| 年轻女性乳腺癌发病率上升-2 Unfortunately, not all of the four friends survived to celebrate the book's publication a few months ago. Johnson:" We lost Patti in March of 2003. And we just recently lost Jana after she battled breast cancer for eight years. It's hard because they're your friends and you shared a disease with them. But we know they wanted us just to keep on educating, spreading that message in their memory." In their book, Kim Carlos says, the women highlight the importance of keeping a positive attitude in the face of the disease. "Attitude is absolutely everything. For me, from the day I was diagnosed, I was out there trying to spread the message of awareness. Everyone said, 'Oh, you are so brave.' I went like, 'What choice do I have? To sit home and cry and feel sorry for myself? Or to try to make a difference?' In fact, I had cancer but cancer didn't have me. I may not have been in control of the cancer, but I was in control of how I lived my life, how I reacted to the cancer." Cancer patients, she says, must also be pro-active about their health. "Be your own advocate, and learn to ask the hard questions and get second opinions. Get third opinions. Do whatever it takes to feel good about your own decisions. Really be in control of your disease and of your treatment plan." In the book, Carlos says they recommend women do monthly breast exams, to detect cancer as early as possible. Janelle Hail, founder and president of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, agrees “If a woman will take particular attention to changes in her breast and observe anything that different. And if you're concerned about it, go to the doctor immediately and get checked." A 20-year breast cancer survivor herself, Hail says women today have better chances of living with cancer, and surviving the disease. "When I had breast cancer, it wasn't spoken of. It was the disease that you were embarrassed you had. You were ashamed and even perhaps [afraid that] you might get fired from your job, because they didn't want the insurance to go up because of you. But now, breast cancer is in the spotlight and women are saying, this is a disease and maybe I can do something about it with early detection." It was early detection that saved the lives of Nordie's at Noon co-authors Kim Carlos and Jennifer Johnson. The friends hope sharing their experiences will support and inspire breast cancer patients in their struggle against the disease, and raise awareness among young women that no one is too young for breast cancer. |
