"Indecision is often worse than wrong action."....Richard Nixon

Some Risk Factors Associated With Breast Cancer and Women

What is a risk factor? Per the Mayo Clinic, a risk factor is anything that makes it more likely you'll get a particular disease. Some risk factors, such as your age, sex and family history, can't be changed, whereas others, including weight, smoking and a poor diet, are under your control.

Today, I would like to explore some of these risk factors associated with breast cancer. It was interesting to discover that having one or more risk factors does not automatically mean that it a precursor to being a candidate for breast cancer. Most women with breast cancer have no known risk factors other than simply being women. In fact, being female is the single greatest risk factor for breast cancer. Although men can develop the disease, it's far more common in women. Here are some factors that may make you more susceptible to breast cancer include:

Age: Your chances of developing breast cancer increase with age. Close to 80 percent of breast cancers occur in women older than age 50.

A personal history of breast cancer: If you've had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.

Family history: If you have a mother, sister or daughter with breast or ovarian cancer or both, or a male relative with breast cancer, you have a greater chance of also developing breast cancer. In general, the more relatives you have who were diagnosed with breast cancer before reaching menopause, the higher your own risk.

Genetic predispositiona: Between 5 percent and 10 percent of breast cancers are inherited. About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene changes (called mutations) inherited from a parent

Early onset of menstrual cycles: If you got your period at a young age, especially before age 12, you may have a greater likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Race: White women are more likely to develop breast cancer than black, Hispanic or Asian women are, but black women are more likely to die of the disease because their cancers are found at a more advanced stage.

First pregnancy at older age: If your first full-term pregnancy occurs after age 30, or you never become pregnant, you have a greater chance of developing breast cancer.

Birth control pills: Use of birth control pills is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.

Excessive use of alcohol: According to the American Cancer Society, women who drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day have about a 20 percent greater risk of breast cancer than do women who don't drink.

Smoking: Evidence is mixed on the relationship between smoking and breast cancer risk. Some studies show no link between cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke and breast cancer.

According ot the National Cancer Institute, women in their 40s and older should have mammograms every 1 to 2 years. Women with an elevated risk of breast cancer need to talk to thier doctor about how often and when to get a mammogram. Ladies use this information as a source of reference when asking your health care profession all the questions you have and need answered. 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 further information regarding breast cancer, please consult with your family physician or an oncologist. The above information was retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/.

Personal Note from Tracey ReNissa:

My sister have you had your first mammogram? Check today with your mothers, sisters, aunts, neighbors and co-workers. This simple question, "Have you had a mammogram?" may be the five words to save a woman's life. Please share with us your experience or the experience of a love one to help save a life. Don't allow our indecisions, our busy schedules, our children, our partners, our jobs to dictate or navigate us into making the wrong decisions or wrong actions regarding our health.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

Dante once said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality."...John F. Kennedy

Are you grounded in your faith and how does your faith and your walk with God strengthened and define the person you are?

Good morning ladies. What is faith? I was told that Faith is the substance (Word of God) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for". I believe when we start to walk in Faith and believe in Faith, our lives, our walk, our desires, our dreams, and our wants are different.

We will no longer expect and settle for mediocre. We will no longer allow people to say and to do what is not righteous to us. Our relationships will start to take on a different formation because we will not settle for anything that is lower than what we have asked by Faith from God. If you are desiring a man to step up and to come into your life to compliment you as a woman, have a job, be a provider, believer and doer of the Word, to be the leader of your household, to treat you with respect and all the other attributes you have prayed for and is Faithful that God will deliver, then wait for these things ladies. While you wait, dress yourself in Faith, walk in Faith, talk in Faith, and most importantly, by Faith, realize that in God's time, He will give you all that you have asked for. This is applicable to all aspects of our life. Allow your Faith to be your gauge in your decision concerning your work, your career choices, finances and all decisions that we need to make.

My faith in the Word was recently tested. In that moment, I conceded to the Word of God and by Faith I allowed God to have the final determination. As I went through this situation, I had no fear of the outcome because I believed that the outcome was God's Blessings of what He wanted for me. I know that there is a purpose for my life but how I position myself and how I take these steps to get there is my walk with God in Faith.

Ladies, Faith is not given, it is acquired. Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God. So you see ladies, you must first know the Word of God, apply the Word of God and then await on the manifestation of God's Word.

Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

"It's hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road."....By Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Are Women Capable of Raising Boys to be Strong, Vibrant, and Reliable Men?

Boy, how poignant and profound. I have raised one male child who is now 22 years old. I currently have a 14 year old son. As a parent, I constantly reiterate the importance of an education, respect for adults and self respect. When I am no longer here, one of the things that I hope my boys, as well as my daughters, will remember is my saying that the choice you make today can effect your tomorrow. This point seems to be more difficult for boys to comprehend and internalize. Their sense of invincibility is insurmountable. I believe that women can teach and show our view points from a woman's perspective of what we think a man should be but the core lessons of being a man can only be articulated and demonstrated by a man. I realize that we have some very successful men that have been raised by single women but they are the exception to the rule.

I once used the analogy of a horse with blinders on and their only sense of direction and lead comes from the rider. I went on to say that my sons' funneled and narrowed vision of their future makes it difficult for them to appreciate the vastness of their potential, greatness and destiny. In our earnest efforts to raise strong, vibrant, and reliable young men, it is hard to instill the values of hard and honest work, integrity, and the fact that a man is judged by his actions and not by his words. There is a fine line women have to walk when disciplining boys to ensure that their spirits aren't broken and there is no built up hostility or resentment as a result of the discipline. Women don't allow our spirit of hurt and pain of yesterday hinder the growth of our sons' future. If there are fathers in your sons' lives and he is a good father, permit that relationship between father and son to flourish. Do women have the vital ingredients and foundation to raise a boy to evolve, mature and to possess the qualities that consist of steel, concrete, sensitivity, humility, integrity, honesty, and discernment?

"Bu idling to Last Forever"

"When a high-rise building goes up in my home city of Atlanta, Georgia, I think about the structure people cannot see. Underground is a grid of steel and concrete giving strength to all the floors stacked overhead. Just like a skyscraper, we need a firm foundation upon which to erect a life with enduring purpose. March 21st, 2009....In Touch Ministries

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

"Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will give you sympathy, sweat will get you change."...By Jesse Jackson

Self Breast Exam

Erotic Foreplay

Hi ladies, once a week I will focus on health issues that directly effects and impacts us as women. This should not be used as a substitute to medical advice and intervention that you should seek out from professional doctors.

The health topic this week is self breast exams. Next week, we will explore the risk factors associated with breast cancer. Also, if you or a love one have been diagnosed with cancer, please join us today or next week with your experiences. Self breast exams should be done once a month. Someone suggested as a reminder for us to remember each month when to conduct SBE is to do it the date of your birthday every month. So like me, I would conduct my SBE the 13th of every month. I will outline the essential steps that are needed when conducting a self breast exam. Please consult with your physician or health care profession if you have any questions. Also, if your doctor has taught you or instructed you to perform SBE differently, please follow the instructions that have been given to you by your physician.

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Here's what you should look for: breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color. breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin, a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out), redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes that are outlined in step 1.

Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side - from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows. This up and down approach seems to work best for most women. be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, to they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

Okay, ladies ready yourself for some pleasure that you may not of considered before. This monthly SBE can turn into erotic foreplay for you and your mate. Take the time to teach and instruct your partner on the techniques that I have outlined for you. Have him to rediscover your body and the beauty that you possess as a woman. Use the shower as your playground to slippery erotic fun or the candle lit quietness that the two of you can share in the privacy of your bedroom. Allow his hands and mouth to explore you with newness and no inhibitions. This is a time of pleasure as well as a time to ensure that his boo, his baby, his honey, his queen is on top of her health and well being. Well ladies, I can go on and on with this erotic foreplay but I will let you provide some input. Please feel free to comment on any other ideas you may have on techniques concerning SBE.

Information retrieved from www.breastcancer.org

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." .... By Will Rogers

Do you have clutter in your life?

On a daily basis my sister and I read passages from the Daily Bread. On Saturday, March 14, 2009 the title read Clearing Out the Clutter. It went on to read, "My garage serves as "storage" for things that don't have a place in our home, and, frankly, there are times periodically, I set aside a workday to clean it up." "Our hearts and minds are a lot like that-they accumulate lots of clutter." I immediately thought about my life and the clutter that has accumulated over the years. Sometimes, we unknowingly bring baggage from our past to our present situation. You can only be Blessed when you are in order with God. Before we attempt to enter into our next phase of our lives, we need to clear the clutter out of our lives to make room for our next Blessing. Do you need to clean out your heart, mind and life of clutter? Are you a hoarder of pain, hurt, and revenge? Allow your heart, mind and life to be cleansed of clutter, hurt, pain, shame, low self-esteem, hatred and guilt. Move to the light of forgiveness and the spirit of wholeness.

It is my prayer that after every daily entry, you will reflect on your life and examine yourself with honesty, truth, an integrity. Clutter is an insidious condition that invades and infects every part of our lives, relationships, and beings. Start today and remove your clutter.

Fill you heart with the beauty of God's Word. Make it clean to the core, and then leave the door open for all to see!

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa

"You may have the lofties goals, the hightest ideals, the noblest dreams, but remember this, nothing works unless you do." Nido Qubein

Today is another chance to make a difference. Use this day to your advantage. Don't allow another day to pass with regret. Ladies ready yourself for Monday March 23, 2009. This will score in my memory the start of, prayerfully, many happy times for me to come together with my sistas and celebrate.

Ladies, I have for some time, now, used the name Tracey ReNissa. ReNissa is my middle name. This unique name was given to me by my mother, Shirley Ann Lofton. My mother passed in 2001. With some of my recent revelations, evolvements and my every ending evolution of Tracey came the use of ReNissa. Are you being called the name that you are? Are you being called the name that we are projecting for others to see? It has become so transparent to me the importance of a name. I have always said that words are powerful. I believe it was the encouraging words of a grandmother that give us our first Black President of the United States, President Barack Obama. Sunday in service, it was gifted to those in attendance that Barack/Barak means "Blessed". Are you the blessing to yourself that you should be? Today walk with your heads held high, your shoulders squared, your hips should move in unison, place a smile on your face (makeup if you desire) but most importantly, let your name precede you. You are a child of God, you are a woman, a lady, a queen of the earth, a mother, sister, neice, aunt. grandmother, lover, wife, you are you. It doesn't matter what people call you, what's more important is the name that you answer to (thank you, Noreen).

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey ReNissa


What's in a Name?

Teach us that name to own,
While waiting, Lord, for Thee,
Unholiness and sin to shun,
From all untruth to flee. —Cecil

A Christian reflects Jesus Christ.

"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go to it."

Today is a liberating moment for me. I have for sometime aspired to help and to facilitate a medium for women from various races and social/economic and educational backgrounds to help, learn, teach, empower, and to share their joys, accomplishments, health and mental issues, financial concerns, and their tribulations. I believe we as women have more commonalities and power than we have differences. With the help and voices of my sisters, we will tackle issues that are important to each and everyone of us. Please feel free to submit your thoughts/concerns and maybe it will be our next top issue of the day.

Peace and Blessings,

Tracey Renissa

Though weak and helpless in life's fray.
God's mighty power shall be my stay:
Without, within, He gives to me
The strength to gain the victory

The trials of earth are samll compared with the triumphs of heaven.