October 2008 Vol 1, Issue 10
October Masthead
Greetings!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For many of us it is a reminder to do our monthly breastWoman examining her breast self-exams, get our annual clinical breast exam from our doctor, and for those of us over 40, have our annual mammogram.
 
What you might not know is that as Black women--especially those of us under the age of 40--we are at much higher risk for an aggressive form of this disease called "triple negative" breast cancer. Another aggressive form of this disease that disproportionately targets Black women under the age of 40 is inflammatory breast cancer, the likely subject of a future WHOLE e-newsletter.
 
For all my years as a women's health educator, I'd never heard of triple negative breast cancer until I met an extraordinary sistah, Dr. Regina Hampton. Based in Greenbelt, Maryland, Dr. Hampton has shared numerous stories about her young patients --some as young as 21--who are losing their breast(s) and their lives because their disease was not detected in time.
 
This is a shocking health disparity that is still largely unknown. WeSpeakLoudly intends to change that.
 
Our feature article this month was written by Dr. Hampton, to give you an important orientation to this deadly disease.
 
There are risk factors for breast cancer such as genetics and exposure to environmental toxins that we can't do much about. But there are things well within our control that we can do to help us avoid this disease.
 
First and foremost, make sure you do your monthly and annual breast screenings. If you find a lump, dimpling of the skin, a discharge, swelling, or if your breast feels feverish, please get checked immediately. And if your doctor says you're too young for a mammogram, take him/her a copy of Dr. Hampton's article to show that Black women have a higher incidence of breast cancer at younger ages.
 
Be proactive in protecting your body and your health. That is the surest way to be WHOLE.
In This Issue
Breast Cancer & African American Women--It's a Different Beast
WHOLE! A Guide for Sistah Breast Cancer Survivors
WHOLE Self-Care Principle #9: Rediscover
Squash!
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WeSpeakLoudly is collecting sistah survivor stories for future publication to help encourage others in their struggle with breast cancer. Please e-mail us your story, photo, and phone number and we'll get back with you immediately.
 
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Breast Cancer & African American Women--It's a Different Beast by Dr. Regina Hampton

 Many people are aware of the disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and survival between white women and non-white women. In African American women less than 50 years old, the incidence (the number of these women who get breast cancer) is less than that for white women. The shocking part of this data is that for African American women, the death rate is 77 percent higher than in white women. Let me put this in plain terms: when young African American women get breast cancer they die at a higher rate from it than their white counterparts.
 
Profile of woman doing breast self-examWhy is there such a disparity? Thanks to Dr. Lisa Carey (she is the oncologist for Senator John Edward's wife Elizabeth),  we are starting to get answers to this puzzling question. It is well known that African American women below age 50 can have a more aggressive tumor that spreads very quickly. Once a cancer spreads throughout the body, it is more difficult for us to control--although not impossible. In my personal experience with this particular group of women, small tumors (less than 2 cm) have spread to other parts of the body by the time the cancer is diagnosed.
 
Dr. Carey found that these women have a special subtype of breast cancer, called basal-like or "triple negative," that limits their responsiveness to many chemotherapy agents. One of the biggest differences is that these women lack estrogen, progesterone and Her2receptors. We have developed drugs to block these receptors, thus controlling the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. This limits the number of medications available to this section of African American women for treatment.
 
There are also many practical issues that contribute to these horrible statistics. We, as African American women, are not doing our breast self-exams, we are not getting our mammograms as recommended by the American Cancer Society, and we are not paying attention to our family history. In my practice, I have found that these are due to fear and misinformation. Fear of losing a breast is a valid concern. However, with early detection, lumpectomy (removal of only the breast mass, leaving the rest of the breast intact) is an option. Many of my physician colleagues have not grasped the concept that a breast mass in women younger than age 50 could be breast cancer. We as physicians have to do a better job of recommending mammograms in women younger than 50 with a breast mass--the youngest breast cancer patient I have seen is age 21.
 
It is great news that we are starting to address this difficult issue and this research  will lead to more answers. As an African American woman and physician, I am concerned about my own health as well as the health of the many young women I see in my office. I think we have only hit the tip of the iceberg. We have much to learn about how breast cancer affects women of all races and ethnicities. We must get involved in the process. Let us be part of the research process that will help save our daughters, granddaughters and future generations.
Dr. Regina Hampton
  
Dr. Regina Hampton is a General, Laparoscopic, and Breast Surgeon. She attended Howard University, receiving a B.S. degree in Radiation Therapy Technology, and graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania (Drexel University). Dr. Hampton completed a general surgery residency at Howard University Hospital, and a two-year research oncology fellowship at the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University. Dr. Hampton's practice, CHOICE Metro Surgery, is located in Greenbelt, Maryland. For more information visit CHOICE Metro Surgery.

WHOLE! The First Comprehensive Guide for Sistah Breast Cancer Survivors!

 
Breast cancer strikes at the core of a sistah's life, in a much deeper place than the disease itself can reach. It obliterates a woman's self-identity, shatters positive body image, and permanently alters who she is. It leaves profound questions unanswered: "Who am I now?" "How do I start living again?" "What next?"
 
Tilted WHOLE CoverThat's why I wrote "WHOLE: 12 Principles for Rebuilding Life after Breast Cancer." This book is the first comprehensive guide written especially with sistah survivors in mind. It examines every aspect of living that has been changed by the travails of breast cancer, including body image, relationships, family, sexuality, work, and finances. It inspires survivors to make peace with the ordeal of breast cancer, and find new skills for daily living.
 
If you are a breast cancer survivor, or know someone who is, this is the book for you. It is available just one click away on my website  WeSpeakLoudly. Come on over and have a look--I'll meet you there!

WHOLE Self-Care Principle #9: Rediscover

 
Sistah Rediscovers!To Rediscover is to set up your daily life in the manner best suited for you. It's your personal style; something special that places your imprimatur on everything you do, making you at home in your skin and surroundings. This is not just about adopting the new, but refashioning the old as well. To Rediscover is to be open to all possibilities, to see things from a different angle.
 
The clearer you are about what your body needs, the more precise you can be in shaping your world around those needs. This WHOLE Body Living journey is creativity in action, making you more resilient and stable with each passing day.
 
Many Americans think of creativity solely as artistic expression: painting; dancing; singing; playing music; writing; and the like. But throughout the African Diaspora, creativity extends beyond the humanities into the manner in which you conduct your daily life. Creativity is a lifestyle. It is about freedom within yourself, despite any adversity; it is the ability to live authentically--true to your new self.
 
There is a cadence, a rhythm of your life that is all yours, and yours alone. Part intuition, part condition, knowing that an object or situation speaks to you is intuitive. You are drawn to one thing over another. Rediscover transforms this unconscious knowing into conscious choices about your work, living space, wardrobe, and even the settings you seek out for your own nourishment.
 
You have created something magnificent. A new outlook, a new body, a new life. Now is the time to start living it again in fullness.

Squash!

 
Butternut and Acorn SquashThis time of year, squash are turning up all over the country. They might be tough on the outside, but inside they are delicate and sweet. The smooth-skinned Butternut squash (cut lengthwise in the picture) and the green, ribbed Acorn squash  are especially prized, with flesh colors from pale peach to brilliant orange.
 
My favorite way to enjoy them is roasted to tender perfection, with all the sweetness caramelized and browned on the surface. But we're all so busy, waiting nearly an hour for squash to cook in the oven makes it impossible to include it in our week night dinner menu. So I've got a trick that can bring the roasted goodness of squash to the table in a quarter of the time! Try this recipe and see if squash doesn't become one of your favorite fall veggies too!
 
Roasted Squash
 
Ingredients:
 
1 large butternut or acorn squash, about 1 1/2 pounds
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp honey
Dash of nutmeg
 
Preparation:
 
1) Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Wash squash thoroughly, making sure to scrub in the creases if you are using acorn squash. Towel dry. With a fork, prick the skin of the squash at intervals over the entire surface. These holes will act as vents, allowing heat to escape from inside the squash as it cooks. Do not skip this step!! If you do, you risk the squash exploding in the microwave--what a mess!!
 
2) Place squash in a microwave-safe dish and zap in the microwave for approximately 2 1/2 minutes. Turn over the squash and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Microwave ovens cook on varying temperatures and speeds, so standby and check it frequently. You want the skin of the squash to become slightly softened to the touch as you gently squeeze it. 
 
3) Remove squash from microwave and cut in half lengthwise. Be careful to hold squash away from your face as you cut it, because it will be very hot inside and a blast of steam will escape as you cut. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Place the two halves of squash skin-side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
 
4) Place butter and honey in a microwave safe dish and zap for approximately 20 seconds, or until melted. Brush honey butter on the flesh, and top with a few grains of nutmeg. Bake for about 10-12 minutes until lightly brown. Place in a serving dish and drizzle a little more honey butter on top. With a large spoon, scoop out individual helpings of squash, discarding the skins. Enjoy!
 
This recipe is a grand start to a lovely fall soup, too! With just a few extra steps, the velvety-smoothness of roasted squash soup can be yours. Consider making a double batch of the Roasted Squash, serving it for dinner as a side dish, and whipping up the soup to carry to work for lunch the next day.
 
Roasted Squash SoupVelvety Squash Soup
 
Ingredients:
 
1 1/2 pounds roasted squash
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp butter
4 cups vegetable broth (you may use chicken broth if you prefer)
1 cup apple juice
2 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
Dash of nutmeg
 
 
For garnish:
 
1 tbsp plain yogurt
Dash of nutmeg
2 stalks of chives (optional)
 
Preparation:
 
1) Saute onion and garlic in butter in a large pot until tender, but not brown.
 
2) Scoop roasted squash flesh from skin and place in a food processor or blender. Add sauteed onion, garlic, ginger, and 2 cups vegetable stock and puree until smooth.
 
3) Return pureed vegetable mixture to large pot along with remaining vegetable stock and apple juice. Simmer for approximately 8-10 minutes until warmed through, stirring frequently--do not boil.
 
4) To serve, ladle soup into a bowl. Top with a dollop of yogurt, a dash of nutmeg, and if desired, lay chives over the top. This soup is a perfect lunch with a hearty slice of multi-grain bread and a salad. Enjoy!
WeSpeakLoudly has the tools sistahs need to be WHOLE. Check out our website, newsletters, workshops, and DVD--they're all just a click away!  
 
Yours in health,
 
Jacci Thompson-Dodd
WeSpeakLoudly
 
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