Happy Halloween

The origins of our holidays are most interesting and Halloween is no exception. As an example, the favorite Halloween jack-o-lantern origin below:

"The most celebrated Halloween decoration is the jack-o’-lantern, traditionally a hollowed-out pumpkin carved to resemble a grotesque face and illuminated by a candle placed inside. The jack-o’-lantern derives its name from a character in British folktales. According to these tales, the soul of a deceased person named Jack O’Lantern was barred from both heaven and hell and was condemned to wander the earth with his lantern. Orange and black, colors associated with pumpkins and darkness respectively, figure prominently in most Halloween decorations.

Many of the ancient peoples of Europe marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter by celebrating a holiday in late autumn. The most important of these holidays to influence later Halloween customs was Samhain, a holiday observed by the ancient Celts, a tribal people who inhabited most of Western and Central Europe in the first millennium bc. Among the Celts, Samhain marked the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It was one of four Celtic holidays linked to important transitions in the annual cycle of seasons.

Samhain began at sundown on October 31 and extended into the following day. According to the Celtic pagan religion, known as Druidism, the spirits of those who had died in the preceding year roamed the earth on Samhain evening. The Celts sought to ward off these spirits with offerings of food and drink."

From MSN search - Introduction; Contemporary Customs; Origins; In the United States

Steps to Breast Self-Examination

It’s always worth repeating: The sooner a problem is found, the better the chances for treatment and recovery. Regular monthly breast self-exams are key to early detection and empower you to take charge of your health.

Just as your period ends (or at the same time each month if you do not have periods), check for any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts. Report any changes to your doctor or nurse. Go for regular breast exams and ask about a mammogram.

Step 1: Lying Down

Lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder
Use the pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to check your right breast
Press using light, medium and firm pressure in a circle without lifting your fingers off the skin
Follow an up and down pattern
Feel for changes in the breast, above and below the collarbone, and in your armpit
Repeat on your left breast using your right hand
These steps may be repeated while bathing or showering using soapy hands.

Step 2: In Front of the Mirror

Look for any changes from normal. Inspect your breasts in four steps:
Hold arms at your side
Hold arms over your head
Press your hands on your hips and tighten your chest muscles
Bend forward with your hands on your hips
See your doctor or nurse if you notice any of these things in your breasts:
Lump, hard knot or thickening
Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
Change in size or shape
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
Pulling in of your nipple or other parts
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

Susan G. Komen for the Cure recommends the following:

Mammograms every year starting at age 40

Women under 40 with either a family history of breast cancer or other concerns should talk with a health care provider.

Screening tests may be needed more often and/or started earlier.

Clinical breast exams by a health care provider at least every three years starting at age 20, and every year after 40

Breast self-exams every month starting at age 20

For more information about breast health or breast cancer, please visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure at http://www.komen.org/ or call 1-800 I’M AWARE (1-800-462-9273).

Sign Breast Cancer Petition

Published on LifetimeTV.com (http://www.lifetimetv.com/)

Breast Cancer Petition
By Rebecca

Created 09/27/2007 - 11:13

In January 2007, U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) reintroduced the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007 (S.459/H.R.758) [0].

The bill would allow a woman and her doctor to decide whether she should recuperate for at least 48 hours in the hospital after a mastectomy or whether she has enough support to get quality care at home following this emotionally and physically difficult surgery.

Last fall, as part of Lifetime's "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" campaign, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jewel, joined by Lifetime executives, delivered more than 12 million signatures to Congress calling for an end to the cruel practice of sending women home without a sufficient recovery period, sometimes just hours after their mastectomy. This month the petition just reached the 20 million mark!

The information you provide here is intended for this petition only. We will pass the information along to Congress. Lifetime will not use the information for any commercial or other purpose. However, Lifetime cannot be responsible fo rthe use of this information by Congress.

Source URL:http://www.lifetimetv.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honour of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.