To ALL the Onnidan Ladies and men who care about the women in their lives....

[Cholly]

Ditto!

Cholly, thanks for the post!

Homeboy, you know it's PART of what I do. 

[j1908]

Had my annual yesterday. Eventhough it hurt like hell with this old lady pulling and stretching me in all directions.

[soflorattler]

Had my annual yesterday. Eventhough it hurt like hell with this old lady pulling and stretching me in all directions.

  I bet she didn't feel a thing...other than with her hands...

 

[TIGER JOHN]

So Cholly and Valley:

I want to send my heartfelt appreciation for this thread.  Thursday night I was out-at night- determined to rake my leaves myself.  Got a pain in my chest that didn't go away.  Finished the yard, hung up the Christmas wreath, set out the pointsettas, came in the house and my chest was still hurting.  I took a shower and laid down and it didn't stop.  Normally I would have just taken a tylenol and chalked it to I pulled a muscle or indigestion--or something that would go away, and gone to sleep, but THIS conversation nagged me. "Take care of yourself...be proactive." I got up and went to the ER of a SUPER GREAT HOSPITAL here in Richmond.  Ended up staying overnight having a barrage of tests done to make sure it wasn't my heart...even though I am low risk and promised the Doctors that I didn't think it was my heart. 
It ended up that I just strained a ligament/muscle in my chest near my breastbone, (which is now the BIGGEST JOKE ACROSS THE BOARD from my family, friends, and even my students). I have a healthy heart, just don't know how to rake leaves.  But, I was glad I went to make sure and I truly owe it to THIS thread.  I kept saying we were just talking about it...what if it is my heart???  So thank you FAMILY seriously.  We don't know how words from people that you don't even know, in person, changes lives.  I THANK GOD, that I am good.  But, acknowledge that if it were my heart, you guys would have TRULY saved my life (Because I am so healthy and so busy taking care of everyone else, I get complacent about my own health), so THANK YOU BOTH-DEEPLY.  Love yuz guys, sista VG and Uncle Cholly.

 It is lways better to be safe than sorry, that's what we talk about every morning at CSX before the work is done.

[Brother Tony]

One breast, two breasts

By Zekita Tucker
Originally posted 6/23/2010


ST. LOUIS, MO – In honor of African American women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, three-time author, freelance writer, and community activist, Zekita delivers an insightful and inspiring book titled ‘One Breast, Two Breasts: Surviving Breast Cancer with Babies, Books, and Bills- A Book of Practical Wisdom and Inspiration.’

One Breast, Two Breasts is a superb piece of nonfiction that invites the reader into a world of a young, single African American mother’s life who was diagnosed with an advanced stage of aggressive breast cancer at the age of thirty one and survived. Zekita offers anecdotes full of hope and wisdom along with courage and passion that will show the reader true strength and faith. Author. Zekita addresses the most mundane aspects of life as a young mother and how she was able to cope with chemotherapy, being a mother of two young girls, being a student, having a radical mastectomy while maintaining as an author and small business owner, and most importantly- being a survivor.

She allows the reader into the very heart of breast cancer diagnosis and tells stories full of wisdom that are sure to give hope to any woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, young or old.

One Breast, Two Breast is sure to give recognition to the unique struggle with breast cancer that African American women face. The book is also a vehicle of love and encouragement for supporters of women on this journey. Over the years of searching for a cure for this horrible disease, the face of breast cancer has been one that many African American women cannot identify with. The books about fighting and surviving or just simply dealing with the disease have very seldom been molded to fit the lives of everyday African American women. One Breast, Two Breasts motivates the reader to recognize and to celebrate the lives and journeys of the African American women who too are often devastated by this disease.

Zekita's most recent works include the African American youth study guide, Your Story Book One. She has been published by countless newspapers and online publications across the U.S., West Africa, and in London. Zekita has also been a featured essayist for ABC World News and has been a guest on several radio shows including the Roland S. Martin Show (Chicago), The Intersection with award winning journalist Rebecca Roberts (DC), and The Urban Journal with Keith Murphy (XM Radio). She is a native of St. Louis, Mo and currently lives there with her two young daughters, Niambi and Yanahni.

Available June 25, 2010 at Barnes&Noble (bn.com), Amazon.com, Baker&Taylor, Ingram, and at independent bookstores across the U.S., Canada, and U.K.

Also available at www.zeniampublications.com. Visit website for more information.

[EB]

I probably should have been an article here but posted it in this thread.

[EPJr]

Heart Disease is the Number One Cause of Death
About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 will have a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.1

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future. For more information on heart disease and stroke, visit CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.