Gender Identity and Cancer...

[Toughy]

This is a great resource is you need to find a 'friendly' health care provider...

www.glma.org

[Toph]

BB and I watched this movie Southern Comfort, a documentary following an FTM and his queer friends, all living in the conservative deep South, as they go through the experience of losing their dear mentor to ovarian cancer. The tremendous difficulty he and his friends had finding him treatment for a "female" cancer was heart breaking, yet the dedication in the community reminded me of the tightness in our own. Here's a link to the documentary:

http://www.nextwavefilms.com/southern/



i saw that a few years ago, it is a sad reminder BUT a necessary one to show people the reality of the battle.

[Medusa]

I think it is super important for people to get their yearly screenings.

Jackhammer went on her Birthday do get a pap test and breast exam. The fact that NOBODY likes doing this is one thing but the fact that she is a Butch woman in the South who often presents as "Male" to people who don't know her is another.

I have dated Butches in the past who refused to get their medical screenings because they were so uncomfortable or they didn't want anyone looking at the parts of their body that they weren't necessarily crazy about or in touch with. I was sad when it happened.

Peeps - Do NOT put your health at risk. Get your checkups no matter your gender!

[Toph]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I think it is super important for people to get their yearly screenings.

Jackhammer went on her Birthday do get a pap test and breast exam. The fact that NOBODY likes doing this is one thing but the fact that she is a Butch woman in the South who often presents as "Male" to people who don't know her is another.

I have dated Butches in the past who refused to get their medical screenings because they were so uncomfortable or they didn't want anyone looking at the parts of their body that they weren't necessarily crazy about or in touch with. I was sad when it happened.

Peeps - Do NOT put your health at risk. Get your checkups no matter your gender!

our pride won't help those we leave behind because we had 'too much pride' to pay attention...just saying

[clay]

My PCP bugged me for almost 10 yrs. to get a colonoscopy and to do the regular hemoccult cards....being the "stubborn" soul I am.....never got them.
Last year I was found to be precancerous in the uterus, referred to a Gynecological Oncologist...who even before she saw me ordered a colonoscopy! So I went on and got it...no questions asked...and am I ever grateful I did so. The scope found a malignant tumor in my colon.
So she tag teamed with a surgical oncologist...and I had a total hystero AND a colon resection done simultaneously! I was very close to Stage I colon cancer BUT managed to dodge a major bullet by having had that colonoscopy done!~!! I didn't have to have chemo OR rad.
I am a MAJOR advocate for getting those yearly screenings done.
After 50, get that colonoscopy! Colon cancer is detected this way!!!
I am pushing my younger sibling to get one done..as his chances of developing colon cancer DOUBLED with my having had it.
Colon Cancer is the SECOND leading cause of Cancer deaths!
My life partner lost her life due to her refusal at getting even a mere physical yearly. When her cancer was found, she was Stage IV...it was breast Ca that had mets.'ed to liver/lung/brain/kidneys..
So to ECHO.......let go of that foolish notion and pride.....
PLEASE get those annual screenings and physicals done!!!!
A pride is much easier to deal with than a broken heart and an empty void of losing someone!!!!

[Corkey]

Cancer sucks harder than getting a pap, or breast exam or a colonoscopy. I've had 2 colonoscopies in 3 years, a total Laprotomy due to fibroids that thankfully were benign. My mother died of cancer that had metastasized, so don't put your health at risk, do what you need to to stay healthy, everyone.
If you think you'll be embarrassed with an exam, try being in the hospital with strangers taking care of wiping ones bum. There are worse things in the world than an exam.

[Blade]

I don't understand why we (general) ignore the important things in life that we actually have control over, if we will just take control. I have always gotten my yearly exams. I will be 50 in a few weeks, so yall know what that means.

Below is a partial list of people in my life, who's life has been cut short due to letting the symptoms slide or not getting an annual check up.

That constant cough may not be from smoking
RIP...... Tony 47...2005....lung

Cancer doesn't care that you are retired Navy
RIP ......Tim 49 2003.......liver

Doesn't matter that you are a nurse
RIP..... Paulette 63..........2007....breast

Cancer doesn't care that you are a Mom with small children
RIP Barbara 38........2007......ovarian

Say your get up and go has got up and gone, you feel sickly daily and this isn't like you
RIP Lanny 54...........2012.....leukemia

You are a highly decorated Vietnam vet, picture of health, nonsmoker, suddenly you can't swallow, get checked
RIP Mike 49..........1999.....Throat likely from breathing agent orange

RIP Johnny 53......2001...Stomach also likely from bathing in agent orange

You are a great father, husband, employee, christian, but you continually unexpectedly lose your bladder...dude cancer don't care
RIP Bobby 52....2000.......back and bladder cancer

You are never to old to get cancer get it checked out
RIP Maude 83....1993.....melanoma

Or to young
RIP Jeff 23......1992......shoulder.......started as a lump

Cancer doesn't care how many kids lives you have touched or how many times you have been teacher of the year
RIP Ricky 52......2006........leukemia....remission....leuke mia

The earliest I remember losing someone to cancer was my homeroom teacher in 1977...Mr Cully...I have no idea how old he was but I believe younger than my parents were so early thirties, nor do I remember what kind of cancer.

See where I'm going with this? Just go get checked if you have unusual symptoms and get your annual check ups. Your family and friends will thank you.

[Toph]

Originally Posted by Blade

I don't understand why we (general) ignore the important things in life that we actually have control over, if we will just take control. I have always gotten my yearly exams. I will be 50 in a few weeks, so yall know what that means.

Below is a partial list of people in my life, who's life has been cut short due to letting the symptoms slide or not getting an annual check up.

That constant cough may not be from smoking
RIP...... Tony 47...2005....lung

Cancer doesn't care that you are retired Navy
RIP ......Tim 49 2003.......liver

Doesn't matter that you are a nurse
RIP..... Paulette 63..........2007....breast

Cancer doesn't care that you are a Mom with small children
RIP Barbara 38........2007......ovarian

Say your get up and go has got up and gone, you feel sickly daily and this isn't like you
RIP Lanny 54...........2012.....leukemia

You are a highly decorated Vietnam vet, picture of health, nonsmoker, suddenly you can't swallow, get checked
RIP Mike 49..........1999.....Throat likely from breathing agent orange

RIP Johnny 53......2001...Stomach also likely from bathing in agent orange

You are a great father, husband, employee, christian, but you continually unexpectedly lose your bladder...dude cancer don't care
RIP Bobby 52....2000.......back and bladder cancer

You are never to old to get cancer get it checked out
RIP Maude 83....1993.....melanoma

Or to young
RIP Jeff 23......1992......shoulder.......started as a lump

Cancer doesn't care how many kids lives you have touched or how many times you have been teacher of the year
RIP Ricky 52......2006........leukemia....remission....leuke mia

The earliest I remember losing someone to cancer was my homeroom teacher in 1977...Mr Cully...I have no idea how old he was but I believe younger than my parents were so early thirties, nor do I remember what kind of cancer.

See where I'm going with this? Just go get checked if you have unusual symptoms and get your annual check ups. Your family and friends will thank you.

sadly, we all have lists like this!

the losses are astounding the grief sometimes unbearable.

thanks for your words