Marisa 'eM' Louw

  #WednesdayThoughts The events of the past week, where there were several spiteful attempts to have me blocked from our local Facebook community group, got me thinking. It proves that there are cruel and hateful people in the world. As we near the end of a tough year, my thoughts wander to New Year's resolutions. I hardly ever make a list of things I want to change when the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December, but a few years ago I decided to change one thing. I chose to be kind.  The dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Friendly is acting kind and pleasant. Generosity means showing a readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected, and consideration is the act of being careful not to inconvenience or harm others. It is a tall order to fill, especially during the past year while I was fighting a battle with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that affects less than 5% of breast cancer

  First published in Parys Gazette on 22 October 2020. October is breast cancer awareness month, and although it is more common among women, men can get breast cancer too. According to a report issued by the Mayo Clinic in America, one in eight women and about 2,500 men get diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Carel-Piet van Eeden from Johannesburg is a male breast cancer survivor. I met him when I joined a private breast cancer support group on Facebook just over a year ago. His friendship and support since my diagnoses in August last year has been priceless. Carel-Piet was diagnosed with pre-malignant breast cancer for the first time in 2011 and again in 2019. "With the first diagnosis, I felt a lump in my chest under the right nipple," he says. "I underwent a thermogram, and the doctor was not happy with the results, so he ordered a biopsy." When his results came back positive for breast cancer, his doctor decided to remove the lump. Carel-Piet says that it wa

This article first appeared in Parys Gazette on 15 October 2020 October is breast cancer awareness month, and I am thankful to the Gazette for allowing me to use their platform to create awareness around the importance of early detection and getting the right treatment. The previous two articles were factual and highlighted the importance of self-examination and routine mammograms. But what if you get the results and you have a suspicious mass? What are the next steps? What are your options? There are so many questions that go through one's mind, and it gets overwhelming. I still vividly remember the chaos following my breast cancer diagnosis in August 2019. Below are a few things you need to know about a breast cancer diagnosis. Do not rush to conclusions. Doctor Google is your worst enemy! The trick is to remain calm and let your general practitioner (house doctor) guide you through the initial phase of your treatment. Depending on the results of the diagnostics that confir

This article first appeared in Parys Gazette on 8 October 2020 October is breast cancer awareness month. Some of the tests and procedures used to diagnose breast cancer include a clinical breast examination by your doctor, a mammogram, a breast ultrasound, a biopsy (removing a sample of breast cells for testing), and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).   The mammogram is one of the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mammogram can often detect breast cancer up to three years before a lump appears in the breast.   What is a mammogram?   A mammogram is an x-ray image of the breasts that is examined by a qualified radiologist. When you go for a mammogram, your breasts will be compressed between two surfaces to disperse the breast tissue. Most women find this procedure uncomfortable, and some reported that it was even painful. From experience, I can say it was awkward but I did not exper

This article first appeared in the Parys Gazette on 1 October 2020 According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), breast cancer affects 1 in 25 women in the country. It is the second most common cancer after non-melanoma skin cancer and accounts for 0.7% of recorded deaths (approximately 4 million women) every year. Estimations are that about 19.4 million women over the age of 15 live at-risk of a cancer diagnosis. Awareness of the signs and symptoms can lead to early discovery and therefore improved treatment results. What are the risk factors for breast cancer? Although breast cancer usually affects older women, women of all ages are at risk, especially if there is a family history of breast cancer. Other risk factors are being overweight, inactive, alcohol consumption, bad eating habits, and smoking. Early detection is key Apart from monthly self-examinations, it is essential to go for a routine mammogram once a year. Your medical aid or hospital plan will p