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Philanthropist April Love on why she ignored doctor’s calls after being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer

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April love

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April loveThe Atlanta, Georgia-based philanthropist, media enthusiast and A-listers brand strategist has been a breast cancer survivor for over a decade and has made it her life’s mission to encourage women, especially women of color, to care for their bodies with holistic, preventative practices and early detection.

Let’s return to Christmas Eve 2009. Love was informed by doctors of her diagnosis of stage three ductal breast cancer after easy check-ups with her doctor and the suggestion that she undergo a routine mammogram, considering she was 35 years old on the time.

Shocked by the news, Love continued to disclaim her diagnosis and ignored calls from her medical team to schedule chemotherapy. She found the inner strength to face her diagnosis by conducting breast care awareness activities that enabled women to receive proper education, appropriate support and financial assistance while undergoing various treatments.

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Love achieved remission a yr after undergoing two months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation therapy and surgery. Today, she continues her philanthropic efforts as a creator, host and executive producer Pink awards. This annual charity event raises funds for breast cancer patients who’re unable to financially support their families during treatment. In 2022, the Charge Up Campaign presented April with a Community Impact Award in recognition of her efforts to extend breast care awareness amongst women of color.

Essence: Tell me about your experience with breast cancer.

April love: I’m 13 years old, thriving, as I wish to call it, because surviving sometimes sounds a bit like I’m just waiting for things to vary, but I just do not feel like that. I feel like I’ve had, you recognize, a journey with cancer that has fulfilled a purpose in my life and created a purpose for me.

I went for my annual check-up and she scheduled me for a radiology appointment, which I had never been to before. So I went. She wanted to examine my thyroid after which scheduled me for a mammogram. I used to be over 30 years old, so a mammogram wasn’t necessarily something I dreamed of. After the mammogram, the doctors said they wanted to look at me again. They then took me back to the radiologist, showed me the realm of ​​my breast they were concerned about, and suggested a biopsy. I received the biopsy results around Christmas Eve from the identical breast surgeon, who asked me if I used to be alone, which was disturbing. She continued: “Well, we were concerned that you did indeed have breast cancer, and quite advanced ones at that. This is stage three.”

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The surgeon wanted me to are available the day after Christmas to start out my breast care plan. So I spent that vacation desirous about all the pieces from having a mastectomy as to if I desired to have children, which led to a mental breakdown. So the surgeon only heard from me in early 2010, after a health checkup. Once they got me on the phone, the surgeon asked me, “Do you want to live?”

The light bulb went off and I spotted, “Yes, I know.” On that day, weeks had passed because the diagnosis was confirmed, and so my journey began.

Has your primary care doctor noticed anything disturbing? Or possibly just, “Hey, you are a certain age. We think it’s best to get a mammogram. Or possibly you felt that something was improper?

I still do not know. She never said if she felt anything in my chest. I’m sure I did because I immediately felt a lump as soon as I saw the actual image and the issue area.

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Diagnosing breast cancer in black women may be difficult because we have now lots of fatty tissue and plenty of lumps and lumps in our breasts. Have you experienced any discharge, nipple discoloration, or other symptoms?

NO! And for it to be stage three cancer, I had no symptoms. Nothing even gave me any idea what was going on. There was no leakage, local pain, or discoloration; it looked like a tumor the dimensions of a golf ball. So, surprisingly, I didn’t.

Can you talk in regards to the specific style of breast cancer you suffered from?

My breast cancer was estrogen receptor ductal carcinoma. It is essential to know the source of the cancer cell and the way it got there. My cancer is hormonal. It’s a slow process, but it surely’s a highly regarded process, for lack of a greater word, because as young women, you recognize, we, especially black women, have irregular periods. I used to be taking contraception to control my period. I consider my cancer was brought on by a rise in estrogen levels in my body. So this slow-growing tumor was probably about ten years old in my body. I can have a physician or anyone who denies what I say, but I attribute it to the contraception I took as a youngster.

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So why did you initially ignore treatment recommendations and what was your turning point?

Honestly, it was, you recognize, just an old fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the misunderstanding that individuals robotically associate a cancer diagnosis with inevitable death. I didn’t know if I wanted this, what I desired to do with my body. I do know I didn’t need to cut off each breasts. There were so many things and so many unknowns that I just did not have the strength to deal with it.

So once you choose on treatment, you go for chemotherapy, right? Can you persuade our readers to make this decision?

I used to be really interested by holistic medicine, alternative healing modalities, and other forms of healing. And yes, once I inform you, I 110% didn’t need to undergo any chemotherapy. But once I talked to the breast surgeon and realized what stage I used to be at and that I actually desired to live, I said that I’d just leave it in God’s hands and I assumed: I’ll just do it. do chemotherapy.

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My process was non-traditional because they typically attempt to do the surgery immediately. They desired to remove the cancer from there, but they desired to shrink mine. I also had one lymph node, which was concerning because that may be a sign of metastatic cancer that’s moving throughout the body. So I knew I needed to act quickly.

So I had chemotherapy, first surgery, after which radiotherapy. But it was terrible. I even have been on Adriamycin, which is named “The Red Devil” in our community, and it’s by far the worst thing I even have probably experienced. I at all times said, “This is as close to death as I can get without being dead.” Because I’d should make decisions like: will I’m going to the toilet, will I’m going to the fridge to eat something? water?. Because I had no strength left. I felt sick. I lost 40 kilos. My nails turned black. I had lost my hair, so all the pieces from physical problems to the vanity of being that sick person within the mirror, chemotherapy just isn’t something I would need on my worst enemy, but I felt I needed to make this decision.

Now that you just are in remission, how do you’re feeling about beating breast cancer?

It was traumatic, painful, uncomfortable. But for me, it woke up something in me.

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Can you tell me why you created the Pink Awards and decided to assist other women fighting breast cancer?

It form of got here about once I was organizing these pink parties. I even have at all times been a publicist and event organizer. I worked within the entertainment industry, so I used to be already social, and I used to be blessed to have such a community of individuals around me: family and friends. They brought me food. But I spotted that there have been so many discrepancies, a lot misinformation, and little support. If people were diagnosed, they weren’t even given the chance to decide on. There have been a number of support groups, but for probably the most part these organizations and I don’t take their work frivolously. They are associated with Big Pharma and their goal is to acquire a greater drug or support treatment. And I desired to create, not only through performance, to spotlight the very fact of disproportion in our community. Be alone, however the incontrovertible fact that it kills people day-after-day, this disease will affect you; even when it isn’t you directly, it’ll accomplish that not directly.

The show attracts attention and awareness, and the work reaches and informs people. That’s why I began this: to amplify the message about things that I personally know are deficient in our community.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

New research shows that over 3,000 beauty and hair products sold to black women are toxic. Did your tested and highways make a cut?

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If you are fascinated by referring the range of products on the shelf in the lavatory, you may start by throwing the entire.

AND New study By Environmental work group (EEC) In cooperation with the founded black, completely natural online market BLK + GRN Over 3000, or almost 80%, were found, personal hygiene items sold to black women contain at the very least one toxic ingredient.

“I think most people believe that if something has reached the store, they must be safe. It’s just not true – said the founder of BLK + GRN, Kristian Edwards In the last film About the report.

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“Everyone deserves access to safe products,” wrote Friedman. “The purpose of the report was to equip consumers with knowledge about chemicals in their personal hygiene products.”

Friedman emphasized among the most harmful product components, including the discharge of formaldehyde, isotiazolinone and an undisclosed smell. Explained that preservatives releasing formaldehyde may cause skin reactions and ultimately expose consumers to formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Meanwhile, Friedman noticed that undisclosed fragrances might be any of the 300 different potentially dangerous ingredients with cancer and reproductive health problems. Half -lasting products The results, comparable to relaxors and hair dyeing, are not very disturbing.

After the primary have a look at ListMany consumers can hurry to throw away all their potentially causing cancer shelf. However, Edwards noticed within the film that this list was not intended to cause “fear”.

Understanding this suggested compromise. If there may be a high-level product, with which you absolutely cannot part-nutrition with the outcomes that you have got taken years, or sunscreen that softened your gearbox-to threaten something different with a high level, from which your routine is less dependent.

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“Black women are often between a stone and a difficult place,” Edwards continued. “To adapt, they must use these products with all these toxic ingredients in them.”

The Skin Deep Database EEC launched in 2004 takes labor in the method for consumers. The online resource includes dozens of products assessed on the idea of their ingredients, safety and regulatory information.

The latest study, published in February, is an update of the 2016 EEC study, which was checked whether there was a significant change in toxicity of products with specific demographic markings. In 2016, the report was analyzed by just over 1000 products. Despite finding almost 80% of products sold to black women, it still incorporates at the very least one toxic ingredient, Friedman confirmed that there was some improvement in almost a decade; However, toxicity persists.

The report also appears as one other related to black personal care, it’s headers. Last month, Consumer reports He stated that the ten hottest synthetic hair brands contain toxic chemicals.

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Friedman claims that the trail forward should “prioritize further research, better safety standards and increased transparency from producers, ultimately supporting the market in which black women can confidently choose products without an additional burden on the disorientation of exposure and health results.”

It was visible for Halle Berry when she saw Adrien Brody on the Red Oscars carpet

(Tagstranslate) black hair products

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Gabourey Sidibe says that her husband, Brandon Frankel, is not playing about her

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Gabourey Sidibe says that her husband, Brandon Frankel, is not playing about her

Gabourey Sidibe/Instagram

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One of our favourite twin moms, actress Gabourey Sidibe makes everyone faint. Talking to the Essence Black Women in Hollywood awards, Sidibe explained that her husband Brandon Frankel had her back. Talent agent often loves the actress and their children loudly through his website on Instagram.

When the reporter said Frankel was not “playing”, she confirmed the saying: “He doesn’t, and I deserve everything, okay?! Come here now. If you step on my dress, he’ll be here. “

The actress continued: “As if she was in Waśnia with many things,” she continued. “I have to think that someone gave me an attitude because he replies them forever.”

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The couple got engaged and got married in 2020 after the meeting Raya dating application – the identical platform Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens met. In April 2024, they welcomed their twin girls and boys, Cooper and Maya, to the world.

Sidibe continued: “He will be beef with my grandmother about me. And I deserve it. And I love him so much, and I also with many people for him. “The priceless actress confessed that she did not think that their relationship passed the primary few dates during a conversation with people.

“Our first date, literally for the first six dates, when we left, I would say:” Okay, say goodbye without end, “she said. “I never intended to see him again. And now he is at home. “

“When you talk about radical love, I realize – and it sounds selfish – but I noticed that I like who I used to be after I was with him. I liked the ways during which I could develop due to loving him and being loved by him – continued Sidibe.

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“I didn’t know that the person I was today existed. And it only exists because of how much he loves me – she added. “Is it not crazy? 10 years ago I might hit the face. “

“My husband is a guy, only this guy,” she concluded. Frankel celebrated his Queen Post awards with a funny and charming post on Instagram, recognizing the role of his wife as a working mother.

“So @GabBYSIDIBE I was caught on Brunch Essence, so when she returned home from being a very important working woman, I had to take her photos in my mother’s mode. This series is a great example of an attempt to get two very excited young children to behave on a photo 🤣 ” – read his signature. Talent agent has published a series of photos of the actress holding the twins and mainly mommy.

“Anyway, how wonderful my wife is? He can go out and do her, return home and immediately back to my mother. So grateful for three, you illuminate my whole world so bright ❤️❤️❤️ “, the signature has ended.

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This queen deserves every little bit of this radical love; We pray that all black women receive the identical.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

I am a medical forensic examiner. Here’s what people can expect from a health response from sexual assault

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Estimated one in five women and one in 16 men In Australia, she experienced sexual violence.

After such a traumatic experience, it’s comprehensible that many are usually not sure in the event that they wish to report it to the police. In fact, Less than 10% Australian women who experience sexual assault, if he gives a police report.

In Australia it’s No closing date After notifying the sexual assault to the police. However, there are strict time frames for collecting forensic evidence, which can sometimes be a very important a part of a police investigation, no matter whether it begins.

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This implies that the choice whether to undergo a medical forensic examination should be taken quite quickly after the assault.

I work as a medical forensic examiner. Here’s what you can expect for those who present a medical forensic examination after sexual assault.

A team of specialists

There are about 100 sexual assault services in Australia, providing 24-hour care. As with other healthcare areas, there are additional challenges in regional and rural areaswhere there are sometimes further distances from travel and deficiencies.

Sexual assault services in Australia are free, whatever the status of Medicare. To find the closest service, you can call 1800 respect (1800 737 732) or Full stop australia (1800 385 578) who can also provide immediate support for telephone counseling.

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It is very important to call the local sexual assault service before appearing. They can provide victims to experience information and advice to stop delay and make the method as helpful as possible.

Consultations often occur within the Hospital Emergency Department, which has a designated forensic apartment or within the Specialist Forensic Service.

The victim-over is seen by doctor or nurse Trained in the sphere of medical and criminal care. There is a sexual assault, crisis worker or social employee to support the patient and provides advice on advice. This known as “Integrated answer“With medical and psychosocial employees working together.

In most cases, the victim’s survival might also have the presence of his own support person.

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Depending on what the victim is wants, the doctor or nurse will take the history of the robbery to conduct any medical care which may be needed (e.g. emergency anticretation) and conduct the examination.

Sexual assault services are all the time very conscious dishes to victims of selection in the sphere of medical forensic examination. If a person presents a sexual assault service, he can receive advice and medical care without undergoing forensic examinations if he doesn’t wish to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cglbtgia0ek

Sexual assault services include all sexes.

Collecting forensic samples

Samples collected during a medical forensic examination can sometimes discover the DNA of the perpetrator or intoxicants (alcohol or drugs that can be relevant to the examination). . Possibility window Collecting these samples can be as short as 12 hours or as much as 5-7 days, depending on the character of the sexual assault.

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In most Australia, an adult who has experienced a recent sexual assault, you can offer a medical forensic examination without submitting a report for the police.

Depending on the condition or territory of the forensic samples, you can often store for 3 to 12 months (as much as 100 years in Tasmania). This allows victims of time to survive definitely whether or not they wish to release them to the police for processing.

A health care provider or nurse will take samples using a sexual assault investigation kit or “rape set”.

Collecting these samples may include taking swabs to detect DNA from external and internal genital areas and wherever DNA transfer may occur. This may come from skin cells during which the perpetrator affected the victim’s snack or from body fluids, including sperm or saliva.

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A health care provider or nurse conducting the examination is minimized by re -traumatization, providing information, elections and control of the victim at every stage of the method.

The victim-overhang can often have a support person with him.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

What about sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy?

During the consultation, the doctor or nurse will address all fears about sexually transmitted infections (sti) and pregnancy if concerned.

In most cases, the danger of sexually transmitted diseases is low. But check tests for 1-2 weeks by way of infection, reminiscent of chlamydia and gonorrhea, and after 6-12 weeks In the case of infections reminiscent of syphilis and HIV, it is normally advisable.

Emergency contraception can be provided (sometimes called “in the morning after a pill”) prevent pregnancy. It can be downloaded as much as five days after sexual assault (however the faster) with pregnancy tests advisable after 2-3 weeks.

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Everything has improved over time

When I was a younger doctor at the tip of the 90s, taking foreheads were often chargeable for an busy international trainee and gynecology on the Emergency Department, which regularly managed many patients and had a small training in the sphere of criminalistics. Usually there was no supporting advisor.

Anegdotically each the doctor and the patient were traumatic through this experience. Studies show that when specialized integrated services are usually not provided, a sense of powerlessness of the victim They are enlarged.

But the way in which we conduct medical forensic examinations after sexual assault in Australia has improved through the years.

Thanks to practices focused on the patient and the appointed criminal and advisory staff, the patient’s experience is believed Strengthening position than for re -traumatizing.

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A sign before the Australian police station.
Less than 10% of Australian women who experience sexual assault, in the event that they even submit a police report.
Melissa Meehan/AAP

Our research

In latest studies published in Australian Journal of General PracticeMy colleagues and I studied the experience of medical criminal examination from the angle of a victim.

We analyzed 291 patients who provide sexual assault services in New South Wales (where I work) for 4 years.

About 75% of patients said that the study was calming and one other 20% said it was high-quality. Only 2% said it was traumatic. Most (98%) stated that they’d recommend a friend present within the service of sexual assault in the event that they were in a similar situation.

While patients talked positively in regards to the care received, many commented that the sexual assault service was not visible enough. They didn’t know learn how to find it and even existed.

We know that many victims’ victims don’t present a sexual assault service or undergo a medical forensic examination after sexual assault. So we must do more to extend the visibility of those services.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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