| January 2008 |
Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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| Greetings! |
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Welcome to the inaugural issue of WHOLE! We're all about self-care; giving you easy-to-use tools to help improve your health and well being. WHOLE is about regaining and sustaining a healthier you. In so doing, you are better equipped to face the demands of daily living at your best.
WHOLE is an acronym for Women Healing Ourselves with Loving Energytm. It's about making your optimal health the highest priority in your life. This self-care lifestyle is called WHOLE Body Living--a fundamental shift in how you think about and treat yourself. Each month we'll offer nourishing features and tips specially selected to help enliven your spirit, mind, and body.
Let WHOLE help you achieve the New Year's resolutions for a healthier life you've made for yourself AND your family. Share the gift of better health with your sistahfriends, family, and co-workers too. Together we'll build a healing community in which we call all declare, We Are WHOLE!
Jacci Thompson-Dodd
Creator of WHOLE and
Executive Director, WeSpeakLoudly |
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Quick Links |
Want to learn more about better health for African American women and girls?
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Cervical Cancer is 100% preventable! Here's how! |
 Cervical cancer is unique among all cancers in that the cause of the disease is now well known. IT is a virus called HPV. Not to be confused with HIV, HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are numerous types of HPV but only some may cause cervical cancer. Although HPV is common, cancer is rare.
Most people get HPV sometime in their life. The HPV types that cause cervical cancer and genital warts are passed by skin-to-skin contact with the genital area. You do not have to have intercourse to get it; any sort of mutual sexual activity can expose you to HPV. African American women in their middle and senior years have the highest incidence of cervical cancer. Just because you are in a monogamous relationship, you are not immune from having HPV.
Just like a cold virus, HPV is usually cleared on its own in a short time. But if HPV does not go away, cervical cancer can develop. Unlike a cold virus, however, HPV usually has no obvious symptoms. So it takes diligent self-care in the form of regular health screenings to detect. Fortunately, there are two preventive health screenings that can present cervical cancer.
The Pap Test
Also know as the Pap smear, this test examines cervical cells to detect any abnormal changes caused by HPV. The cells may be smeared on a slide by your practitioner and them examined under a microscope in the laboratory. Or, for a newer form of the Pap test called a Liquid Pap, the cells are placed in a vial of liquid. A slide is then made in the laboratory and examined for abnormal change of the cells.
The HPV Test
The HPV Test looks for HPV, the virus that causes abnormal cell changes. The test can be performed from the same sample as your liquid based Pap or can be collected in a separate tube at the time of your Pap test. It is the ideal companion to your cervical health regimen. By having both tests, the doctors can monitor any cellular changes in your cervix, and the presence of HPV.
Both the Pap test and the HPV test are collected during your pelvic exam. Your healthcare provider uses an instrument called a speculum to open the vagina and collect cells from your cervix--the donut-shaped opening to your uterus.
Together the Pap and HPV tests give a powerful one-two punch in the fight against cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer Prevention is a Lifespan Issue
 From tweens to queens, there is something you can do to prevent cervical cancer. There is now a vaccine available for girls to prevent cervical cancer called Gardasil. The science behind this vaccination is to reach girls before they are exposed to the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and build their immunity against the virus. But all young women from 9 to 26 are eligible for the vaccine and those who have already had sex may still benefit from receiving it.
We believe every family should know about and discuss whether the vaccine is appropriate for your daughter(s). Cervical cancer--left untreated--can rob a woman of her ability to have children. The anguish of having your womb removed at a young age due to cervical cancer is life-altering. One amazing young woman who is courageous enough to share her story is Tamika Felder. She was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer at the age of 25, and is now a respected champion of cervical cancer prevention. Before you dismiss the HPV vaccine, read Tamika's story, then decide.
Self-Care is the ONLY care that can prevent Cervical Cancer
All these effective technologies are worthless if you don't use them! You must be an active partner in your health by learning about AND using all the tools that are available to you.
- If you or your daughter are between 9 and 26 years old, speak with your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine.
- All women should begin receiving the Pap test three years after the first sexual encounter or by age 21--whichever comes first. Please ask your doctor for a Liquid Pap at the time of your appointment.
- If you are 30 years old or older, Request the Test along with your Pap. The HPV Test is available to you now even if your practitioner is not offering it yet! That's why you've got Test be assertive--Request the Test!
- If you are between 21 and 30 years old and have an inconclusive Pap, Request the Test.
- Continue the regimen of routine Pap and HPV tests until age 70. Even if circumstances are such that you no longer engage in sexual activity, you may still be carrying the HPV in your cervical cells. If by age 70, you have had three consecutive negative Pap tests and no inconclusive Pap test in the last 10 years, you might be able to stop screening. Please discuss this with your healthcare provider before you discontinue these tests.
Women who have had a total hysterectomy (with uterus and cervix removed) for reasons other than cancer many discontinue the Pap and HPV test screenings. If you have had a hysterectomy with the cervix left in place, you should continue screening as noted above.
After your exam, Request the Test results! Don't assume that since your healthcare provider's office hasn't contacted you that everything is okay. Make sure to call them back in a week, and keep calling until you get your results.
- If your cervical screening tests are negative, don't forget the rest of your body. Though you'll only need to repeat these tests every three years, you still need an annual check-up.
- If either test is positive, talk with your healthcare provider and make a follow-up plan. Your health and peace of mind depend on it. Remember: this insidious HPV virus can live dormant in your cervical cells for years--even decades--then begin to cause abnormal change of the cells that sometimes progress to cancer without detection. So if your Pap and/or HPV tests are positive, please do not assume that your partner has been unfaithful
Remember. Cervical cancer is 100% preventable! But it all depends on you.
Resources
There is a wonderful brochure called "Cervical Cancer and HPV: What Every Sister Should Know" that gives easy-to-understand details about cervical cancer prevention. It was created by the Isis Project, a cervical cancer prevention program developed especially for African American women. Visit The Isis Project to get your free copy.
For more information on the HPV vaccine, visit Gardasil.
Don't despair if you do not have any health insurance. Most states provide access to cervical cancer screening for women without insurance through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Check out this Centers for Disease Control website or call 1-888-842-6355 to find no or low-cost screenings.
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Self-Care Principle #1: Ritual |
 Ritual is purposeful, daily activity you engage in solely for the purpose of centering yourself. Ritual is not to be confused with things you do to pick up your spirit when you are blue, like eating chocolate or shopping (though many of us have raised these activities to a near-religious experience!) Ritual is deeper than that--much deeper. It is a loving mindfulness that helps you disengage from the demands of your day and recharge your spirit.
The goal of incorporating Ritual into your daily life is to reveal the Loving Energy that resides in your soul. This Spirit Power is the profound catalyst that activates your deep capacity for healing from within. Ritual is your declared intent to dispel illusions, to see what is real, and to move forward in a more enlightened way. Once activated, your Loving Energy will begin to radiate out, bringing the balance and order you require to be WHOLE.
Much of engaging in Ritual is seeing yourself as the central priority of your life. While this might sound selfish, considering all of your obligations, it is important to realize that you cannot do your best for others until you do the best for yourself. Ritual is the way to achieve a balance between self and others, without becoming depleted.
Consider creating a special area inside your home for your daily Ritual. This is your place of solace, where you begin and end each day. It need not be a huge, elaborate room--a corner or a windowsill will do. It may also be a personal altar or a single sacred object--whatever is most suited to your circumstances. The most important thing is that you have dedicated a space and time just for you to refuel your spirit.
There is nothing fixed about the Ritual that you do, only that you do some sort of Ritual every day. Don't create stress for yourself about equipment or buy a lot of this for your Ritual. Keep it simple. Ritual is about appreciation, following your instincts, and enjoying yourself!
Ritual is about faith and a spirit connection to self. Honor yourself with Ritual, and you bless your spirit with the joy of living.
An excerpt from the upcoming book "WHOLE: 12 Self-Care Principles for African American Women" by Jacci Thompson-Dodd, MA, MSSS |
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Black-Eyed Peas all year round! |
 Did you have your Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's day? Traditionally throughout the African Diaspora, these amazing gems are said to grant "Good Luck" when eaten on New Years day. But there is a good reason to eat them throughout the year.
Beans, lentils, and peas are all potent cancer fighting foods. They are high in fiber and phytochemicals that can protect cells from genetic damage. When partnered with kale, another known cancer fighter, this soul-satisfying dish earns a place at the table soon--and often!
Black-Eyed Peas, Smoked Turkey, and Kale
Ingredients:
1 pound black-eyed peas, dried or frozen
1 medium onion, chopped
1 12-ounce can low-sodium diced tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 smoked turkey wings, 1 pound total weight
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
4 cups smoked turkey stock or low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth
2 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bunch fresh kale, washed, trimmed, and cut into 1/2 inch ribbons
For soaking liquid:
4 cups cold water
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
To prepare black-eyed peas:
If using dried black-eyed peas, pour entire bag into a bowl, examine for stones or other foreign objects, and discard any debris. Soak in a bowl overnight in soaking liquid. Drain.
You may omit this step if using frozen black-eyed peas. There is no need to thaw frozen black-eyed peas prior to cooking.
Cooking instructions:
Place all ingredients into large pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover pot, and simmer on low for 45 minutes or until peas are softened, stirring occasionally. Remove cover, add kale, stir, and continue simmering for another 45 minutes, or until tender.
Yield: 4-6 servings |
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WHOLE is for you, so we want to make sure to include helpful, relevant tools. What self-care topics would you like us to cover? Drop us a line at WeSpeakLoudly and let us know what you need. We'll do our best to bring you all the information you need to be WHOLE!
Yours in health, |
Jacci Thompson-Dodd
WeSpeakLoudly
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