MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

Laura Ingraham has breast cancer

• Posted by Beth on April 26th, 2005 filed in General, Politics    

I just read at Michelle Malkin’s that Laura Ingraham has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

From Laura’s website:

You know I hate Drama Kings or Queens, but I am asking for your prayers today and for the forseeable future. On Friday afternoon, I learned that I have joined the ever-growing group of American women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As so many breast cancer patients will tell you, it all came as a total shock. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me–my family, a wonderful fiance (if he thinks he’s going to get out of marrying me because of this little blib, he’s sadly mistaken!), my friends, and my church. I am absolutely blown away by how helpful and kind everyone has been–including total strangers who have experienced the same rollercoaster of emotions. The sisterhood of breast cancer survivors is inspiring. I am truly blessed. On Tuesday I will have an operation and within a few days will know more about the future. I am hopeful for a bright future and a “normal” life (well, scratch the “normal” part). Anyway, people have gone through much worse, and I know I’ll obliterate this. I am thanking you in advance for your prayers. You are my family. And remember, I’ll be back sooner than you think.

Pay attention, ladies! (No, not just ladies–loved ones as well!)

SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY!: Laura’s breast cancer was picked up during a simple breast examination by her OB/GYN. The tumor was not even visible on a mammogram! You MUST make sure that you, and every woman in your life does a monthly breast self-examination. Learn to do it correctly, slowly, carefully. If you feel ANYTHING that seems strange or unusual, go immediately to your OB/GYN. Make sure that you and/or the women you know go for an annual gynecological appointment for a comprehensive check up. Laura is embarrassed to admit she had not been to her doc in more than three years. Really stupid (her words, not ours). Don’t be afraid to ask your friend, girlfriend, sister, mother, or wife if she has done everything to detect breast cancer. We all need someone to remind us, get on us, demand that we take care of ourselves.

Please, don’t think it can’t happen to you. A friend of mine from high school got breast cancer a few years ago (at age 32), and because it was caught early enough (not as early as Laura I., though), she survived–but only after a long, difficult battle with surgery and chemotherapy. She had no family history of this, either. Speaking as a cancer survivor myself (not breast cancer, though), I can tell you that you can NOT assume anything when it comes to your health and mortality.

Some statistics from the American Breast Cancer Foundation:
* A woman dies of breast cancer every 12 minutes.
* Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women age 35 to 50.
* 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
* Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among African American women.
* Woman of low socioeconomic status are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease and die of the disease.

And from the National Cancer Institute:
* The National Cancer Institute estimates that, based on current rates, 13.2 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.
* Because rates of breast cancer increase with age, estimates of risk at specific ages are more meaningful than estimates of lifetime risk.
* An estimated risk represents the average risk for all women in the United States as a group. This estimate does not indicate the risk for an individual woman because of individual differences in age, family history, reproductive history, race/ethnicity, and other factors.
* Estimated lifetime risk of breast cancer has gone up gradually over the past several decades. This year it declined slightly.

National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Homepage
American Cancer Society
Lots more breast cancer links

*Linked at basil’s Breakfast*