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Show 6 The Sampler, May 10, 1984 The Child Bringing breast cancer out of the closet By S. Shappee Breast cancer fun.. Nor is it very isnt very pretty; expect to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Cancer is like a thief in the night; it sneaks up when we arent looking and disrupts our lives and takes those we love away from us. News of cancer in a family member can evoke an assortment of emotions. It is scary. But a diagnosis of cancer does not have to mean a death sentence. monthly basis. This familiarization leads to early notice of V --s.' v .t f ' i-.- - -- sy earlier, but could feel after. But she will recover and then she will be done. Deciding in favor of this mode of treatment was not easy. The impact of prolonged radiation therapy upon the body is great and impossible to ignore. We are all proud of the healthy attitude that she has adopted during this time. She jokes about 'glowing in the dark like a radium dial on a watch. ''That way. Ill be easier to find, she kids and makes light of the five days away from her family while isolated for the implant. Anyone who is in the 'reproductive' years is banned entrance to her room. Her decision against surgery was no easy choice. She looked at the long recovery period and disfigurement that would be involved and felt that the radiation therapy was the smartest choice for her. She has had no regrets or second thoughts regarding her choice. While her story may not be spectacular to the locals, of this area and the readers of this publication, the message behind it is very pertinent. Women need to be informed of their choices and must be assertive in their care and maintenance of their bodies. ' infant stage, her choice of treatments was fairly broad. d While the surgeon total masectomy with chemotherapy, the ' - - j x t J may have more questions than they can find answers ,for. Bun was lucky to be. treated by a radiation epecial-ist who took time and made sure that she felt all her ques- . ' radiation specialist advocated a less drastic surgery. Women who are faced with the decision of how to treat their disease should act care- fully and cautiously. An open line of communications must exist between physician and patient. Many women feel intimidated by their doctors and - V This exposure will be strong and no doubt she will feel sick for a couple of weeks no lumj. A mammogram uau auunu a questionable area, and her surgeon explained that a good sized 'chunk of breast tissue would be removed for the biopsy. She had difficulty dealing with the idea of losing so much breast, especially if she did not have cancer. Someone told her about a needle biopsy, one in which a sample is gleaned by the introduction of a need into the suspect mass and withdrawing an amount for study. It was done. After receiving the news of cancer, a 'game plan of sorts needed to be drawn up and a course of treatment initiated. With her cancer in such an ' v i radiation implants. would not be good. She had been advised to have a biop- . y weeks, she will be admitted to the hospital for five days of recpm-mende- IF . faJ tired easily. In a couple of The reactions from the three of us children were suspected that the news the disease occurred while still young. A woman who was involved with volunteer work with my mother lost both breasts and later her life to cancer. Watching the slow decline in her health, the loss of hair, the bodily disfigurement and the sickness due to strong radiation therapy was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. More recently, after much prodding from her children, my mother, whom we call Bun, consented to a biopsy and we all have dealt with the Perhaps due to the increase of awareness in women towards their bodies and their health, more women are examining their breasts on a apy, she was nauseated and were cancerous. spread of cancer. As a layman, I cannot dis- -' cuss the details of cancer or the treatments used in fighting it. Hiere are many different facets of the illness, and this expert understanding is what doctors study for years to unravel. My first encounter with But the sad truth is that every five minutes another American woman learns that she has breast cancer. And the incidence of the disease is on .the increase. One out of every eleven women can now i fi tact masses in her breast changes in the breast and early detection is still the best weapon against the X4r 'I DECIDED THAT cancer isnt the end of the world! states Bun confidently. MI was aware of my options and with the support of my family and friends, I made my choice of treatment and have no regrets. She carries herself very tall for her 5'7 frame, shoulders square and chin up. Recently victorious in a fight to quit smoking, she has onjdiebtleagadnscanceelliotobhappee tions were answered in a way so that she really understood what would be happening to her. He fully explained what she should expect in side effects and what the long range prognosis was. She has since undergone twenty-fiv- e days of radiation treatment. While at first there was no strong side effects, by the last week of ther- -' Breast cancer doesnt . make good dinner time conversation. But it still needs to be spoken about. It is possible to have cancer, be treated for the disease, and to recover. Early detection through treatment that is as as self-examinatio- n, non-traumat- ic possible, and a healthy relationship between patient and physician can only help women beginning the long and hard battle against breast cancer.' program as 1983 training and establish accounts with appropriate financial organizations such as banks, credit unions and commanders conference. The sergeant major of the Army had recommended it as Under the sure-pa- y plan a soldiers net pay goes directly to an account in an financial organization of the soldiers those soldiers serving in permanent duty assignments. conversion will affect only den deployment can create difficulties for those whose checks normally go to their unit or to a designated mailing address. This means the finance officials. savings and loan associations. Officials emphasize that the Commanders will have authority to waive sure-pafor some soldiers. These include those soldiers in need of further training in manag- ing a checking account, and choice. Conversion of pay accounts fqr officers and the three senior enlisted grades is scheduled to begin July 1. On that date, local unit com- y soldiers stationed where there are no U.S. financial manders will begin conducting special personal financial management training designed to prepare soldiers. Soldiers in pay grades E-- 6 and below will be phased into . ' facilities (such as in Turkey, Greece and Spain). The proposal to enroll all soldiers in sure-pa- y originat Army-wid- e a means of improving deployment readiness. Officials acknowledge sud- paycheck heads in one direc-.tiowhile the soldier goes in another. The result: delayed pay, which can lower morale as well as create financial difficulties. This problem sur- faced, for example, during the Grenada.operation. While the programs primary thrust aims at im wife deteriorates to the point where either one or both consider obtaining a legal separation or divorce. A couple thinking about separation should consider seeking an attorneys advice. Since an Army Judge Advocate legal asisstaiice attorney cant represent soldiers or family members in court, a civilian lawyer should be. hired. However, consulting a legal assistance attorney still might be worthwhile. Not only can they prepare a separation agreement, they also can give advice about residency Military lifestyle strains marriages by Edward B. Downey Military life can be difficult in many ways. It can be especially stressful for married soldiers. Long hours, weeks of field maneuvers, and espcially the separation of families by overseas assignments may cause severe strain on a mar- riage. Unfortuantely, many families dont survive these problems. All too Often, the relationship between a husband and proved readiness, officials note that family members also should benefit. Un- announced deployment dom permits family members time to arrange finances, but sure-pa- y and a joint account assure the familys uninterrupted access to hinds. Officials point to certain direct personal advantages in sure-paeven for the sel- y, non-deploy- ed solider. Direct n, requirements, potential for alimony, child support and .child custody. They can give advice as well concerning legal rights and obligations relating to issues of marital property, existing debts and visitation rights. Furthermore, legal assistance attorneys can help separating couples seek other professionals who deal with the emotional aspects of "breaking-up- . A couple considering a se- paration or divorce should realize that when one spouse moves, there will be two rent and utility payments due each month; therefore, strict deposit eliminates such problems as waiting in lines to buy money orders and deciding how much to safeguard cash. Currently, Army statistics show about 55 percent voluntary participation in the program. (ARNEWS) budgeting will be necessary. Additionally, if the couple had only one car, one spouse may be left without transpor- tation. When a couple decides to legally separate, a separation agreement is drawn, up; the agreement represents a con- tract between the two per- sons. When one person fails to abide by its terms, a "breach of contract results. To enforce terms of the contract, one spouse must sue the other in court. Sucha suit could be a long and expensive endeavor. Enforcement of a divorce action works differently. In a divorce action, a judge signs the divorce degree. If one side breaks the terms established by the decree, that party could be held in contempt of court. Also, failure of a soldier to pay child support, as ordered by a court, could result in a garnishment of pay, involuntary allotments from pay and allowances, or recoupment of basic allowance for quarters. Those needing assistance in preparing a separation agreement should call the legal assistance office on their installation. . wjiny i yntfo Scars of abuse more than skin-dee- p my punishment for being a victim. I thank God that my little spark of hope for the future never died out. I count myself among the lucky ones. Though the beatings, burnings and humiliation had ended with my fathers death 14 years ago, and although the bruises had long since faded, I still lived as a victim of child By Maria J. Nadie the day I still remember e my religion class discussed child abuse. Sister Paula asked what Id do were I to see a neighbor abusing his child. She didnt like my answer "Im sure I wouldnt do it, I said, "but Id want to call the police and get the guy thrown in jail. She said I held an lOth-grad- abuse. For me, as for an astonishing number of children, child abuse and neglect cause as much emotional un-Christi- an attitude. "I think you expect too much from people, she told me. . "Youre wrong, I thought damage as physical. The emotional scars left by the abuse never heal completely. I wonder to what degree the soaring inddence of child suidde relates to abuse. One thingss for sure: those kids never will be able to tell us. I also wonder what talents and angrily. "I expect nothing from people, especially from grown-upyou Silent Screams I had completely rejected people by age 12. 1 began losing faith in them the day I sat s. so-call- ed through kindergarten with my fathers handprint em- . adult criminals might have offered society had they- not been stifled by their child-- ; hood victimization: Many of - these "losers report such abuse, but who knows exactly how many? Child abuse robs children lieved that no one cared whether 'I lived or died anyway. After all, no one ever of their sense of worth as . human beings. Psychological studies show that abused otherwise. No one ever questioned my inability to smile, my isolation from family and schoolmates, my refusal to partici- children tend to display high levels of antisocial behavior, aggression and anxiety. Their ability to think cognitively and to develop language, perceptual and motor skills often suffers. They may be impaired in self concept, ego competency, reality testing, defensive functioning and pate in group activities, or . my excessive sleeping habit. No one ever asked, Why? when I would respond to expressions of sympathy by saying: "Dont be sorry . . . Im overall thought processing. Changing the legacy of abuse Children are human beings who deserve the same rights not. Im glad my father's dead. Pondering A Way Out I felt as if I were alone in the world, and that the best I to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as their elders. But their vulnerability gates adults to protect these rights for them. We must remain alert to signs of abuse, and must report our suspicions immediately. We also must seek psychological, as well as medical, help for the could expect was survival, not life. Though I sometimes dreamed of a brighter future, I just couldnt handle the present misery. While other kids my age were dating, having parties and drug adgifts our nations e dicts, teen-agprostitutes, juvenile delinquents and bossed on the left side of my face; no one questioned the mark. By the time I reached 9th grade, I had given up on life. From my point of view, I wasnt losing anything. I be- gave me reason to think converts to sure pay for soldiers Army "Sure the direct ed at the they complete pay deposit will soon become the standard way of paying all soldiers, according to plans recently announced by Army . by Michelle Jones This is the child Battered, bruised . . helpless And for no obvious reason, is tormented and beaten. The bruises and blood will vanish with time. But the scars will remain, Memories of a time never forgotten. But often relived through another child. It is a disease that is always there to haunt the victim Not only to be felt now but to be passed on through generations. Love a child and the love felt will be the the love that is carried on developing those social skills that come with adolescence, I was plotting my death. I knew I had to die before by 18th birthday -before I became one of those victims. By striving only to erase the unpleasant physical hypocritical, adult cowards who care about noboby but re- minders of abuse, we come nowhere near eliminating the themselves. Im nearly I 24 years old now; survived both my 18th problem. Unless we also treat the emotional scars, child abuse will continue to haunt us generation after generation. and 21st birthdays. I cry sometimes when I think how dose 1 came to taking my life Savings bonds: A quick way to get rich least five years earn market-base- d interest. So youre d world is Todays filled with a variety of schemes. Unforfast-pace- get-rich-qui- ck tunately, most didnt work. , Millions of Americans have found that slow, steady savings, rather than fast fortune, brings them the things they want. And saving still works best. With payroll savings or allotment, you just have your employer set aside something guaranteed an equitable return. Theres even a guaranteed "floor to provide com- plete protection against a market slow-but-su- re from each paycheck. Then forget it. Sooner than you think, youll have a bankroll to remember. It's easy and automatic. You never see the mpney youre saving, so you dont miss it. And savings bonds held at - drop. If the market goes up, you win. If it goes down, you cant lose. Thats an opportunity without risk. While not as exciting as a wildcat oil well or sunken gold, these better-than-evsavings bonds are absolutely er reliable and guaranteed against loss, theft or destruction. Savings bonds may not be . the fastest way to make a buck, but theyre a great way to save one. |