Guest Author - Caroline Baker
October is National Breast Cancer awareness month. In today's world, few if any exist without knowing someone suffering from cancer. Cancer in general is blind to culture, background, heritage, race, origin, or socio-economic stature. It doesn't discriminate. Breast cancer in particular is a difficult in that it strikes a population prone to ignore their own problems. Women.
There are many studies and it is not uncommon for women to place their families before their own health. Even in today's more liberal society, women still bear the brunt of the family despite illness. We often ignore symptoms to keep up with our children, our husbands, our careers… etc, etc.
Breast cancer in Chinese women is particularly difficult because of the added cultural burden. Chinese are private people, who prefer to deal with issues in silence. "Save face" is often a term heard in this culture. Admitting to your weakness, be it disease or otherwise, often is a sign of trouble, disrespect, and evilness. In addition, many Chinese still believe that their luck comes from their ancestors. If we suffer, it is because we are paying for the sins of our fathers and it is our duty to carry the burden.
I know this personally. My mother is a survivor of over 10-years from breast cancer and still fights every day for her life. Her sister died nearly 15-years ago to the disease. My father's sister died over two decades ago to the disease. And his other sister, had lumps detected early on had successful treatment.
Despite knowing all this and having lived with so many in my family suffering, we don't talk about the disease. We don't encourage one another to get mammograms and perhaps blindly hope it won't happen to someone else.
So yes, I am in one of the highest risk categories for developing the disease myself. And it scares me to death that I am also passing this along to my daughter, who is only two-years-old right now. I pray that some day we will find a cure. That is why this month is particularly special for me and rings true to my heart.
Many cancer patients, including breast cancer, turn to Chinese traditional medicines for help. Even in China, the rate of cancer has been increasing ever since the 1960's and they too are working diligently to find the cure. One thing is certain, there is no magic pill out there that miraculously will fix the problem. Chinese traditional medicine has been shown to help certain people, but takes a long time to work. And for some, it's longer than they have. Even then, drinking the foul-tasting medicines and keeping constant on the medication can be difficult in this modern, fast-paced world.
Being Chinese doesn't make one immune to the dangers of breast cancer. It's important to raise awareness in this community and others of the dangers of this disease, be it October or any other month of the year.
For more information, about breast cancer, please check out American Cancer Society. And if you're Chinese and looking for help, please read this article by ACS Chinese Breast Cancer Survivors Find Joy And Luck In Each Other.
