Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Breast Cancer


Very recently, my aunt was detected with breast cancer. initially she didn't notice the lump that had formed, but once she noticed it she had to consult a gyneac who asked for an autopsy done. she has been operated too and is now well. the reason why i mentioned this incident is because. this happens to every other women. women are prone to breast cancer, which is a curable disease, almost. the worse part is, we women don't take care of ourselves or we neglect our bodies. thus, it is important for every lady, or that matter men too, to know about this ailment which is very much curable. before going in detail about breast cancer it is important we know what exactly is breast cancer.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Breast AnatomyOver time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancer’s stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor (see Stages of Breast Cancer table for more information)

Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a “mistake” in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the “wear and tear” of life in general.

According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer:
  • swelling of all or part of the breast
  • skin irritation or dimpling
  • breast pain
  • nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
  • redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
  • a nipple discharge other than breast milk
  • a lump in the underarm area

These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. It’s important to get any breast changes checked out promptly by a doctor.

How Do I Perform a Breast Self-Exam?

To perform a breast self-exam, follow the steps described below.

Breast Self-Exam – Step 1
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Step 2 and 3
Breast Self-Exam – Steps 2 and 3
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Step 4
Breast Self-Exam – Step 4
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Step 5
Breast Self-Exam – Step 5
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In the mirror:

  1. Stand undressed from the waist up in front of a large mirror in a well-lit room. Look at your breasts. Don't be alarmed if they do not look equal in size or shape. Most women's breasts aren't. With your arms relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape or position, or any changes to the skin of the breasts. Look for any skin puckering, dimpling, sores or discoloration. Inspect your nipples and look for any sores, peeling or change in the direction of the nipples.
  2. Next, place your hands on your hips and press down firmly to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts. Turn from side to side so you can inspect the outer part of your breasts.
  3. Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles. Your breasts will fall forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.
  4. Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts' outer portions. Remember to inspect the border underneath your breasts. You may need to lift your breasts with your hand to see this area.
  5. Check your nipples for discharge (fluid). Place your thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge. Repeat on your other breast.

    In the shower

  6. Now, it's time to feel for changes in the breast. It is helpful to have your hands slippery with soap and water. Check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area. Place your left hand on your hip and reach with your right hand to feel in the left armpit. Repeat on the other side.
  7. Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below your collarbone.
  8. With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to spread out the breast tissue. Use the flat part of your fingers from the other hand to press gently into the breast. Follow an up-and-down pattern along the breast, moving from bra line to collarbone. Continue the pattern until you have covered the entire breast. Repeat on the other side.

    Lying down

  9. Next, lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat. Body lotion may help to make this part of the exam easier.
  10. Think of your breast as a face on a clock. Start at 12 o'clock and move toward 1 o'clock in small circular motions. Continue around the entire circle until you reach 12 o'clock again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in one inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock. Continue in this pattern until you've felt the entire breast. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.
  11. Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press your nipple inward. It should move easily.

Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 on your other breast.

Interestingly, cancerous tumors are more likely to be found in certain parts of the breast over others. If you divide the breast into 4 sections, the approximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area are (in clockwise pattern):

  • 41% upper, outer quadrant
  • 14% upper, inner quadrant
  • 5% lower, inner quadrant
  • 6% lower, outer quadrant
  • 34% in the area behind the nipple

Almost half occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, towards the armpit. Some physicians refer to this region as the "tail" of the breast and encourage women to examine it closely.

In the month of October, breast cancer is recognized by survivors, family and friends of survivors and/or victims of the disease. A pink ribbon is worn to recognize the struggle that sufferers face when battling the cancer.

I hope you find this information is useful. its better to be informed than to be ingorant and suffer. specially since women have the tendency to neglect, if we take care we can detect the problem before it becomes life threatning. look our for the symtoms and remember there is no shame to do so, it will ultimately help you. Spread the word, save lives.


for more information click here or here

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Ye Kya Hua!!

Hey Guys!!


This time I am here to share a wonderful feeling I am undergoing these days. And since it is our own girl lounge, I thought what better place could be to spill the beans :D

I feel so funny. I am going through my quarter age crisis, and I got a lot many things to worry about. But I dunno how come have I developed a crush on my gym instructor :D

I haven't had a crush in long time. I had almost forgotten those butterflies in the stomach and those goosebumps.
You all an imagine what a gym instructor would look like with all that toned body and huge muscles. But this was not my kindda choice in guys. I always had a notion that macho guys have muscles in their brains too.

And then this person, Hemant makes his grand entry. I still remember the first time I saw him. Around a month back.

I was taken by his smile. He has got the cutest smile I have ever seen and the way he greets you, so warm and welcoming... My My!!
When he smiles, you tend to forget every damn thing in the world. And just loose yourself and flow with the flow.

In the beginning, I could not identify this feeling. But I just liked to watch him smile.. I looked for excuses to make him smile and bumping into him every now and then. As I gotta understand this is a crush I am developing, I started avoiding him, but then I allowed myself to be blown away and feel the air :D
I have asked him to train me himself and it is so nice to have him all to myself for those two hours. Also, I am happy that he has become an encouragement and incentive for a lazy bones like me to gym regularly :D

Though I have no desires as such to go out with him or to spend time with him or to talk to him, its just that I admire his smile and what amuses me the most is the tenderness he holds my hands with while training despite of that muscular strong body.

I feel Funny and embarrassed to publish such a post and you guys too would be amused to have to see such a thing coming from me, but I know you all my girl friends shall understand that he is just an eye candy.. :D

Sunday, March 15, 2009

She's a Woman

Hello everyone!

Okay so, I have been thinking over a couple of things lately, and I just knew I had to put it up as a post. That’s what our blogs are for, right? The best way to share our thoughts and have others tell their views about it. Sadly, I didn’t find that certain something in me to write it properly. So this post is going to sound pretty random, kindly forgive me for that.



To start with, I am totally against the people who think having a baby boy is better than having a baby girl. Society has developed so much, but even today, there are people who prefer having a boy over having a girl. I mean why? Is it the poor baby’s fault that it’s a she? We read in books that in Saudi Arabia, before the dawn of Islam, people used to bury their new born alive if it was a girl. Okay so we are civilized enough not to do it today. But how better are we today? I take immense pride in saying I belong to a learned and educated family of Lahore. Someone in my distant family had a baby girl and strangely they didn’t call up and tell. We heard it from somewhere else. Around a month later, I got a chance to talk to the parents and what they said just disgusted me. They told me they’d been happier if it was a boy and then they would have gladly come to tell us the great news. I felt sorry for the poor fellows. The father was a Chartered Accountant in some well known company and the mother was an Architect, working with one of the leading architects here in Pakistan. We’ve all heard education polishes us. Well does it?



Last night, we had someone over. It was papa’s friend from a long time back, quite younger than him. But it’s like, I remember him from the earliest time my mind can take me to. Now, uncle had brought mithai (sweets) because he had just become father of a son. I knew very well he already has three daughters and he never did that when they were born. I grew sad at the thought.


Are girls secondary to boys? Rather, is there any comparison? I don’t think there is, because society is not complete without either of them. Are such people not as happy as when a son is born? How can a parent’s heart be so cold? I fail to understand! How can they be like that? And people, that doesn’t stop here does it? This is just the beginning for those poor girls and goes on and on throughout their lives. Well in most cases it does. I have gone over this debate with my mother quite a many times and she always makes a point to tell me that papa and her were as much happy to have me as when they were when any of my brothers were born. Probably happier.


She is a woman. With courage, with strength, with that something beautiful about her. Can't they see she's the one who's gonna be papa's little girl or the one right beside her mother helping her with chores when she gets old and can no longer do it. She's gonna be that person who will always sacrifice her own happiness for the happiness of others. Can't they see, she's the one who bears all that pain just to give a family their heir? And they feel sorry when she is born! Huh! It's sad, it's so unfair... it's such an animal like behavior!


Well that’s all for now. That’s one less on the list of things messing up with my brain these days hehe! You guys are just wonderful, you never complain do you? Hehe!


Till next time, take very good care of yourself and those around you!


*Hugs*


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Her First Time!


I always hated this idea of telling girls to behave themselves, to teach them the ways to behave and the things not to do etc. i thought it was making them do something they didn't themselves believe, its like asking them to give up their innocence. when i thought these things i viewed life from the way i was treated and not as the person, a guardian to their ward. i never knew that one day i will know what is to be a parent and a guardian and face the same situations as i had once faced but from different quarter. and that too as soon as this.

when a girl reaches her puberty she menstruates. it is natural and normal but to get adjusted to a common phenomenon isn't easy. i don't remember much about the time i first had it. all i remember is, i knew everyone is my class had it and i was among the last few. and i was almost pinning to have it as if to prove i was worthy. silly i know,but at 13 i knew what was coming my way and i was kinda prepared. so adapting to it wasn't easy. but now when i see my niece going through the routine but with a difference. she was totally unaware of what was coming her way, that i feel helpless and a lot grieved,after all she is my ward in my sisters absence [my niece is staying with me currently, most of you know i think :)] its just hard to see a girl flower into a young lady, to give up her innocence to mature and deal with life, to finally come to grips that life wont be the same, and this is going to be there for life. it cant be easy but there is no option but bear it up, but what do most of us do? give the little one a hard time. what i entreat you is to speak out against such atrocities if you spot one. the lil girl needs understanding, she needs advice and she needs lots of love and care; don't subject her to superstition and unholy comments on right or wrong, gently initiate her into the perils of womanhood.

still on the topic of menstruation or periods or chums... there are several atrocities and superstitions that ladies are subjected to sadly at the hands of their mothers and grandmothers who hand down age old beliefs and customs which become a matter of tradition and ritual after a period of time. but what we don't realize is there is a solid reason behind it all. like our mothers tell us not to enter kitchen in those days, the actual reason is, women folks usually don't get reason, at least on such a pretext they get some time off from daily chores but this has been twisted into a grotesque tradition of barring women from entering kitchen fearing her to pollute the kitchen. then there are other pet peeves like not sleeping on the bed. basically to avoid staining people preferred sleeping on the ground. but if you are aware that you don't stain yourself then you can surely sleep on the bed. but then we have seen cases where the girl is made to sleep on the floor, treated as an out caste because of those days, which is repelling and disgusting.

I must commend serials like BalikaVadhu for talking about sex,women rights, puberty and highlighting the plights of women and the anomalies that are committed against them, through such a huge media in hopes of dispelling popular discrimination towards women. its a rather bold but honest step, something that needs to be hailed as progressive and a beacon that will justify women's position to the male dominated society.

please feel free to share your experiences on your first time... and tell us your take on this...be bold... remember its natural and happens to all.. if you speak out you may just help another person to deal with such issues far better.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Happy Women's Day

Woman's Day Special
Ah! Woman

What can be said about that which has been proclaimed, 'Good,' by God, Almighty, Himself.

Born not from the dust of the ground, as man. Nor, as the fowl of the air. Nor, as the beast of the fields. Formed as flesh from flesh. Created in the Image of God. Molded by the tender, intimate hands of the Almighty, Himself. Quickened by His Breath. Alive with soul. Uniquely created for relationship with Man and God.

The 'crown of creation' bestowed upon 'Woman' cannot be measured by gold or gems. Her value far outweighs the most precious of them. Her virtues cannot be purchased. Her beauty, unsurpassed even by the most delicate of roses, cannot be captured on canvas nor molded in marble. Though many a gifted artisan has tried.

Her moods ever-changing as the ocean's tide. 'Woman' is fleeting. Able to only be understood by the God who created her. Woman. Most beautiful. Most glorious. Most creative of God's imagination, has been given the privilege to bear life from life. Creating from within the confines of her own sphere. Strength of iron flowing in her veins allow her to conquer agony. Overcome the rending, ripping pain that grips her as she expels life from her loins. Only 'Woman' can then reach between her own legs. Past the gush of water and blood. Bring to her breast. Life, to suckle, to fill with sustenance to grow.

Many a 'woman' have taken up the banner of 'Freedom' as man has failed mankind. 'Woman,' carries the burden of comforting. Soothing the fallen comrades. 'Woman,' unceasingly strives for the answer to man's disease. Compelled to stand at the side of a loved one as they pass from this life, to the land of everlasting. She stands firm in her vigil, never wavering from her duty. 'Woman,' buries her beloved fathers, husbands, and sons. Bears the burden of going on. Alone. Facing uncertainties with conviction she will survive.

'Woman,' weeps over the tyranny of the beast. Cries for the destruction of the weapons of war. Begs for mercy from a Merciful God. Pray for man to be delivered from the stench of death, the cramps of famine and the fever of battle. 'Woman,' embodied with the heart of courage can hold in the confines of her hands power to deliver compassion.

'Woman,' wears kindness and charity as ribbons of honor.

'Woman,' is proof that God extends forgiveness to a world lost in confusion and darkness. A woman's lips can bestow healing peace. The smallest of woman's hands can hold the hope of tomorrow. For in her arms is the security for today.

'Woman's ' need for man is only surpassed by man's need of ' Woman.' Without her, his life is incomplete.

'Woman,' initiates balance between the world and home. She establishes a haven of protection from the hurts and slings of this world. 'Woman,' a dreamer inspired by the colors, scents and sounds around her. She brings Glory and Honor to the Lord she loves. 'Woman,' blessed, is smiled upon. Often sent into the dredges of the world. Carrying His message of Truth. To witness of His Sacrifice. To love the unlovable. To embrace the unwanted.

A Woman raises her hands to worship her God from whence it all comes. Without thought of how it appears. Lifts her voice in song with her sisters around the world. Bringing tears to all who hear. Beseeching the world to join them in peace. Join them in spirit.

Built within the deep substance of 'Woman' is a desire to overcome adversities. To always finish better than she began. To improve what sometimes appears to be desolate. A 'Woman' can bring order out of chaos. Build a home from a hovel. Take the driest, stringiest cut of meat and turn it into a stroganoff. Soup can appear as if by magic from an onion, a potato and a handful of peas.

A 'Woman' is able to take a scrap of material and make a window dressing. Or, take a window dressing and turn it into a 'scrap of a dress.' 'Woman' brings decoration to each environment she inhabits. A paper plate, a cup of macaroni, a bit of ribbon and she creates a wreath. Give her a penny and she can pinch it till it screams. Hand her a dollar and she can stretch it till it almost tears.

'Woman,' with a tender caress can make a pauper believe he is a 'king.' 'Woman' can be a Friend, a Lover, a Mate. She's a Daughter and a Sister. She's a Wife, Mother and Grandmother. All manner of persons in one lovely package. A scene most precious, 'Woman' with a little child on her knee, wiping his tears and kissing his brow. 'Woman,' - unique - no doubt about it, not another creation like her since the beginning of time. Created to meet life's needs. Created to overcome life's challenges.

Ah, Woman! What can be said of that which has already been proclaimed, 'Good,' by God Almighty, Himself.

Roberta Lee Wilcox
March 8, 2001


i came across this beautiful piece and i wanted to share it with all my friends. the link from which this was taken is here.

Here's wishing all you lovely ladies a very Happy Woman's Day!! keep you head held high! your virtues closer, arm yourself with self dignity and pride for who you are, and march forward towards that golden sunset. Jai Ho!

here is the link to Yamini's blog. she has written an amazing post on the occasion of Woman's Day. do check it out. :)

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Must Haves- Shoe Fetishism

The Must have section is back. This time, we bring you the variety of footwear you should have in your shoe rack.
Women and footwear is a relationship that can never disconnect. As many footwear we may have, we'll long to buy even more.

Check out the the suggestions we have brought you:

Runners: Jog/ walk/ gyming. Multi purpose. Best go with track pants and jeans too.



Flip Flops: We all know them as ultimate comfort providers. the V-shaped chappals also available in multiple designs and colors are not only limited to bathrooms and beeches now. These can be paired with jeans, Capri's and knee length skirts.



Mojri/ Punjabi Jutti: The fancy, embroidered, studded with glass work mojris and juttis ideally go with churidaars and Patiala salwars. They are comfortable and give a traditional look which can be a variation from routine.



Ballerinas: Flat and comfortable, they best go with Capri's and skirts. Suggested wearing in casual look and not in parties.




Platform Heels: They are returning into fashion. Very comfortable and give a big look to your feet. Ideal to be worn with skirts and short dresses in Casuals.



Sabrina heels: The tall and slim heels available in different Lents is a good choice for routine wearing. Depending upon the requirement and carry-ablity, one can have as many colors and designs varying in the toe designs.




Stacked Heels: Broader at the end, they give support to the foot, and are comfortable to walk in. Best paired up with tight skirts and summer dresses.



Stiletoe heels: The ultimate sexy kind, a little difficult to carry, best paired with evening gowns, Sarees and short dresses for parties. open toe and closed toes also known as pumps. This is original Shoe Fetishism. ;)




Wedges: Ideal for both casual and semi formal wear, they go with almost every attire. Comfortable, easy to walk in.





Besides,
  • Always buy shoes in the evenings as by then the feet get expanded (swollen) due to the exertion. this way one can have exact idea of the shoe size.
  • Also, always buy shoes that are comfortable and easy to walk in. Tempted by the design or color never neglect the health of your own feet.