My Medical Issue…

1-30pm

The other day I spoke to a surgeon who operates on women who have breast cancer. What grabbed my attention was what she said about the risks of breast cancer. Without even knowing that my mother had breast cancer, she said explained that there are 2 primary risks for  getting breast cancer & I have both. While I listened intently, she said, to be at increased risk for breast cancer you have be female and getting older! The older you get the higher the risk. Wow! It is that simple and there’s nothing I can do about it! Add to that my familial history and my risk increases. It was a sobering thought. So what can be done about it?

Prevention of breast cancer starts with a healthy lifestyle. Don’t smoke, don’t over-drink or over-eat. Keep your weight in a normal range, so that your BMI is normal. Exercise regularly.

Get to know your breasts. Regardless of how young you are, after your period, each month, examine them for any changes. Someone once described a lump as finding a marble amidst rice. Some women have ‘lumpy’ breasts. If that’s you, have them checked and then keep checking them each month for any changes. Don’t be afraid to check for lumps. This is a simple, free, non invasive, painless,  potentially life-saving procedure that you can do. I don’t know why women don’t!

And following on with that, when you arrive at the absolutely marvellous age of 40, go for a mammogram. I have had 4 mammograms in my 40s. Some say that you should have one annually from 40. I didn’t do that, but I will be having an annual mammogram from now on. I turn 50 in November!! (I feel so mature now! I’ve grown up, at last!! :-D)

Don’t be freaked out by the idea of breast cancer. I would love to find a new way of saying “breast cancer” without using those words. It seems that they are a frightening label that make people want to feel sorry for you.  A “Mammary Malady” could be an option! 😀 Take it seriously, but play it down. It’s not a death sentence if detected & treated early. (Ha! Someone suggested a “Boob boo-boo!”)

April is a great month to have all the ‘girlie check-ups’. You can remember it because you don’t want to be an April fool and not go. Otherwise wait for ‘Medical May’ and do them then. I had a pap smear this week which has returned normal, so I only need another in 2 years time. But there was a medical issue which is taking me to see a surgeon next week! I have had a niggling pain in my left groin for about 9 month! It came and went as if it was a muscle pain. It flared up after exercise and then settled. Sometimes exercise helped it and it would be gone for a few days. I can’t remember it being a problem when we went overseas last year. But since the golf caddying began and I have been dragging Mike’s golf cart uphill, it’s gotten worse. So when I went to the doctor the other day, she examined it and prodded it and I jumped. Her diagnosis – a femoral hernia! Because it is constantly sore and the pain is getting worse, I need to have it seen by a surgeon. So, that’s ahead! Meantime, Mike has to pull the cart up the hills! I’m fine on the flats. I’ll have to go easy at gym as well.

Beautiful autumn days in Cape Town, don’t you think? I went into the City Centre today and stopped at a traffic light long enough to get this amazing reminder of our spectacular city!

Just so reminds me of Psalm 121 – I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!

Yep! He made the mountain and it reminds us where our help comes from!

God bless you!

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

Gratitude/Happiness Pic…speaking of God’s amazing creation. I’ve been admiring His artwork from my balcony…

Monday sunset…

Tuesday sunset…