I read with dismay the latest celeb to chop off her breasts in a valiant effort to stave off cancer. Angelina Jolie decided to have a double mastectomy after learning that tests revealed that she may have an 87% chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.
Now as appalling as this procedure is to me I do understand the fear. After all who wouldn't be afraid of dying from such a disease? But the facts are that there is NO tests that can truly predict you getting cancer. In fact the latest mammogram facts are dismal with many false positives and false negatives to be a great marker for health. The thing is this. NO ONE knows who will get cancer or any other disease unless it's a genetic one of chromosomes.
There are many factors in the world of health and I imagine that Ms Jolie has the odds in favor with a good lifestyle and healthy habits to protect her.
As for her choice to do this; I absolutely do believe a person has a right to do what they wish with their own body. But this is a dangerous trend in that she announced it to the world and encouraged others to get tested. THAT bothers me. Just because she believes it; will make many follow in hero worship right onto the operating table to have their breasts chopped off....after all it's a great way to stop cancer right? Didn't Angelina say so?
The thing is; cancer is not one disease; breast cancer is but one of MANY types of cancers. If your body is unhealthy; if your pH is off; if you smoke, drink or do other unhealthy lifestyles you have a greater risk of disease of any kind. Cutting ones breasts off is not a protection from another cancer coming for you.
So what next? A kidney removed? A colon taken out? How about taking at least one lung?
The whole "chicken little" scenario is freaking me out.
I wonder ....would a man be willing to have his testicles removed if they were healthy in an effort to save himself? How about a radical mastectomy for men? They get breast cancer as well you know. Or maybe we should line men up for prostate removal....a major cancer spot in men. Have them remove those pesky organs.....after all we've done that to millions of women....you know where the word "hysterectomy" comes from don't you? Women's hormones got out of whack so they yanked out the offending organs and called it a hysterectomy so the women wouldn't be hysterical anymore....nice huh?!
Somehow I get the creepiest feeling that some Dr Mengele is behind all this horrifying trend to experiment on women. And that bothers me very much. You think I'm being stupid? So let me ask you this; when was the last time you saw a guy have his nut sack mashed in a machine to test for lumps and maybe cancer? But millions of women subject themselves to this very procedure; all in the name of "health"....and are browbeaten if they don't.
I just think when a woman has an issue we seem to go too far in "protecting" her from her body betraying her.....but where is the fear in men? Are they just tougher or is it the predominantly male scientific population that seems to think it's ok to try these things on women?
I know from personal experience the devastating loss of a person I love to cancer. I'm not belittling those who've had it or have been in my shoes. But we need to take a collective breath here people and THINK of the long term consequences of mutilating our body's before we decide to take the plunge that we cannot undo in having a major surgical procedure like this.
