FEMININO: How often do you check?

It's been a while I posted on the label FEMININO and it makes me feel negligent.

The reason I opened the page is to pass some information across which to those who already know it will serve as a reminder and to those who don't it becomes a source.

*****

So, some might wonder "how often do you check what?".

What = Breasts!

>>>

I have stumbled upon a few more cases of breast cancer online these past weeks and most of the cases were pretty advanced! It made me wonder, what if they had checked more often?

Don't get me wrong I am not implying that checking regularly will prevent the cancer from developing but it sure would aid early detection! Early detection means better prognosis.

Key points:

Q: When is the best time to perform the breast self-exam?

A: it is best to check halfway through your menstrual cycle(anytime from the end of the menses is fine)..,because most female tumors are hormone dependent.,,,,have you ever wondered why your breasts feel fuller when you are expecting your period? It's pretty much the same way any abnormal growth inside will most likely increase in size around that same period! 

Q: How to perform the breast exam?

A:  M-B-S....Mirror, Bed, Shower!

 Start in front of a mirror: Study the shape,size,drape,skin color and symmetry of your breast carefully first with both arms hanging loosely on your sides, then move your hands to your waist and then clasp them behind your head...all the while studying your breast carefully.

Next starting from the middle with one hand still behind the head make small circular motions on the breast with the free hand from bottom to the other side..,paying attention to any swelling visible or felt in the armpit area. Switch hand and repeat. The breast should feel uniform without abnormal bumps.

After the both breast have been checked slightly press each nipple between thumb and fore-finger..In  norm there should be no discharge with exception to lactation.

To the Bed: Same movements only with change of body position..,lie back with a pillow beneath your head and shoulders..,repeat the hand motion as above on each breast.

In the Shower: The importance of this part is the ease of hand movement due to the extra slipperiness given by soap.., so make sure you have enough lather..,then repeat the hand motion on each breast.

Finito! You are done.

Take note of all your findings..,if you sense anything off..,contact you gynecologist immediately!

Once every month, approximately 15 minutes of your time could be a life-saver and an opportunity to know your body more!

P.s: For those who are not confident they are doing the exam right ,ask your gynecologist to directly teach you on your next appointment, also when you are there you could ask for the breast self exam cards..,they are tiny cards with pictures and step by step instructions on how to perform the exam..,get one of those and give it a place on your bathroom mirror!

Be health conscious, be body conscious, be wise...

Know your body!

Cheers!!

FEMININO : OESTROGENS 101

Hi everyone, today is one of those days I want to bore some of us with some medical stories..,yep! I said bore because some of us do not really like anything without fashion,gist or some global news orientation but I would like to say here that knowing some basic things about how our body works is also as important and as much fun too if not more!!
So, lets take the journey together!!

***
OESTROGENS!
Someone just raised an eyebrow like "why the Plural?"

Oestrogen as a word per se doesn't refer to just one hormone as it implies as a singular word! That's why in this post I decided to use Oestrogens because its sounds more correct and helps keep it in memory that has components.!

Although if you say Oestrogen or Oestrogens it's still the same.

Oestrogens as a group can be broken down in 4 parts:

-ESTRONE (E1)
-ESTRADIOL(E2)
-ESTROL(E3)
-ESTETROL(E4 only during pregnancy)

Someone just said "hmm so what if they are four don't they just do the same thing?"

The answer: Yes and No.

First I think its important to know that quantitatively E3>E2>E1 that is E3 is more in circulation while E1 is the least!

Secondly, it is also important to know that E3 is the weakest and E2 is the strongest!
So imagine if one had more E3 than E2..,sure that person's organism won't function the same as if it had been the other way round.

****
All through the female's life the level of importance and predominance of each of these hormones vary greatly.

For instance during puberty till menarche, the chief controller is E2 , while during pregnancy E3 and E4 take over!
In post menopausal women E1 runs the show.

Where do they come from?
Main source is from the Ovaries (in non pregnant) and the placenta(in pregnant)
Other minor sources are breasts,adrenal gland,liver and fat cells. (Note: Fat cells as a source is especially important in post menopausal women)

What do they do?
They function basically the same (NOTE; Their functions are not restricted to only the female reproductive system. They impact the Blood system, Digestive system, Psychology in short every other system!)
Here I would list only their basic female reproductive system impact;
-development of sexual characteristics e.g breasts
-increase uterine growth
-increase vaginal lubrication
-regulation of menstrual cycle(to be explained further in a later post)

********
Hope you discovered something new?
I'd love to hear from you.,so please leave you questions and comments below.


Closing remark:
Everything in the human works in its entirety based on an order of balances, one thing out of place and everything is out of sync.
Don't forget to check my tab on FEMININO or go here
Cheers people!!
xoxo

Neurosurgery rotation: The dying girl.

Hi, everyone this is going to be a pretty long post.So if you are tired please turn around and visit later but if not, you could please hang in there and help me send forth your prayers.

My post today is going to be one of the most unusual I have written and as the title shows the story is from my Neurosurgery rotation.

****

The rotation started last week and I was having a pretty good time, nothing out of place ,nothing seeming too difficult until today.

According to the syllabus of the rotation, we are bound to observe surgeries and visit the Neuro ICU(intensive care unit).

So,on the day of our introduction to the Neuro ICU ,I was quite excited (people may wonder what is exciting about seeing sick people..I can't explain it myself but that's how Medicos are wired). We got there my wiring changed!(when I say we I mean myself and my 8 colleagues)

I don't know what I was expecting to see in the NeuroICU other than unconscious people attached to uncountable machines with wires, tubes and syringes hanging from virtually every body surface but there and then I did not want to be in the ICU but had no choice.

We were told to carry out some examinations on the unconscious patients and I kept moving to the back urging my other colleagues to step forward.

Let me sneak in an explanation, an unconscious body in this setting is virtually like a rag doll,you can slap,hit,pinch in short play football on it and nothing will most likely happen!

So, I kept moving behind but there was this particular patient that I moved forward to actually get a proper look at hoping to examine her.
Why you ask..,I was drawn to her bedside because she was really young early 20s in an ICU that is usually filled with older people with strokes.!
As a matter of fact I still did not touch her but I just kept looking at her face hoping she would miraculously open her eyes.
How did she get here?
A few days before she did a voluntary blood donation and she collapsed a few hours after..,she hit her head and she started bleeding into her brain..,blah blah blah and the story goes downhill from there..,usually when that happens,its not a joking matter.
She gave her blood and now here she lays motionless..I said a prayer for her in my heart and moved on

****
Today, we had to do follow up..,so we were back in the ICU. Let me state here that I left the Neurosurgery department around 4pm yesterday and I was back in 8.30am today and follow up began around 10am. Lo and behold 1 patient was missing..where is he?....Dead!!
I swallowed spit and moved on and there she was looking pale,her heart beat was racing, her arms and leg swollen and she is still in a coma.., all these signs are bad bad bad!In truth and medically speaking she is going to die no two ways about it..

I asked "Is there nothing more we can do for her?"..,and the surgeon/teacher in charge of us said with a tone of finality "we have done everything we can"

I was sad.
I am hoping for a miracle for her..,all she did was try to save another life by donating her blood and now she is laying there dying soon and someone else would get her blood and most probably live.

I say a prayer for her again.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow but today I thank God for the gift of Life.


Hope you are having a fair day?