Category: WOMEN’S HEALTH

Preventing Breast Cancer – Changing How We Feel About Our Bodies

~ womeninlivingness

Having lived through breast cancer I now truly know that ‘prevention is better than a cure’, and the way forward in terms of preventing breast cancer and indeed all illness and disease has to be; changing how we feel about our bodies and embracing, acknowledging and appreciating how very precious and tender yet powerful they truly are. Honesty is the first step. Having discovered for myself the powerful medicine honesty is, I can share from my own experience with breast cancer and say without any hesitation:

I created my own illness from the choices I made on a daily basis.

A powerful statement, powerful in its honesty, and which had a powerful, remarkable impact on my treatment and recovery. By all considerations I was a healthy woman, I did lots of yoga, and did not smoke, rarely drank and was not overweight. So how did I create my own illness?

Continue reading “Preventing Breast Cancer – Changing How We Feel About Our Bodies” →

Breast Cancer – Prevention Has To Be Better Than A Cure

~ womeninlivingness

In the media there has been a lot of coverage on breast cancer, mastectomy and the ‘very few choices’ a woman has when diagnosed. It feels there is no time like now to look at how prevention is better than a cure and how more choices become available when we come back to honesty, and truly listen to our bodies.

A simple question perhaps we should address is:

What do we women need to change in order to prevent a diagnosis of breast cancer in the first place, so that we never have to face the possibility of a mastectomy, or taking drugs like Tamoxifen to prevent a mastectomy (not forgetting that there are side effects that come with this drug)?

Where do we begin? The answer appears obvious….

We have to look at ourselves, in how we are living on a daily basis and the choices we are making, in the knowing that every choice we make has a consequence and catches up with us at some point.

Continue reading “Breast Cancer – Prevention Has To Be Better Than A Cure” →

The Colour of Our Skin

~ womeninlivingness

‘ … I just have to accept how I am and how I look …‘

These are the words from Laura May McMullan after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma (skin cancer). Laura had spent many years using sunbeds only to be hit with this diagnosis some 12 years after she stopped using them.

The above words from Laura are very poignant. After spending years of trying to change herself, look different and be what she called ‘Mahogany’ in the end she’s had to accept her natural skin colour just as it is.

Continue reading “The Colour of Our Skin” →

Esoteric Breast Massage

~ womeninlivingness

I felt really inspired to write a blog about Esoteric Breast Massage after hearing an Esoteric Women’s Health Practitioner give a presentation called “Mum & Me”.

An Esoteric Breast Massage (EBM) was the first opportunity I had ever been presented with, where I was free to choose to claim my breasts back and feel within me how my breasts emanate energetically the true symbol of nurturing. The nurturing we give to ourselves and the nurturing we provide in all our relationships.

Our breasts are our nurturing centres, not only biologically but energetically as well. There is no other part of our body that symbolises this nurturing expression and the quality we bring to the world as women. These jam-packed powerhouses of energy have been used and abused for centuries, it’s no wonder breasts bring up so much stuff for everybody and it is no surprise there have been reactions going off left, right and centre from the media and from individuals a-like, about Esoteric Breast Massage that beggars belief. With such a massive reaction, I figure breasts must be pretty important, otherwise come on … Why is it such a big deal to others if you choose to have an Esoteric Breast Massage? Continue reading “Esoteric Breast Massage” →

Women’s Health and Well-being – Remedy Free

~ womeninlivingness

Recently the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, was graced with a presentation by the Dynamic Duo of Serryn O’Regan and Sara Harris. The focus of the presentation was on Women’s wellness, health, well-being and how women are truly living. The presentation was real, grounded in the reality of how women are living in these modern times and filled with a simplicity that all women could relate to.

One of the refreshing aspects of the presentation was that it was free of quick fixes or solutions that we often use to band aid the issues in our life. The presentation was remedy free, it simply proposed some questions: Continue reading “Women’s Health and Well-being – Remedy Free” →

Intermittent Catheterisation – The unlikely link between the anatomy of my vagina and starting to love my body

~ womeninlivingness

I didn’t even know such a thing as intermittent catheterisation existed until I recently had some health issues and ended up in hospital, due to not listening to my body when I had a pain in my back.

The pain increased over a week and the inflammation by then had caused enough nerve damage to stop my bladder from working as well as affecting my left leg.The reason I feel to share, is because catheterisation is not a subject many people talk about and I was unaware of it up until my own experience of intermittent catheterisation – and so too, if it comes to that, a certain intimacy with the anatomy of my vagina. Continue reading “Intermittent Catheterisation – The unlikely link between the anatomy of my vagina and starting to love my body” →

Having a Mastectomy… Prevention against Breast Cancer: A Woman’s Choice – or is it?

~ womeninlivingness

Have you ever considered whether we are being controlled by the latest information? – Take Breast Cancer and Mastectomy, for instance.

In the media there has been a lot of discussion around women having a mastectomy (and in some instances, double mastectomies) as a form of prevention against breast cancer. Much of the information being put forward is that women have one of two choices: “Currently, women facing a strong likelihood of developing breast cancer have only two real options – to have both of their breasts removed (a double mastectomy) or hope that it will never actually happen”. (BBC News Online, 14th May 2013)

This stopped me and got me pondering –

Are these really a woman’s only choices?

And if so, what does this do to a woman’s state of being, when both are based on breast cancer being a pre-determined outcome? When people believe they have no power or choice over a situation they begin to feel a sense of hopelessness – this is termed in the psychological world as ‘learned helplessness’ – a condition by which a person feels they have no control over a situation. In this state they behave in a hopeless manner, overlooking any opportunities for a different choice and feeling they have no ability to change (Peterson, 1996).

BREAST CANCER & MASTECTOMY – PRESENTING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIFFERENT CHOICE

How many women, due to what is being reported in the media etc, are giving up, thinking that their only choice is having a mastectomy if they want to prevent breast cancer and because of this, are overlooking opportunities for a different choice?

Continue reading “Having a Mastectomy… Prevention against Breast Cancer: A Woman’s Choice – or is it?” →

It’s the little things – Breast Screening – Mammogram

~ womeninlivingness

Mammogram emerged in the mid 1960’s and by the late 1970s mammography was widely used, but had become a source of tremendous controversy. On the one hand, advocates of the technology enthusiastically touted its ability to detect smaller, more curable cancers. On the other hand, critics asked whether breast x-rays, particularly for women aged 50 and younger, actually caused more harm than benefit. Despite the publication of hundreds of research studies, this dispute about mammography persists.

I recently received a letter (and a small pile of explanatory leaflets) to invite me to go for breast screening – as this service is available every three years for women over 50, like me. On reading the letter I could feel the value of having regular screening as part of taking care of myself. Continue reading “It’s the little things – Breast Screening – Mammogram” →

It’s the Little Things – Cervical Screening

~ womeninlivingness

by JK, UK

I recently had a few routine health checks that came around at the same time, a cervical smear examination, a few blood tests and breast screening (as now I am over 50 and breast screening is available every three years). Each experience gave me an opportunity to deepen my awareness, not only of myself but more so about the way women undergo these kinds of routine health checks.  Continue reading “It’s the Little Things – Cervical Screening” →

Very Early Signs of Pregnancy: My Breasts Told Me I Was Pregnant (Twice!)

~ womeninlivingness

I have been pregnant twice in my life and both times the first very early sign of these pregnancies came from my breasts.

My First Pregnancy (2007)

In my first pregnancy I knew I was pregnant a few days after conception:

  • My breasts had grown larger, were more full and were very tender.
  • They became so tender and the nipples so sensitive that wearing a bra was painful and not wearing a bra was painful.
  • Having the shower water run over my nipples was almost unbearable.
  • Lying on my stomach was not an option as any sort of pressure on my breasts was just not tolerable.
  • Wearing tops over my bare breasts was difficult. The tops had to be very fitted so there was no movement across my nipples, as any friction from the material was excruciating.
  • I also noticed that the veins in my breasts had become more prominent, my nipples had become larger and had darkened in colour.  Continue reading “Very Early Signs of Pregnancy: My Breasts Told Me I Was Pregnant (Twice!)” →