Today is World Cancer Day!
According to the World Health Organization, tips to lower cancer risk include:
Not using tobacco
Exercising regularly
Eating healthy foods
Avoiding strong sunlight for prolonged periods
Drinking less alcohol
Still, following these recommendations may not always be enough to prevent cancer.
My mother—of blessed memory—began feeling ill in mid-February 1994. Her condition and mood became increasingly poor in the following two weeks. For instance, her belly grew as if she was pregnant, and her urine turned dark.
She was hospitalized on February 28th. Exactly two weeks later, she passed away at age 48. An extremely aggressive form of ovarian cancer was the cause. An option to treat her urgently in Houston was discussed, but she never stood a chance.
My mother was an active, healthy woman who never smoked. Although it wasn't enough in her case, I still believe that prevention will always be the best cure.
Healthy lifestyle choices and early detection can help avoid most cancer cases, so please take care of yourself!
If you or someone you know is going through this, I'm sending my support.
I owe to my mother who I am today. She's the one that encouraged me to learn both English and medicine.
When I was 7, she got me the Once Upon a Time... Life book collection. Those books were based on a French animated series about the human body for children.
I loved learning about the human body so much that I considered becoming a physician. Yet, I ended up favoring foreign languages and communication instead.
Interestingly, I found a way to marry those disciplines by specializing in medical translation.