"It Is Not So Much How Busy You Are, But Why You Are Busy. The Bee Is Praised. The Mosquito Is Swatted."

The Signs and Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer

Hi Queens, it has been a while. Life doesn't always allow you to plan and carry through those plans. So when you zig instead of zag, go with the flow and adapt. But don't allow this deterrent to dominant your true course in life. Queens, it is Tuesday which is health care day and the topic is Ovarian Caner.

What are the ovaries and the purpose of the ovaries? The ovaries are part of a woman's reproductive system. The ovaries make the female hormones -- estrogen and progesterone. They also release eggs. An egg travels from an ovary through a fallopian tube to the womb (uterus). When a woman goes through her "change of life" (menopause), her ovaries stop releasing eggs and make far lower levels of hormones.

How does the start of cancer happen? Experts have discovered that the proliferation of cancer is started with a mutated cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Every growth/tumor is not malignant. These tumors can be benign which is not life threatening. These tumors can be removed and they usually do not grow back. The tumors do not invade the tissues around them. Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant tumors are cancerous. They can be life threatening. Malignant tumors often can be removed. But sometimes they grow back. Malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cells from malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the lymphatic system or bloodstream. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes in the pelvis, abdomen, and chest. Cancer cells may also spread through the bloodstream to organs such as the liver and lungs. When cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the original tumor. For example, if ovarian cancer spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are actually ovarian cancer cells. The disease is metastatic ovarian cancer, not liver cancer. For that reason, it is treated as ovarian cancer, not liver cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease.

The risk factors associated with ovarian cancer are: Family history of cancer such as a mother, sister, or daughter with ovarian cancer. Also, women with a family history of cancer of the breast, uterus, colon, or rectum may also have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Personal history of cancer namely breast, colon or rectum cancer has a higher risk factor of developing ovarian cancer. Age women over the age of 55. Most women over 55 are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Never pregnant, older women who have never been pregnant have a increased risk of ovarian cancer. Menopausal hormone therapy: Some studies have suggested that women who take estrogen by itself (estrogen without progesterone) for 10 or more years may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Early ovarian cancer may not cause obvious symptoms. But, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

1. Pressure and pain to back, pelvis, abdomen and/or legs

2. A swollen or bloated abdomen

3. Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea

Less common symptoms are:

1. Shortness of breath

2. Felling the need to urinate often

3. Unusual vaginal bleeding (heavy periods, or bleeding after menopause)

There are several means of diagnosing ovarian cancer. They are pelvic exam, ultra sound, blood test, physical exam, or biopsy.

Queens, it is so important that we utilize our primary care physicians, specialized physicians and health care facilities to stay in tune with your health. Preventative measures and early detection are imperative to a positive outcome to concern ovarian cancer and other health scares.

The Tuesday's health blog topic of the day is to be used as a source of initial introduction to a health issue or to reinforce what knowledge you may already have. This information should not be used as a medical substitute from the sound and professional advice that your physician can offer you. For additional information, please log onto http://www.medicinenet.com/.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

"A Lot Of People Are Lonely Because They Build Walls Instead of Bridges."...Anonymous

Learning to connect and network women to women

Why is it so difficult for women to break the ice between one another. Studies have shown that men are so much better at initiating conversation and networking with each other. We are the most powerful group of consumers and women entrepreneurship is the fastest growing sector in the business world. I find it odd that we allow pettiness and insecurities from building and forging meaningful relationships with other women.

I have made a pact with myself to initiate and exchange information with a new person at least once or twice a week. I find the more often you expose yourself to this type of communication, it improves your communication skills, as well as, your self-confidence. I have discovered some interesting information and hopefully I have gained a friend that I may not talk with everyday but a contact that I can utilize or that I can pass on to someone else more suitable to use the contact and/or information.

Do you have any recent experiences good, bad or indifferent with initiating and connecting with another woman. When we come together with our differences and commonalities we unearth our own uniqueness. Again, become a beacon of light for someone today. A simple smile can be the deterrent that saves a life. Allow the goodness in you to radiate and to shine more brilliantly outside.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

Remember the month of June is dedicated to our Queens and the growth of new and established entrepreneurs. Join us this month in promoting and encouraging growing budding businesses. May your happiness, wealth, and health blossom with the Right Hand of God allowing the blessings from above to fall at your feet boundlessly. With these blessings be prepared to Bless

the next Queen with her God given and entitled Blessings.

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,"...1 Peter 2:13

What Does It Mean To Be Submissive In A Relationship

Queens, I thought I would take it there with this question. Does your attitude, demeanor, spirit, or your life style allow you to be submissive to your partner. Okay the juice is flowing now. I used the term partner but should that submissiveness only be gifted to that special man that has earned the title "Husband". Because whether you choose to believe it or not there is a difference in a partner and a "Husband". Okay back to the original question. Are you ready to be submissive to your partner/husband?

Oh Queens, let me initiate and instigate here. You independent, money making, house buying, jewelry wearing, Prada, Marc Jacob, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, YST, designer loving, I don't need any man, I can get it on my own sistahs, are you sure you can give the deserving man that comes into your life that honor of leader and head of the household? Queens you are stepping into a different rim of uncomfortability here when you relinquish your independence and your privilege and sense of entitlement because I earned it mentality.

I too have had the dubious and daunting responsibility of holding down a household, children, bills and a lifestyle that I have grown quite accustom to. I have called all the shots. I am the shot caller baller around here. I am the Mr and the Mrs. I have the sleepless nights of wondering how I could and would meet the mortgage again, which credit card should I pay , how little can I get away with putting down on an utility bill. Oh yes, my sistahs, I have been driving the 18 wheeler by myself for sometime. And the question, that I pose to myself, are you ready to be submissive, Tracey ReNissa. I say resoundingly, Hell yeah. My current position as head of household was not because of a controlling domineering spirit. It was dropped into my lap, I was forced into this role as a rapist forces his will onto his victim. Those words are strong but I say them with conviction and resentment. Resentment because the man that I was with did not allow me to be the submissive wife that God willed me to be.

Now I need to go to church here with you Queens. Before you can claim submissiveness, you need to know the origin, the purpose and the role that God has ordained for you as a wife. See here we go with partner vs. wife/husband. We need the gift of discernment to recognize a good man (Godly man). Reference 1 Peter 3: 1-6. "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."

Queens, check yourself. Prepare yourselves, know yourselves and understand the origin and role that you have been destined and ordained for since you were a child. I believe the title of submissiveness will and does come naturally when we place ourselves in God's Holy order. Equally important Queens, we need to dress, walk, possess and embody the spirit of entitlement of submissiveness. A man recognizes a woman who is of God. I too fall short of showing and manifesting these virtuous qualities. I recently allowed my desires to please a man to compromise my standards and to dictate what I realize and know to be true and Godly. Needless to say that situation didn't last. Be true to you and believe me when you place God first and yourself second, there will be order and peace in your life.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

Read 1 Peter 2: 13 and John 5:24

"If You Add To The Truth, You Subtract from It."...The Talmud

Fibromyalgia Signs and Symptoms

Have you been to numerous doctor's visits and have had countless tests. The doctors are stumped and completely clueless about the reason and origin of your pain and fatigue. You are starting to question your sanity. Well there may be an answer to this mysterious illness. Have you hear of Fibromyalgia. Yes, Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain.

Women are more likely to develop Fibromyalgia and there is a smaller percentage of men diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Nearly 2 percent of people of the United States are affected by this disorder. Fibromyalgia symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event.

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day. The pain associated with Fibromyalgia is described as a constant dull ache, typically arising from muscles. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist. Fibromyalgia is characterized by additional pain when firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your body, called tender points. Tender point locations include:

Back of the head
Between shoulder blades
Top of shoulders
Front sides of neck
Upper chest
Outer elbows
Upper hips
Sides of hips
Inner knees

Other symptoms of Fibromyalgia are sleep disturbance, depression, endometriosis, Irritable bowel syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Restless leg syndrome, and Lupus.

Doctors have not discovered the cause root of Fibromyalgia. There are some links that they believe are cross links. They are major infections, genetics, physical or emotional trauma.

Why does Fibromyalgia hurt? One theory is that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain because of increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals. Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain's pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.

Because of Fibromyalgia's vague symptoms, it is imperative to be vigilant in monitoring your health and knowing what precipitated or exacerbated any sudden changes. You are your main advocate. Become aware of your body and changes that may plague your body.

The Tuesday's health blog topic of the day is to be used as a source of initial introduction to a health issue or to reinforce what knowledge you may already have. This information should not be used as a medical substitute from the sound and professional advice that your physician can offer you. If this topic is of interest to you and you would like to research more information the link is http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

"Dreams - There Are No Rules Of Architecture For A Castle In The Clouds."...G.K. Chesterton

Mothers and Daughters Relationship

I have the dubious honors of being the recipient of the titles Mother and Daughter. Both titles carry their own distinct responsibilities and roles. I once thought that my role as a mother was the most fulfilling and rewarding of the two titles. This comment is not to slight mothers and their huge responsibilities as parents.

My mother passed several years ago. The loss of my mother's love, guidance, and inspiration has definitely impacted my relationships with my daughters. At times, I become too overwhelmed in my feelings of abandonment, grieve, and self pity. I often resent being in a relationship, as the mother, where your love, kindness, caring, and warmth are not equally reciprocated. I only hope that I can be the mother to my daughters that my mother was to me.

These blissful and joyous relationships can, at times, become volatile and disruptive during their teenage years. You at your best try to allow them (daughters) to grow and to mature into vibrant young ladies. I see the uniqueness in each of my daughters. It is difficult, at times, to maintain a relationship of mother and daughter and not their girlfriend. I can be your friend but the line of respect should be fostered and maintained. I welcome the opportunity to have my daughters to feel the comfort of openness. I want them to feel safe and to have the freedom to voice their opinion and concerns in a healthy manner. With all the disappointments and up's and down's, I love them unconditionally. I love them with the spirit of forgiveness, happiness, strength, empowerment and grace. I vicariously see life through them and I pray with optimism and hope for a better life for me as well as for Bria and Mya.

As we, the mothers, advance in age there is this natural metamorphosis or evolution that God in his infinite wisdom allows to take place where our roles and responsibilities shifts. If raised properly, the once young and innocent daughter with the pigtails and smiles take on the more dominate role. The transition is so subtle and benign that it is not obviously apparent to all parties involved. Until the day, when you are the one deciding where she will live, how her bills are paid and making vital health care decisions concerning your mother. When faced with these life altering tasks, remember the times that she wiped away your tears, promised you everything would be alright, sacrificed herself for your future. These are days that I will not have to share with my mother. So if you are so blessed to enter into this phase, cherish it. Never make her to feel like a burden and maintain her dignity and self respect.

If there is a splintered relationship between mother and daughter always remember there will never be too many times to heal the past and to relish and to rejoice in the future. I was once told that God gives us a mother because of the unconditioned love that she has for you. This is the closes experience of His love in the now and physical on Earth that you will ever experience until that day that you and Him are together.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa