seen how education gets the biggest slice on the annual national budget yet, how come Social Weather Stations quarterly surveys show that poverty continues to worsen? Is it practical to say that we'd rather see P3 billion of our budget be allocated to the same programs?

Similarly, efforts made by the past administration to generate more jobs in the ICT and BPO sectors have indeed contributed to providing jobs that will stimulate the economy. But then again, why do more and more people claim that they are poor and hungry?

If many of our so-called solutions do not seem to work or at least, takes time to work, then perhaps it's time that we finally address the other element in the equation. That is, control the 'expense' by managing the population through responsible parenthood.

I believe that one of the reasons why interventions made to improve access to education and availability of jobs seem insufficient is that the numbers continue to grow by the year. Success indicators should not be number-driven; rather, it should focus on the percentage of population producing results out of the benefits provided by the government's programs.

Unless we address this part of the equation, we will be just running in circles, asking ourselves whether it's the chicken or the egg.

Addressing population growth while continuing, improving and scaling up development programs will yield greater national growth and development, which, by then, has more possibility of being equitably distributed.

To be continued...

Whitening and the Other Wonders of Glutathione

Sandy*, a working mom, has been taking glutathione oral food supplements on a daily basis. She swears by her brand's effectiveness, claiming that her skin has been fairer with only four to five months of use.

Sandy also has other reasons for taking glutathione. She knows that it plays a good role in keeping her liver and other organs healthy.

For most Filipino women, however, glutathione is a popular food supplement because of its whitening side effects. This is evident in all the TVCs, billboards and Internet ads placed by online sellers in eBay, Sulit.com and Multiply. Apparently, many have yet to know the other, more important benefits of using glutathione, as well as the precautionary measures that they have to make in taking the food supplement.

Womens' frequently asked questions on glutathione are answered on this blog in a concise and easy-to-read manner. Thanks to various sources online.

1. What is glutathione?

Glutathione is a protein that is produced in the human body. It is also found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables and meats. (Uretsky, Healthline)

2. What are the benefits of taking glutathione?

As an antioxidant, glutathione protects the cells of the body from getting damaged by free radicals. It also helps boost the immune system.

The possibility of using glutathione to treat cancer and heart diseases is still being studied. Meanwhile, Healthline cites the following reported uses of glutathione:

• treatment of poisoning, particularly heavy metal poisons
• treatment of idiopathic pulmonary firbosis
• increasing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity of cis-platinum, a chemo drug used to treat breast cancer
• treating Parkinson's disease
• lowering blood pressure in patients with diabetes
• increasing male sperm counts in humans and animals
• treatment of liver cancer
• treatment of sickle cell anemia

3. How does glutathione whiten skin?

Skin whitening is a side effect of using glutathione. It is not the main use or function of the food supplement.

Dr. Eduardo Gonzales, in his article at the Manila Bulletin, says:

Glutathione whitens the skin because it inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which simply means it prevents the concerned cells in the skin from manufacturing melanin, the pigment that is responsible for the brown to black coloration of the skin.

4. What are the ways to take glutathione supplements? How much will they cost me?

Glutathione can be taken orally as a tablet or capsule. However, it is said that glutathione is is not well absorbed when taken by mouth. Sandy spends around Php1,400 monthly for the gluta capsules that she takes on a daily basis.

Glutathione soaps are also available in beauty and drug stores for a price range of Php100 to 300, depending on the brand. It is also said that it takes weeks to months to get the desired whitening results.

Injectables, which are said to act faster, are also available from dermatologists and online sellers at a minimum of Php3,000 per shot. Some of them come in combinations like glutathione + Vitamin C. Belo Medical Helpdesk gives the following info re: glutathione injectables:

Glutathione IV (intravenous) - Php 3,360.00 per vial (one session) done 2-3 times a week. To achieve maximum results, treatment should be done for 15 sessions. Effect will be seen on your 3rd session. Package: for 15 sessions- Php 44,800.00. A single treatment consists of 5cc of Vitamin C and 4cc of Glutathione. The product is made from Europe.

5. How often should I take glutathione to maintain the healthy effects?

Glutathione should be taken consistently to maintain both the aesthetic and healthy effects.

6. Are there any harmful side effects?

There are no established harmful side effects of glutathione. However, Dr. Gonzales doesn't advise people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, pregnant or lactating women, and children from taking the supplement.

7. What are the precautions that I have to make?

Both women and men should exercise care and caution in availing glutathione supplements. It's always best to consult with a doctor who knows your medical history.

At the same time, only avail glutathione from trusted sellers. Some buyers in the Glutathione Alert thread on eBay happened to have purchased fake supplements and reported prolonged side effects and vomiting for at least 3 days. (And for someone like me who had been hospitalized twice for a severe case of drug allergies, I suggest ultra care!) Make sure that the brand is BFAD approved.

The other wonders of glutathione shows how the food supplement is a real deal when we talk of beauty being skin deep. Call it fabulous, a miracle in a pill. We just have to be watch out for the fakes.

* Name changed upon request.

Sources:

Eduardo Gonzales, M.D. Glutathione: The Real Score -- Medical Notes. Manila Bulletin, 26 Oct 2009.

Samuel Uretsky, The Gale Group, Inc. Glutathione. Healthline, 2005.

Choosing between herbs and synthetics

The rainy season usually gives birth to a quirky sort of chorus. These days, I hear a lot of grande renditions of “ehem-ehems” that are coupled with some occasional wheezing and sneezing. Sadly, this chorus often longs to include my little one.

As a working solo parent, I find going through labels of over-the-counter drugs time-consuming. So what I do is to remain faithful to the prescription of doctors who advise the use of synthetic medicines all the time. But lately, ads of herbal cough medicines seem to challenge my loyalty.

Again, as a parent, I want the best remedy for my daughter. What attracts me to herbal cough medicines is the claim that they are the safest cough medicine on the shelf. On the other hand, what encourages me to continue with synthetic cough medicine is its supposed ability to cure cough faster and more effectively than other remedies.

At this point, I ask myself, herbs or synthetics?

If I have to rely on the ads alone, then I guess my dilemma will be reduced to something like, Vic Sotto or ordinary moms? This is mainly because two of the most visible brands on TV claim that they are the best (while also attacking the other). Reading through the comparison of herbal and synthetic cough medicine TV commercials gave me this insight.

That is why I decided to come up with my own little research.

First Source: The LABELS (Drug Information)

Time-consuming as it may be, the labels are still the best source of drug information. I got the info of the first three brands from the boxes/leaflet in my medicine cabinet while for the last, I got the info from MIMS Philippines.

1. Bisolvon (Bromhexine HCl)
a. Indication: cough due to an acute or chronic respiratory disease associated with hard, sticky phlegm (mucolytic)
b. Precautions: Pregnant and lactating women (not recommended)
c. Possible side effects: immune system disorder, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders and respiratory, mediastinal and thoracic disorders: allergic reaction…, gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and upper abdominal pain; can be taken by diabetics and people with heart ailments

2. Loviscol (Carbocisteine)
a. Indications: chronic disorders of the respiratory tract associated with excessive or viscous mucus, such as chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and otits media with effusion including glue ear (mucolytic)
b. Precautions: patients with a history of gastric or duodenal ulcer and GI bleeding; carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and impairment of fertility (long-term animal studies not performed; effect on human fertility unknown); safety not established for pregnant and lactating women, and children below age of one
c. Possible side effects: not stated on box; possibly on enclosed leaflet which I no longer have

3. Ascof (Vitex negundo L. Lagundi Leaf)
a. Indications: For relief of mild to moderate cough due to common colds and flu
b. Precautions: Pregnant and lactating women (not studied)
c. Possible side effects: None were reported in the clinical trials for the syrup.

4. Solmux (Carbocisteine)
a. Indications: Relief of cough associated w/ excessive and tenacious sputum or phlegm as in acute and chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, otitis media w/ effusion and glue ear
b. Precautions: History of gastric or duodenal ulcer & GI bleeding. Pregnancy & lactation

c. Possible side effects: not stated

Second Source: FRIENDS

I ran a quick survey on Facebook and Twitter. And here are some comments:

1. [herbal cough medicine] did not work for me

2. Honey is a natural way to relieve a coughy throat.

3. Fluimucil for productive cough. Tastes bad, but I was told it's the only real mucolytic, haha. Oh, it's not a cough syrup, you mix it with water. : )

Brands used by friends include Ascof Lagundi, Benadryl, Fluimucil, Solmux (capsule), and Tuseran. It seems that most of my friends are synthetic users.

So is it herbal or synthetic?

As the question has become Ascof vs. Solmux, I chanced upon Ascof and Solmux: A Comparison of Two Cough Remedies that seems to point out that making a comparison of the two is not valid.

Summing it up, Ascof may have all the advantages over Solmux. But, these drugs possess dissimilar modes of action. Solmux is a mucolytic while Ascof is a simple cough formula with an anti-asthma effect. Ascof won’t be effective enough if the cough will be involving too much phlegm in the lungs. On the contrary, Solmux will not be also suitable for a simple cough with asthma involved.

It is good that companies advertise their products so that people will be aware of the choices they have. They are empowering for as long as they don't mislead. But it is also our responsibility as consumers to educate ourselves: Read the labels, ask around and consult our doctors.

Faint Phantom Spells

There is a phantom that haunts more women than men.

It triggers feelings of intense sadness, anxiety and weariness. It changes moods, behaviors and to a point, even possesses an entire person.

It is the same phantom that drove Andrea Yates to drown all her five children in the bathtub at her home in Texas, USA in June 2001. About a decade later in Manila, Philippines, the same phantom impelled the mother of Baby George to dump her newborn in the restroom bin of a Gulf Air plane. Both Yates and Baby George’s mother are said to be suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis.

Wikipedia describes Postpartum Depression as:

“a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth… occurs in women after they have carried a child, usually in the first few months, and may last up to several months or even a year.”

Postpartum Depression (and its other forms) is commonly attributed to changes in hormones during and after a woman’s pregnancy. However, just like any psychological condition, other causes of postpartum depression are socio-economical. Nurse-midwife researcher Cheryl Tatano Beck, cites a broad range of predictors to postpartum depression, which include smoking, low self esteem, childcare and life stress, low social support, poor marital relationship, single parenthood, low socioeconomic status and unplanned/unwanted pregnancy.

The phantom, however, may not always be as fierce as Yates' or Baby George's mom's. Postpartum depression remains a condition that typical Filipino women won't openly discuss for fear of being labeled baliw (mad woman). For better understanding, postpartum mood changes are classified into three subgroups and are characterized as follows:

1. ‘Baby blues’ – mood swings, feelings of being overwhelmed, tearfulness, impatience, restlessness, anxiety, sadness, low self-esteem, heightened sense of vulnerability (NWHIC)
2. Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders or Postpartum Depression – more intense feelings of sadness, despair, anxiety, and irritability (NWHIC)
3. Postpartum psychosis – extreme form of postpartum depression: losing touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania (Phil. Senate)

Given the range of postpartum mood conditions, it's easy to point out that victims do not always end up helpless and powerless against the invisible force. For instance, Brooke Shields and Christine Bersola-Babao openly wrote about their experience in overcoming depression, respectively, in Down Came the Rain and Baby, it's the blues! while model-turned-mom Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales more actively beat her blues with her newfound interest on squash.

These women tell tales of triumph over postpartum depression though many do not share the same stories. A lot of women are not even aware of being possessed by the phantom since it is often hard to tell postpartum blues from an ordinary case of blues.

To make matters worse, treatments do not always come in handy. Being partly driven by socio-economical factors, hormonal treatments are both insufficient and inaccessible to most women. What seems to be really effective is a support group that is conscious of postpartum depression.

Sadly, the Philippines has yet to take a long and mean battle to improve the postnatal conditions of Filipina mothers. Postpartum depression is a condition that may be addressed by the RH Bill through the proposed Reproductive Health Care Program, which is, however, lost in mainstream debates. Again, the RH Bill is not just about contraceptives and what is mistaken to be pro-abortion and "Sex Education." The Bill contains other important provisions that definitely deserve due consideration.

Unless we shed light on these issues, I'm afraid to say that the phantom continues to loom in the dark, just right on our doorsteps.

End Note: I loosely used postpartum depression (PPD) to refer to the postnatal mood changes/conditions for easy reading. Please be guarded by the sub-groups and their classifications.

Sources and More Readings:

1. GMA News.TV - Nationwide Info Campaign on PPD Sought

2. Senate of the Philippines - An Act to Provide for Research on PPD and Psychosis

3. Wikipedia - Postpartum depression

3. Wrong Diagnosis - PPD Fact Sheet

4. Wrong Diagnosis - Statistics by Country for PPD

My Stand on the RH Bill

UPDATE: See RH Bill: The Lost Equation

This post will not be a petty post. No, this will not be about Carlos Celdran, the CBCP or some famed columnist who's openly expressed his or her stand on the RH Bill. I'm afraid this will not satisfy the appetite of those who are only after the side issues.

My opinion sticks to the RH Bill itself--why it should be passed or not and what are the common misconceptions about it. It will be direct, concise and non-offensive. So if you've been mentally fatigued by the brouhahas of the issue, you might find some sort of respite in reading this blog.

My stand on the RH Bill is, it should be passed.

It is a known fact that the State upholds the rights of each and every individual. And primary to these rights is the individual's freedom to choose; hence, it is the government's responsibility to ensure that this freedom is well taken care of. What the RH Bill seeks to provide are adequate information and services that will enable Filipinos to make informed choices for the best interest of their families.

I must say that in stating my opinion above, I am both for choice and definitely, for life--two things that the RH Bill stands for. Apparently, objections have been improperly hurled against the Bill out of unfounded opinions, which I will discuss one by one in the next few paragraphs.

Myth A - The RH Bill supports abortion. First and foremost, the Bill explicitly states that “abortion remains a crime and is punishable.” Next, although the Bill ensures the provision of care for women seeking post-abortion care, it does not entail that it supports abortion. I believe that by being unbiased and forgiving, the Bill itself is humane and if you may, very Christian. Further, to say that this Bill will eventually allow abortion to be legalized is by no means true on the basis that it declares respect to life as a matter of policy.

Myth B - The RH Bill will result into an aging and thinning population. The RH Bill shall not enforce any restrictions on the number of children that each family should have, as in the case of China's One Child Policy. The RH Bill strives to educate parents to have the right number of children that they can support well physically, mentally and emotionally.

Myth C - The RH Bill destroys the family as an institution. Of course not. It's easy to see that the Bill is created to strengthen the Filipino family simply by reading it. :-)

Myth D - The RH Bill encourages teenage / pre-marital sex through Sex Education. The age-appropriate Reproductive Health Education that will be included in the curriculum of both public and private schools aims to raise children to become informed and responsible parents. Among the key concepts to be covered in the curriculum is “abstinence before marriage.” It is just right to teach these things during the formative years of the individual.

Moving on, the RH Bill must not be reduced to the issue of contraceptives. The Bill goes beyond that. It addresses longstanding issues on gender inequality, violence, STDs and gaps in reproductive healthcare and post-natal care, as well as provides the platform for their execution. It aims to make reproductive healthcare education and services both available and accessible to the marginalized. It seeks to bring people together to ensure improved reproductive health and better families for all.


It particularly interests me that the Bill provides to ensure that employers will not discriminate against women in consideration of their reproductive health rights, and that the Bill also seeks to have reproductive healthcare services included in Collective Bargaining Agreements. (I have indeed heard a firsthand story of a friend who was rejected by the hiring manager of this large and supposedly Corporate Social Responsibility-embracing financial institution with her being a single parent as one of the cited reasons. At this point also, it seems necessary to point out the need to designate clean and private rooms for breastfeeding and expressing milk in offices and public places.)

The Catholic Church is definitely an important institution in the country whose work for the poor has significantly contributed to national development. However, when we talk about policy, the State should supersede the Church being that the latter is just a faction of the population that the State governs.

For years, I have kept my silence on the issue because of having to weigh my convictions. People have asked as it seemed highly unlikely for someone who's written on some women's issues through World of Womanity. I am aware that in breaking my silence, I will be attracting criticisms – some of which may be just as biased and unfounded as the others.

But really, at this point in my life and as a matter of choice, regardless if the RH Bill will be passed or not, I will strive to adhere to my religious principles.



“Fundamentalism flourishes in a context of fear and uncertainty... But such uncertainty does not grant one person the right to impose his or her beliefs on another, especially as such beliefs are so often fear-driven.” - James Hollis, Ph.D., Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves


Source: Full text of House Bill No. 5043 (Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008)

NEW! These items are worth reading:

1. Still on Reproductive Health by Dean Tony La Vina

2. The Many Faces of the RH Bill by Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J.

Sariling Pagsusuri ng Suso (Self Breast Exam)

Nurse and youth volunteer of Family Planning Organization of the Philippines - Bulacan Chapter Jam Talag shares the basic process of conducting a self breast exam. The audio is in Filipino.

RED ALERT

This entry must be re-posted faster than the AIDS virus.

709 cases of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines were recorded by the Department of Health in the first 10 months of 2009 alone. (Source: ABS-CBN News)

Given this, we can say that the number of cases has more than doubled since 2008. (Source: Sun Star Davao) These incidents are actually closer to us than expected - in 2005, 28% of the 12,000 cases reported occurred among women ages 15-49! In fact, many are alarmed by the possibility that HIV is spreading among our youth.

We cannot let the figures increase even more nor waste precious time on debates and whatnots. PREVENTION is a MUST. And the time is NOW.

Much has to be read to come up with a more thorough post. So for now, I’m leaving you with three basic things:

1. Observe safe sex.
2. If you have a partner whom you don’t trust, it’s best to leave him/her.
3. ABSTINENCE IS THE BEST POLICY.

In the meantime, we can start with our readings at MedicineNet.

Update on Magna Carta

Based from my blog's statistics, the most viewed post is RA 9710: Magna Carta of Women. It may have been ratified two months ago but still, people and groups continue to contest it.

I was actually pleased to have been cited at Colombian blogger Juliana Rincon's post on Conversations for a Better World. Philippines: A pregnant woman's right to study and work presents views from different ends of the spectrum.

I recommend RA 9710 online researchers to also read it. Thanks!

* * * * *
Update as of 11/30/09:

I just learned from Google that the same post is available in five or more languages. Happy reading!

Dropping the Neckline: Breaking Illusions of 36-C

IT IS A FACT that the desire for big boobs transcends class, race and gender. Women can opt for Belo or some obscure (or even fake) cosmetic surgeons for augmentation. They can be black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese or Pinay and, still, wish upon the Boob Fairy to make their breasts a cup size higher. Most of all, the desire for big boobs is "felt" by men, women and those who are in between. (I'm sure I do not need to explain why.)

It is frustrating to think that because of too much aesthetic and erotic value being attributed to a woman's breasts, their purpose has been limited to serving the male libido. It is evident in pornography and every other product that is targeted towards the male market like magazines, booze, cigarettes and cars. Promotions of these products always include big-busted women in cleavage-baring outfits gracing print ads, TVCs or exhibits where they work as promo girls.

Most of us seem to have forgotten the breast's biological purpose or in other words, its life-giving purpose. To the women, it is quite basic -- YOUR BREASTS ARE MADE TO NURSE YOUR YOUNG AND NOT YOUR MAN!

Needless to say, women must take good care of their breasts not for the purpose of having something good at the hem of their low necklines. Likewise, men should learn how to tame their cravings by making themselves aware of the risks that women take when they undergo surgical enhancements for the male benefit.

October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

According to Breast Cancer Awareness Group, I Can Serve Foundation, breast cancer is the leading cause of death among Filipino women. It ranks third among the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among Filipinos. That is, it is next to infectious and cardiovascular diseases. (So you can worry about it next after a feast of lechon kawali, crispy pata and lechong baka.)

While the disease is mostly diagnosed among women who are 35 to 50 years old, it does not mean that one can never be at risk in her 20s. In fact, 20-something women must conduct a monthly Breast Self Exam (BSE) about a week after her period. By age 30, besides a BSE, women must have a clinical exam every year. By age 40, besides a BSE and a clinical exam, women must have an annual mammography. (I Can Serve)

The thought of mammography can be quite a torture but let us be thankful that we, here in my Multiply, belong to the 40 and below bracket.

Conducting BSE is very simple. BC advocates Dawn Zulueta and Lea Salonga have DVDs in Filipino and English, respectively, that show how to perform the self-exam. Click here to be directed to the site.

Meanwhile, I found this 5-Step BSE when I wrote my Breast Cancer Awareness Month piece last year. You can bookmark the site.

View: The 5 Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

My permission goes to anyone who would like to forward this to their family and friends for advocacy purposes.


First Posted on Blogspot 18 Oct 2007, Second on Multiply 19 Oct 2008
Photo taken from http://www.cosmeticplastics.com/images/breastlift.jpg
Statistics and information from:
Parallel Universes - Breast Cancer in the Philippines
I Can Serve Foundation
BREASTCANCER.ORG

Suffer for beauty, oh bitchy one

Across borders and throughout centuries, women's relationship with beauty is that of an S&M.

Back in our school days, we have read about tribal women who chisel their teeth, pierce their nipples, drill big holes on their ears and put huge tattoos all over their bodies. In the Victorian era, women endured breathlessness and pain in the middle section in order to attain the hourglass figure that corsettes gave. A thousand years ago and until the early 1900s, in China, women suffered the excruciatingly difficult process of breaking and binding the foot; a lifelong tremendous effort for beauty.

These days, women still suffer, though in less absurd ways. We spend hours in the gym motivated by the "no pain, no gain" mantra just so we can achieve the look or the feeling that we want. We lie on the derma's beds, which are actually beds of roses and thorns, as we stifle the screams of pain from the pricking and inserting of needles used in procedures to eliminate flaws or even change the way we look. In more simple events, many of us go for toners with the astringent effect or tend to sacrifice comfort for style like enduring the pain from dancing all night in sexy stilettos. And in some ways, we also have to repress the pain that our affinity for beauty causes to our pockets.

Speaking in terms of sex and bitchhood, I say that the quest for beauty is similar to losing one's virginity. Along the lines of pricking, waxing and threading; it always really hurts on the first time. But since it made you look and feel good, the saying that "once you pop, you can't stop" applies. It goes on to the point that you finally find yourself addicted to pain--living through and loving it; knowing that glory awaits the brave ones.

For hundreds and thousands of years, women have suffered in the name of beauty. While we maintain that to look good is our primary motivation, we leave in the shadows the reasons behind our sadomasochistic approach to beauty. Okay, we want to feel good about ourselves. But why? Can we not feel good even without having to go through such process?

I believe that the raison d'etre lies on the lines of acceptance. In an article on the Lotus Foot, I found this

:"The driving force behind this desire was complex: it had to do with marriage;
it had to do with sex; it had to do with status; it had to do with beauty; it
had to do with duty." (Footwear Fetish - An Erotic Tradition, http://www.shoeworld.com/)

These days, it is not just fair for women to blame men for their sufferings. The quest for beauty has something to do with acceptance from the opposite sex or from persons within the ranks found in the social circles where we find ourselves in. It may be to appease the wants of a domineering mother; the conditions of a meticulous lover; the observant eyes of a discriminating social butterfly; or the requirements of a tyrannical boss. Beauty just seems to be a social requirement--where the requirement varies from one social circle to another.Vicky Belo, a world-renowned cosmetic doctor, has been capitalizing on these social requirements to encourage more women to be valiant about addressing their aesthetic insufficiencies. I do not intend to give her any negative associations for this because what she says is basically true!

I remember learning in my Theology class on Marriage and Sexuality that even the late Pope John Paul II says that love starts with attraction. And how in the world can a man single out a female in a room full of them without his own requirement?

In jobs, priority is usually given to the applicant who looks more charming--assuming that all applicants have the same credentials. The same goes with women in sales-oriented careers. The initial requirement is always a good and pleasing personality (which I think is really a good and pleasing appearance). Only after she meets this, will she get the honchos to listen to what she has to present.

Feminists have been successful with attacking the footbinding tradition in China and so are those who fought against other seemingly obscure practices like the stretching of mouths and sculpturing of teeth. But still, there are new traditions to contest and since most of them have become ironically acceptable, we leave them the media and the catwalks for their battlefields.

The "enemy" in the first place is not the men in general but rather, the social constructions made by men and women alike.

Note: The title was fed by a man who does not wish to be named. Published online on 22 Nov 2007.

Photo Credit: http://www.healthy-temple.com/

The Life Giving Breast

Author's Note: For my featured post this October, I wish to enlighten everyone about their basic asset: the breast. Big or small, it's about the purpose it serves.

A fact that you can confirm from your guy friends:

most men fantasize about having a girlfriend with 34-C sized (if not 36-D) breasts.

A fact that you can confirm from your girl friends:

most women wish their boobs are at least a cup size higher.

The desire for bigger breasts is present among both genders. Men want big boobs for their sexual cravings. Why else would they want them? (If it's because they wish to have one, then we're talking of a different gender already.) Of course, they want to conquer and fondle a bigger territory! Women, on the other hand, yearn for bigger boobs not only for them to feel good about themselves but also to satisfy their partners' cravings.

It is a rather sad note that because of too much aesthetic and erotic value being attributed to a woman's breasts, their purpose has been limited to serve the male libido. It is evident in pornography and every other product that is targeted towards the male market like magazines, booze, cigarettes and cars. Promotions of these products always include big-busted women in cleavage-baring outfits gracing print ads, TVCs or shows where they work as promo girls.
Most of us seem to have forgotten the breast's biological purpose or in other words, its life-giving purpose. God created our breasts so our babies will have a source of nourishment. While breastfeeding campaigns have become more abundant nowadays, it is still undeniable that most women, especially those who are working, do not have the patience to nurse their young.
Let's go back to the basics. BREASTS ARE MADE TO NURSE YOUR YOUNG AND NOT YOUR MAN!

(I shall have a separate entry for breastfeeding but for now, let me just focus on another breast-related topic.)

Anyway, the main reason why I thought of writing an article on BREASTS is because it is October. Aside from October, being the month of Holy Rosary, it is also the BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

It is a must that I inform you, my dear sisters, about this dreaded disease because as the word association suggests, it is the leading cause of death among Filipino women. In fact, as some of you might have heard or read, cancer ranks third among the mortality and morbidity rates of Filipinos. (It comes next to infectious and cardiovascular diseases.)

In Asia, the Philippines has the highest reported incidence rates of breast cancer: 47.7% among 100,000 females. This rate is even larger than the rates in Eastern European countries.
While 86% percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer belong in the 35 to 50 year-old age group, it does not mean that you, being young, pretty and carefree, can take this for granted. The fact is, YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE BREAST CANCER IF NOT NOW, AS PART OF THE REMAINING 14%, THEN PROBABLY YOU ARE AT RISK IN THE FUTURE.

Early detection leads the best way to cure breast cancer. So have yourself checked annually or administer your Breast Self-Exam.

I got this 5-Step Breast Self-Exam from breastcancer.org. Here it is:

VIEW: The 5 Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

Give life. Save a life. Forward this to your friends. Awareness helps countless women to give the best to their babies and also to combat breast cancer.

FURTHER READINGS:
VIEW: Breast Cancer in the Philippines by Dr. Emer
VIEW: Keep Abreast (WACOAL Pink Ribbon Campaign) 2007
VIEW: Breast Care Info by I Can Serve Foundation
Breast image taken from http://www.cosmeticplastics.com/images/breastlift.jpg.

MEET THE BRAZILIAN--My Brave Encounters with Waxing Down There

As a woman, I am quite ordinary but unconventional. I have used tampons when everyone else thought it was a sin to use them. I am a single mother and I do not keep it a secret. And well, just recently, I got acquainted with the Brazilian.

Brazilian waxing may have gained popularity from bikini-clad models and beach demi-goddesses, however, there are still those who are not open to it. Women who have themselves waxed down there are labeled as wild, sexually-active and even perverted. While these labels may be true to some extent, still, I beg to disagree.

I had my first encounter with the Brazilian before I went to Boracay this summer. It was not because I was looking forward to one night stands and make out partners in the island paradise, but it was purely because I did not want any of my pubes to peep through my white bikini. Though I considered shaving and trimming, I still went for the excruciatingly painful process of Brazilian waxing. And the reason? I tried shaving before but I got bumps and cuts and it became so itchy when the hair grew once again.

I was supposed to have it done with a friend. However, since I just left my job then, I hardly had time to leave home. And so, I went to the nearest mall and had my first Brazilian waxing alone at Let’s Face It. I was asked to wash myself first. Then I went back to the private room and laid down with my eyes wide shut! The process at Let’s Face It was very hygienic. Everything was sanitized and they used disposables. The lady trimmed my hair first then okay, the waxing began. Starting at the uppermost part of me, she spread hot wax and then peeled them by hand as soon as the wax cooled. Since it was extremely painful, she told me that I can still opt for the classic bikini waxing. However, I did not go for it since it forfeits my purpose. There will still be pubes that may peep through my bikini. Since I made that decision, well, there’s no turning back. The whole waxing came with so many “ahhs,” “ouches,” and whatnots but the good thing was I survived them after about an hour. I felt so brave and happy after shelling out 600 something bucks for the waxing.

By the way, a tip for first timers, never ever delay the peeling once the wax has been spread. Otherwise, it’s going to cause you more pain that may be quite unbearable.

My next encounter was at Neo Spa in the Fort. It was more expensive at around a thousand bucks. But I was so happy with the ambiance and the service that I did not mind it all. Since it was a spa, I was able to shower first. I was given a disposable panty so I felt even more hygienic. I got a back massage and afterwards, the waxing began. It was more bearable this time. But still, I let out around 15 variations of screams—some of them sounded so weird. The lady who worked on me was really good. She used the clean and easy wax procedure—one where she had to use a cloth to peel the wax off with the hair. It could’ve been less painful and less stressful if I did not make the hair grow so much. Well, that’s another lesson learned.

Learning well from previous experience, I decided to have myself waxed at Lay Bare at the 5th level of Rustan’s Tower in Makati. It was just a small salon and I was surprised that they did not have a washroom. I had to make a wild dash to the nearby washroom and good thing was I bring a bottle of feminine wash with me all the time. They were less hygienic. They did not even spray or wipe sanitizer on me before they started. But everything else was disposable and I was quite happy because the process took only around 30 minutes without any “ahhs” nor “ouches.” And I must say that the waxing covered more parts that the other two so I am pretty much more hairless. I paid P755 but I am not so sure about coming back because of the fact that they did not have any wash area.

Based from my Brazilian experience, I have learned that the first time really do hurt. If you wish to maintain it, less hair means less pain. So trim or book yourself another appointment while there is not much hair yet.

I am quite obsessed about being hairless since I find it more hygienic. It’s easy to wipe myself clean after peeing at a public washroom and I am less susceptible to feminine itching. It’s quite a thrill too. You know, like having a secret which nobody else knows. While some may do it because their boyfriends or husbands like it, I do it for hygiene.

To each her own. Or as my good friend Rachelle says, your body, your rules.