Women`s Fight for Equal Rights

Running Head : WORKING WITH FAMILY

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Working with Family

The agony of living with cancer is not only to the affected person , it is equally traumatizing to the close family and friends and to a larger extent to the society . The close family members faces the worst blunt they have to comfort and care for the affected person and share in the pain and agonizing moments . This shall be looking at how a woman 's breast cancer impacts on the normal functioning of a

family , its impact on the family member and the need for support and counseling to both the woman and the family

Cancer refers to any malignant tumor that is as a result of an unusual and incontrollable dividing of the cells in the body . Breast cancer too is as a result of a tumor developing in a person 's breast . It starts as a lump in one breast ten further spreads to both breasts if not treated in time

There are three factors that can lead to a woman getting breast cancer it can be genetical . A woman who comes from a family where there is prevalence in breast cancer , if for example her sisters , mother or aunts have had it , she has higher chances of developing cancer in later life (Colerman , 2000 ,

. 43

Age too is another factor and women develop breast cancer as they grow older starting from the early forties . Diet has also been identified as another lead factor . Women who don 't get enough exercises are at more risk as too those who have unhealthy habits like excessive smoking , drinking and consumption of high fat meals (James Fahner 2007

My case study takes me to a small neighborhood in Maryland , U .S .A here we will encounter a lady named Georgina , a wife and a mother of two boys and a girl . She is in her late forties and still struggling with breast cancer . She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of thirty seven . This is the year that her life changed dramatically , it continues to change day in day out and has seen the removal of her left breast in a bid to arrest the spread of the disease

Amid tears , she says her condition was exacerbated by the fact that her lump was not detected early (Alberg A . J , 2000 ,

. 22 Early detection of breast cancer makes it easy to seek for easier and effective treatment . Statistics are in favor of early detection , modern technology can enable more than 90 of those diagnosed early to be cured (Family doctor .org 2005 ,

. 117 . Despite her being highly educated she was very ignorant of the disease and was unconcerned with the lumps developing in her left breast . She only sought expert assistance when the cancerous growth had already spread too far . She has all along attributed the lumps in her breasts to having been emanating from hormonal changes and age . She is paying dearly for that

Cancer diagnosis or any diagnosis associated with terminal illness is a scary affair . Equally disturbing is the thought of how your loved ones will cope with the sad news . Georgina 's husband is a public relations manger with a local bank she herself works with an advertising firm in the same locality . Her three kids have yet not gone beyond 10th grade and might be too young to understand her situation . She could not too understand how she came to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age of 33 despite the statistics predicting the occurrences to be more prevalent in post menopausal periods (Colditz GA et al , 1995 ,

. 52

The rest of the family lives in Europe where they tend to the family business . Although they have been there to help her cope with the trying moments , the distance apart has not helped much and she has to rely with her husband and close friends for physical and emotional support . How families cope with breast cancer cases is one of the most explored s . Different people react in varied manner after learning that the close friend or partner has been diagnosed with breast cancer (Heiney et al , 2001 ,

. 134 . Women with breast cancer should be cared for and comforted by their families as they go through the hallowing process in search of cure . While it is important for family members and friends to be there for her and encourage her to think positively , intimate partners are shouldered with the duty to reassure the woman of their unconditional love and commitment (Invision , 2007 . Breast cancer is physically , mentally and emotionally devastating to all those involved especially to the close family members . If not handled with care , it might lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction and even a major break up in a family , more so between the affected partners

These were the thoughts running through Georgina 's mind after the doctor informed her of the test results . The impact of the diagnosis she was sure would have an impact not just in her life but also in those close to her . Worse still was the doctor 's opinion that the breast could not be salvaged and had to be surgically removed . This was the last blow to her already bruised physical and emotional stability . This is in the understanding of the role that breasts play in a woman 's sexuality and self image . They are the core source of their feminine identity and anything that may interfere with their existence and well being is bound to damage a woman psychologically (ehealth MD , 2004 . The normal functioning of the family structure is also at risk the family members may not understand enough or may be unaware of how to cope with the situation . Sometimes the breast cancer patient out of emotional stress maybe making demands that may seem unreasonable to the family members who might not understand her special needs . A woman has a higher risk of anxiety and depression immediately after losing her breast and it may lead to a family crisis like divorce should they fail to adjust according to the changing situations (ehealthMD . 2004

Communication among the family members should be encouraged and if possible professional counseling and guidance should be sought . This will be in the hope of easing any family or mental distress that might arise . Marriage institution at this time faces eminent risks of breakup a factor further exacerbated by the extra ordinary support required by the woman (Hodgson et al , 2003

Georgina considers herself to be among the luckiest women despite the minor setbacks . She attributes the progress she has made in breast cancer as having come from the support she has continually received from her loving husband , children and her other family members Her husband she says has all along been very encouraging and even took the initiative of looking for her the best physician they could get . He takes the day off from his busy schedule to see that the children needs are met when Georgina is either in the clinic or when she is recuperating from the ongoing therapy

The family is a very fragile institution solely held together by the nature of the bonds that exists among the family members . Other families , unlike Georgina 's might not be able to absorb the shock of breast cancer in their family . To cope with the complications of breast cancer requires an insurmountable amount of emotional and financial strength that might be lacking in many families . Women may feel sexually unattractive and inadequate . This is a scenario that requires to be attended to with utmost care and diligence from their partner Counseling should be provided to those partners in the understanding that their sex-life is not to be affected by the emerging developments Misunderstandings and conflicts usually arise from this sole factor . It might lead to a major break up in the family

Women diagnosed with breast cancer require support and care from their close relatives and friends . Mere diagnosis of cancer should not be used as the source for family conflicts and dissatisfaction in marital affairs . Rather these situations should be handled amicably as the mother undergoes a series of therapy to improve her situation

Reference

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Breast Cancer . Curr opin oncol

Colditz GA , Hankinson SE , hunter DJ , Willett WC , Manson JE , Stampfer MJ 1995 , The Use of

Estrogens and Progestin 's and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Post Menopausal Women . NEnglJMed

Coleman , C , Norman 1998 . Understanding cancer . Maryland : John Hopkins Press

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HYPERLINK "http /wwwehealthMD .com /livingwithbreastcancer .htm http /wwwehealthMD .com /livingwithbreastcancer .htm

Family doctor .org editorial staff , September , 2005 . Breast Cancer : Steps to finding Breast lumps

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Invision , 2007 . Coping with Breast Cancer : Reacting to a Loved one Diagnosis of Breast

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James Fahaer , June 2007 . Kids Health : Breast Cancer . Retrieved on 28th /08 /07 from

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Kash KM , Holland JC , Haper MS , Miller DG (1992 . Psychological distress and surveillance

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Nash , Jennie 2001 . The Victoria 's Secret Catalog never Stops coming and other Lessons I

learned from Breast Cancer . New York : Scribner

Verones , U , Luini A , Del Vecchio M , Grecom and Galimberti V , 1993 . Radio therapy after

breast feeding . Preserving surgery in women with localized cancer of the breast . NEngLJ Med

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