Exercise Reduces Breast Cancer Death Risk

According to a recent report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women who are active after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a better chance of surviving the disease. The paper also concluded that this applies to women who only commence exercise after they have been diagnosed.

Dozens of studies over the past two decades have shown that exercising can reduce breast cancer risk by up to 40 percent, while more recent research has found that physical activity has equal or even greater benefits for survival among women with the disease.

The study concluded that women who took regular exercise two to three hours weekly before they were diagnosed were 31% less likely to die from the cancer. Also, women who took up exercise only after being diagnosed had a 64% lower risk of dying compared to those who didn't exercise at all. In fact, those women who reduced the amount of activity were found to be four times more at risk of death.

Ode to a Mammogram

Let's start the new site with a bit of humour

For years and years they told me
Be careful of your breasts
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them
And give them monthly tests

I heeded all their warnings
Protected them by law
I guarded them most carefully
And always wore a bra

After many years of care
My doctor found a lump
She ordered up a mammogram
To look inside that bump

"Stand up close" she said to me
She got my boob in line
"And tell me if it ever hurts"
"Ah yes!" she said "that's fine"

She stepped upon a pedal
I'd not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate pressed down and down
My boob was in a vise!

My skin was pulled and really stretched
From underneath my chin
My poor boob was being squashed
To Swedish pancake thin

Excruciating pain I felt
Within this vise-like bit
Imprisoned in this vicious thing
My poor defenseless tit!

"A deep breath now" she said to me
Who does she think she's kidding?
My chest is mashed in her machine
And woozy I am getting

"That was good," I heard her say
The room was slowly swaying...
"It's time now for the other one"
Have mercy I was praying

It squeezed me from the left and right
It squeezed me up and down
"I'll bet she's never had this done"
I muttered with a frown

If I had had no problem
I'd surely have one now
If there had been a cyst in there
It would have popped, "KER-POW!"

This test created by a man -
Of this, I have no doubt
I'd like to stick his balls in there
And see how they come out!