Precious, the Movie. We are All Precious Posted on December 4th, 2009
See the movie Precious. It will shock you and inspire you. Precious is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life of unimaginable abuse and violence. Pregnant for the second time by her father, threatened with expulsion from school and suffering from horrific violence and verbal abuse from her mother, Precious is able to transfer to an alternative school where she is supported step by step to self-reliance, belief in herself and hope. Precious is a story of triumph against great odds. This is the story of the cycle of family violence and abuse – the cornerstone of poor self-esteem and resultant health and lifestyle issues. The deep pain of abuse on all levels is responsible for a myriad of health problems – headaches, asthma, digestive problems, sexual dysfunction, hampered creativity and self expression. The movie teaches us that in the eyes of God everyone is precious. We must learn to treat all persons as precious – including ourselves.
On a higher level these cycles of abuse, poor self image, and physical violence are playing in the background behind all that is wrong in the world. Or perhaps seen from another angle what is wrong is actually right as it reflects what we are doing to ourselves and each other. The cycles must be recognized and broken for lasting change.
No Mammograms Till 50 – Government Task Force Says Posted on December 3rd, 2009
The latest word from a government task force suggests that women under age 50 do not need mammograms. This is concerning a lot of people including the American Cancer Society who has taken the position that mammograms are the best early detection screening for breast cancer. Not only are mammograms discouraged by the task force, but breast self-examinations performed routinely by millions of women world-wide are also discouraged. Imagine not getting to know your breasts and the personal detection of any irregularities until the age of 50 – madness.
I am very medical. I grew up in a medical family, my father was a doctor. I have had routine mammograms every second year for the past 20 years. Yes, there is radiation from mammograms and there is a risk of a “false positive.”
I AM in favor of mammograms as a screening procedure but ONLY after Thermography (digital imaging) has detected heat changes in the breast area. Then an ultrasound or mammogram should be scheduled to confirm that an abnormality does indeed exist.
Breast cancer risks increase in women after the age of 50 because of declining hormones. Therefore having balanced hormones could be a protective strategy against all kinds of cancers. Women under the age of 50 usually have a full complement of hormones but this does not preclude them from being pro-active, doing routine breast self-exams, having the Thermography procedure done and being aware of their health on every level.
Mammograms are controversial but they are also life-saving.
For more information on thermography Discover Screening