Kylie Minogue Has Breast Cancer
One of the things that a woman dreads most is finding a lump in her breast, and subsequently having it diagnosed as cancer! The news that Kylie Minogue has breast cancer has sent a shudder around the world. I expect many women with be doing an extra breast check today when they take a shower, just in case!
Kylie has a figure envied by most women who are much chunkier than she is! Any surgery to that part of a woman’s body is a violation of one’s womanhood, and has psychological implications. The press release suggests that her cancer is in the early stages and hopefully treatable, which is good news.
A number of years ago, my little sister, now 47, had a few cancerous cells discovered in her breast. These were excised completely, and so far she remains cancer free.
Not so fortunate was a family friend, in her early 20s, who had breast cancer in the late 1950s, only a radical mastectomy was on offer. The cancer quickly spread to other parts of her body, and she died within a year. Everyone was so sad; she was such a lovely person in whom the love of Christ shone like a beacon. Likewise, my Great-Aunt Flo, another wonderful Christian lady, had a fall and broke her hip in 1960. It was discovered that the bone was eaten away by cancer, this was a secondary, and the primary site was in the breast. She had had the lump for a few years, but either out of ignorance, or fear, chose to ignore it, she too died within months.
The word ‘cancer’ still has the power to inject fear into a person when the diagnosis is made, however thanks to organisations like Cancer Research UK it need not be a death sentence. So much more is known about the disease nowadays; new treatments are helping to keep the cancer at bay, and in some cases eradicate it all together. Providing the funding is available for the necessary research, it is hoped, and expected, that a cure for all cancers will be found sooner, rather than later. Whilst one would never wish cancer on anyone, a high profile victim such as Kylie Minogue can only raise public awareness, and hopefully much needed funds.
Good luck to Lesley and Sarah Rogerson when they take part in the ‘Race For life’ to raise money for Cancer Research UK on June 5th.