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Sharing drives education and awareness
Hi there!
I’m Erna, the author of Care Fully.
My caregiver journey started over 20 years ago, when I was 21 years old. As a newly minted college graduate, my life was just beginning. I had no idea how to deal with the ups, downs, and in-betweens of caregiving for my Mother.
Care Fully is a play on words. The questions I am asked and the questions I still have drive each issue of this newsletter.
We “care fully” by balancing our needs as a caregivers with those we provide care for. My goal is to offer up experiences and information to support your caregiving needs.
If this edition was forwarded to you, please sign up for your own copy here.
Today’s edition discusses:
Breast cancer awareness.
Links of note.
The impact of celebrity on caregiving and serious illness.
HEALTH
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally.
In 2022, an estimated 670,000 deaths were due to breast cancer. Half of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors. Men make up 0.5-1% breast cancer cases.
Early prevention makes a significant difference.
Every passing year, brings new insights, science, and technology advances. An example is Clarity Breast, an AI powered breast cancer risk prediction tool that received FDA authorization this past summer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) selected “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” as this year’s awareness theme. The differences in our respective journeys provides inspiration and helps us recognize the strength in each other.
Remind those in your circle (and yourself) the importance of keeping doctor appointments. And, review this tip sheet for a refresher on breast self exams.
LINKS OF NOTE
News for you.
“Consistency enlarges ability,” states James Clear. Family caregivers know this to be true from the range of simple to complex caregiving tasks we hold, often with minimal training.
Looking for a non-degree program for the near future? Harvard’s School of Public Health has many options, including The Global Health Leadership Program.
Meet Mana, a new, multi-lingual digital caregiving platform for those with cognitive challenges. Mana integrates 10+ age-tech devices into one system.
CAREGIVING
Serious illness in the mainstream.
A few celebrities have shared their caregiving journeys with us. Bradley Cooper produced a documentary about caregiving. Seth and Lauren Rogen have also discussed their caregiving efforts. Maria Shriver, Queen Latifah, Rob Lowe, and others have publicly spoken about their experiences with caregiving.
Last year, Bruce Willis’ family shared his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Bruce enjoyed a memorable career as an action star and it was difficult to process him experiencing such a debilitating disease.
Every celebrity or caregiver who uses their platform to discuss caregiving, increases awareness. It offers those removed from caregiving or serious illness with a point of reference.
Lisa and Sean, are an Ohio couple dealing with FTD. Sean was 50 years old and “healthy” when he was diagnosed.
Lisa states how hard it was to help people understand what was happening to Sean. Eventually she said, “it’s the same diagnosis Bruce Willis has.” The Willis reference “helped fill the silence” as she conveyed Sean’s news.
Learning your loved one has a serious illness is heartbreaking. In the midst of navigating those waters (or shortly after), I truly appreciate those who can open themselves up and let us into their stories It helps normalize caregiving and creates another point of connection.
TILL NEXT TIME
Thanks for reading my newsletter. If you like it, please:
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Take care,
Erna
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