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HEALTH: Women Rally Together in the Fight Against CANCER

“It all started with a lump I felt in my breast. I went for mammograms and scans. I felt positive that it was nothing but after my results were sent to my doctor, he told me I had Stage 2 breast cancer. It felt so unreal in the beginning. I immediately started with chemotherapy. My mother also had cancer at the time, stage 4. I needed to be strong. I decided then and there that no one and nothing will get to me and for the sake of my daughter I kept on fighting,” Rasheeda Patterson gave testimony of her battle against breast cancer at the Cancer Awareness Brunch at the Oceans Restaurant, in Walvis Bay recently.  
She encouraged the women, “Never say you can't. Stand up and fight. If you won't fight, no one else will do it for you. Be the person you really are. Be stronger.”

(Photograph: Charmaine Garcia, Natasha Lombard and Hildegard Boetcher of Cancer Association of Namibia, Walvis Bay)
“It's been three years since I'm cancer free. I had a mastectomy and I felt so unfeminine. It took me a very long time to look at myself again in a mirror, but I believed in my Heavenly Father and that He will carry me through this. I had numerous procedures done and today I am 110% woman. Only you have the power to decide what you are going to do.”
Nurse Eleanor Jansen gave professional insights on cervical cancer. This is cancer of the cervix (the 'neck' of the womb). Unlike other cancers, it is not a condition dependent on family history as it is caused by a viral infection. It's an aggressive cancer that can spread quickly within 6 months.

“To prevent the cervical cancer, you could get vaccinated and go for regular cervical screenings (pap smears). Young girls can get vaccinated as soon as they start with their menstruation or as young as when they're 10 years old. The vaccination is administered in three stages over a six month period by a doctor. I highly recommend women who are sexually active and have had children to go regularly for pap smears.”
Sade Paulse and Ridow Anne English entertained the guests with their angelic voices. A three course meal was served to the guests and each guest received a small gift bag. Mr Rodelio Lewis was the Master of Ceremonies for this event.

Charmaine Garcia, Natasha Lombard and Alexis Taylor took the initiative to host the Cancer Awareness Brunch to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer.
These three remarkable ladies had lost a few family members to cancer and they wanted to give back to the community and promote cancer awareness. It took them three years to get here, but they plan to make this even bigger and better in the coming years.
They successfully generated funds to an amount of N$12 000, by ticket sales for the brunch and sponsor-ships, small and big. Ms Hildegard Böttcher, volunteer and representative of the Cancer Association in Walvis Bay received the donation: “We are extremely grateful for this donation and this money will be used for the care of cancer patients and treatment for patients who can't really afford medical aid.”

Article written by: Leandrea Louw
Photographs courtesy of Namib Times
Media house: Namib Times


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