Editorials
Breast cancer among us
They say only “real” men can wear “PINK.” Not sure what a “real” man is, but I know I have been wearing a lot of pink lately—not by choice but for two reasons… certainly, not because I look good in pink or that I consider myself a “real” man. I have been wearing pink most of the month of October due to the fact that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
In fact, I even see the NFL Football players wearing pink during their games. (Guess that is “real” men. Even Brett Favre, the “Real” Man from Mississippi. Of course, Brett Favre’s wife is a breast cancer survivor…a good reason for him to wear pink.) My daughter, Carla, is also a breast cancer survivor…my first reason for me to wear pink. The second reason for me to wear pink is because, me, a “real” man or not, am also a breast cancer survivor.
You may or may not know that the doctors, oncologists and breast cancer organizations asked that I come out publicly, as a survivor, to help get the word out on a national level that men DO become breast cancer victims. It seems to have worked because so many have called me, not only from this area I live in, but nationwide. Most of the time, men with breast cancer don’t survive because they fail to get anything suspicious checked out and really don’t take to mammograms and such. You know, just not the macho think to do! They don’t survive, according to the doctors, because there is no early detection. Me, if I get a scratch, I check it out! I think, due to the blessing of the Lord and “listening” to what my body is telling me, is the reason I have lived pretty healthy for three-fourths of a century and still pretty active physically and mentally.
Carla, my daughter is four years free of cancer and I am two years out free. She had to have chemotherapy treatment and I did not, as my breast cancer was necrotic. (Meaning the blood supply had been cut off and had not grown from a very small size. Also, it had not reached my lymph nodes.) Just so you and the doctors know, I call that “Divine Intervention.” That is a direct result of the power of prayer, which I stated on National TV on NBC’s Today Show two years ago. Check it out on the site www.listentotheeagle.com. Yes, at the advice of the doctor, I had a mastectomy, but did not opt for reconstruction. (Ha!)
One important point here…I tested positive for the BRCA2 gene. This says that one may contract breast cancer. My daughter did NOT test positive. That doesn’t mean the rest of my children and grandchildren will or will not test positive. They will need to be tested in the future.
Bottom line…men, do the self-test on your breasts and if there is any sign of a nodule, get it checked! It may save you life. Remember, the power of prayer. It can save your life and your soul!
Paul Ott, host of Listen to the Eagle, which can be heard locally on WMOX 1010 A.M., is a breast cancer survivor. For more information, visit www.listentotheeagle.com.
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Sesquicentennial Celebration, you ask? I admit this is a mighty BIG word and very difficult to pronounce, but for Meridian, the meaning of this word points to our strength and endurance – as a city and as a people.
Allow me to explain.
Meridian will celebrate our 150th birthday on February 10, 2010, thus this year we rightly celebrate our sesquicentennial. I'm certain that many of you remember the Centennial Celebration of 1960. Although I was VERY young (oh, humor me), I remember that wonderful time. All or most of the Meridian men grew beards and the women wore the long dresses of the 1860 style. My mother made a dress with matching hat for me. I still have an old photo of that dressy ensemble as I sat demurely on the side arm of a sofa with my hands folded in my lap – real ladylike. It was a time of parades, school projects, community events, and a city that came together to celebrate 100 years of existence.
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