If you girls ever have an opportunity to become involved in a health fair - for breast cancer awareness, please, please take advantage of the opportunity.
I do health fairs frequently, and I must tell you some of my experiences: One older lady (probably late 70's) came over to my table. Seeing my "boob that has lumps in it to allow folks to feel what lumps feel like" she took a sheet of paper off the table, and covered the "boob" saying that it was "disgusting". I asked her if she did monthly breast exams on herself, and you won't believe this - she told me "Oh I couldn't touch myself like that!" Excuse ME?~!!!!! Another lady at the same Health Fair - about the same age, told me that she "didn't have time for that stuff!"
I very quickly told her that I was hoping she would have time to die, because without finding your lump or something unusual, you better put time to die on your schedule! She just looked and me with horror and walked away. Another lady - insisted that her yearly mammogram was all she needed -- when I told her my story - she said that the people who did my mammograms were probably incompetent!
We who are living this nightmare, need to bring it into the open, at local events, I feel it is my responsibility to be as "obnoxious" as I must be with some of these women. One husband who was interested, when his wife was not -- I told him that he needs to feel for the lumps in the "boob", so HE can take charge of keeping his wife alive, since she apparently didn't really care much about trying to become educated about how to find your own breast cancers. He agreed, and we had a nice conversation.
Another time - there were a group of EMT's at a table close to mine -- when things slowed down, they kind of "embarrassed" at the "boob" on my table, - kept looking over -- I called one of them over, and told him that he needed to check out the lumps. I was pleased but shocked when he said OK - and found all 6 lumps on the "boob" - he then called his buddies over, and we had a great time - finding lumps - and I told them that next year, I would make "Official Boob Inspector" badges to be awarded to the EMT's that found all 6 lumps. That way they could have fun, especially if they had wives or girlfriends who were complacent about monthly breast exams. They loved it, and went away laughing - but much more educated than embarrassed. Sometimes you just have to start thinking "out of the box" to get people to accept the knowledge they need to have.
Let me know how many of you do health fairs, and what your experiences have been. If you have no one in your community that will do these events, maybe you can round up a few other survivors, get lots of info from American Cancer Society, and distribute it. That's what we do.
Maybe we can save a few lives, if we all get very vocal! Love to you all, Marion
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My experience with older women at health fairs.
- By MarionBCDIY
- Posted October 30, 2009 at 10:19 pm · 5 replies
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- By ious1Tjed6247
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 9:37 am
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I LOVE IT!!!! You made my day!!! You did the most spectacular & enlightening thing ever at this function!! My alligator (5ft) .....now has a place to travel with me.......Where can I get a BOOB w/lumps???! Seriously. (I'm having a foamboard alligator made so it holds up better and travels better). He now has a companion....a BOOB :)
OH Yes....we are on a roll...and it is 5:30am. Another brilliant INSPIRATIONAL idea from who else but an INSPIRE member!!! One day we can say our loved ones didn't die in vain....or struggle to find the 'answers'....b/cause weraised the bar of awareness.
American Cancer Society info is FREE for the asking and my Community tables are now GREEN / Pink with my rubber alligator (12 inches)....w/a pink bow....& if this doesn't garner attention - - - I don't know what else will.
Sign me on as part of your OBNOXIOUS crew.
Thank you for thinking outside the box and sharing.
Tara @ tjed6247@aol.com
- By MarionBCDIY
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 8:05 pm
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No my dear - thank you, and many like you who are raising the awareness for those who prefer to keep their heads in the sand, we can't do more than just keep shouting about what we know best - SURVIVE.
I think I'm going to find me an alligator too, that's a great idea. The "boob" came from ACS - when I was doing stuff for them, they are very expensive about $400 I'm told, but maybe we can find someone who can underwrite the cost for us, if you find a source please share it with me. and I'll do likewise.
Love, marion - your boob sister of 9 years.
- By ious1Tjed6247
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 11:17 am
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I will definately w/contact ACS. In addition, I found a 3" alligator. (Green - of coarse).
You put him in water and he grows to 1 ft. I am going to use that visual and this analogy....at my next opportunity in explaining to people that this is how it/ CA "grows" .....slowly ....so be sure that you don't let this happen and examine the "boob"/"breast" ....on the table to find the lumps.
You are doing the community a service by educating, educating, educating and raising hell-o AWARENESS.
We'll be in touch I am SURE!!
Tara
- By StickiVicki
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:58 pm
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Isn't it amazing how people of all ages and genders just assume it won't happen to them, and that conventional medicine has all the answers!
It is a great idea to have a boob with lumps as none of us really knows what to expect. My lump was quite soft and large and central so difficult to tell there was anything there because I had lumpy boobs anyway. A lump always sounds as though it should be harder and more detectable, but it really does depend where it is.
If any of them take in any of what you had to say it just might save their life one day. It's a great idea to get the men involved in checking but I hope they remember that it could also happen to them!
It is not obnoxious to try and educate people to save their own lives! Good for you. Vicki xx
- By MarionBCDIY
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 5:38 pm
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Thanks Vickie - my boob sister -- my mother always was apologizing for me - saying that she did her best to not have be obnoxious -- wonder what she would say today. I'm probably the most obnoxious Breast Cancer Awareness Advocate that exists in this small part of the USA. Unfortunately our area is small, but if any of what we tell people sinks in, maybe we have made a difference. That's why I started my own web site!
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