100 Days of Sacred Art - Entry #42
(Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: Pretty in Pink Knitted Scarf)
Have you noticed alot of pink popping up amongst the orange and black this month? With all of the political and economic angst of the past few days, it’s easy to forget that this month brings, not only Halloween, but Breast Cancer Awareness month too.
I started working on a possible giveaway for October and Breast Cancer Awareness earlier in the month, but hadn’t convinced myself to actually do it until today when I went for a mammogram of my own. Maybe all Mammography Centers are like this, but the women I met at Mercy Women’s Health Center today were the most caring, gentle and compassionate people I’ve encountered in awhile. They were so careful to respect my modesty, to treat me gently, to explain what they were doing, and just generally make me feel comfortable. Not only that, the whole thing was done in less than 20 minutes! I walked in at five til four and was out by 4:15! It was truly a sacred experience, as it has been each of the four times I’ve been to this facility over the last five years.
So, for the giveaway, I’ve made the prettiest, softest, girliest pink scarf you’ve ever laid eyes on! There’s not an itch in sight, and it’s washable (gentle cycle, laid flat to dry)…
All you have to do is comment on this post telling me anything you’ve done to promote breast health in 2008. It could be having a mammogram (which if you’re over 40, you should seriously consider), it could be a monthly self-exam, it could be a donation to a Breast Health foundation such as Susan G. Komen, it could be reminding your sister or your best friend to do a self-exam, it could be volunteering at a Breast Cancer event, it could be sharing this link with all your female friends – anything you’ve done to help yourself or another woman (or women) protect themselves from this deadly disease.
For a veritable TON of information about Breast Cancer and opportunities to donate to the cause, please visit http://www.komen.org. To search for low cost mammograms in your area, visit the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program or the YWCA.
If you do nothing else, give yourself a Breast Self-Exam and please don’t put this off – it’s important.
Blessings,
Kelley
Thank god, breast cancer hasn’t touched any family members of mine, but it has touched some dear friends. Watching these people live with this disease makes me realize how strong women are, and that we don’t go down without a fight. Sadly, a couple years ago a family friend had died from breast cancer. She had lived with it for over 30 years and lived her life so beautifully. During breast cancer awareness month I’m always buying the pink items that support this cause hoping that one day they will find a cure.
You touched my heart with doing this !!, like i said on your page, my mum had breast cancer 3 years ago, things go very well with her now, but my sis and i have to go every year for a mamogram because it’s in the family, my nan died of cancer started with breast cancer and my mum had it to there is a chance that we can get it too….hope not !! you have a heart of gold !! have a good weekend ! x Dani
Hi Kelley,
I am so glad you are doing this!! It truly brought tears to my eyes. As you know if you read my blog on suziblu, my sister-in-law is fighting this awful disease right now..To be honest, I never really gave it much thought, inspite of all the information out there on breast cancer. That is until it happened in my family, to someone I love dearly. Now it is very real to me. So I have been asking everyone I know to say a prayer for my sister-in-law. And yeah I finally scheduled a mammogram too. No more putting it off. The other day I also took the time to show and teach my 15 year old daughter how to do a self-exam. Well thank you for increasing awareness, and for offering up a giveaway..I think that is wonderful..I have decided that if I do win the giveaway, as wonderfully soft as your lovely scarf looks..I plan on giving to my sister-in-law instead..she needs it far more than I..and please say a prayer for her..thanks..
It’s so nice of you to do this. Please do not include me in the drawing. I have been very blessed to not have a close family member or friend battle breast cancer. I would like for the scarf to go to someone who has been touched by breast cancer more closely than I have. I simply wanted to stop by and give you my support. Best wishes to you and everyone who visits.
I just wanted to say that you are doing something good besides just a regular giveaway. It is inspiring. My great aunt died when I was 22 and I still remember taking her for her radiation treatments when I was a teenager. I have talked to both my daughter and DIL of the importance of at the very least a self exam.
You are doing so much more than just giving away a scarf…Thank you.
kelly,
your scarves are gorgeous! .. i already fell in love with the green and pink one you’re wearing in one of your photos … and this one is just as beautiufl …
you may not like my response to this … but it’s made with the absolute best intentions … (hmm … what is it they say about good intentions? lol) … anyway …
after my mother was diagnosed (and successfully treated) for breast cancer several years ago, i started really researching health and wellness and the *causes* of breast cancer … because it really can be *prevented* in many cases … mammograms & exams diagnose … they don’t prevent …
since my mother was diagnosed, i have stopped eating any dairy products (i also became vegan) … milk and all dairy products contain IGF-1 … which is insulin like growth factor … cow and human IGF-1 is identical and works to turn on prolific growth of cancer cells in the breast … milk also gives us a huge whollop of naturally occuring bovine estrogen … (a baby calf needs this for extremely rapid growth … we do not) …
http://www.notmilk.com/
… i also discovered i was deficient in the cyp450 1A2 enzyme which metabolizes estrogens (this deficiency is common in the caucasian population … about 23% are deificent) and so am taking nutritional approaches to promoting increased production of 1A2 … that’s where the cruciferous vegetables are helpful in breast cancer … they promote 1A2 production … and therefore prevent or end estrogen dominance and all the things associated with it … like breast cancer … but also weight gain, fibroid tumors, heavy periods, breast tenderness, etc …
so how have i promoted breast health in others? … i’ve made them aware of this information … and i live it myself …
blessings
xoxo
lisa