Her Daily News

Merck& Co. developed Gardasil a few years ago, the first vaccine to fight any form of cancer.   This alone is quite remarkable.  Cervical cancer is aggressive, deadly  and often goes undetected.  It is also overwhelmingly caused by a virus.  Originally marketed to girls between the ages of 12 and 26, Gardasil is now being advertised and marketed to older women.

Gardasil is a vaccine used to protect against HPV, human papillomavirus, strains 16 and 18 which cause approximately 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer.  A recent study by the University of Alabama found that vaccinating older women could also significantly reduce the rates of cervical cancer.  This study found that cervical cancer rates could be reduced up to 55 percent for a 45-year old woman.

HPV is transmitted through sexual contact and the original thinking was that women should get the vaccine prior to becoming sexually active.

The CDC recently released the statistic that one third of girls ages 13-17 have received the Gardasil vaccine.

Gardasil has received sharp criticism because of the issue of side effects.  Click here to read more from WebMD on that issue.

Source: Dulcinia

Birth control becomes a campaign issue - an article by Cristina Page

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the original intent was to “connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children.” It was first observed in 1987, also that year, the first nation toll-free hotline was instated. Legislation was passed in 1989.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was created in 1978 when over one hundred advocates for women came together in Washington, DC to attend the Commission on Civil Rights’ hearing on battered women. The NCADV is celebrating 30-years of existence. This is a great accomplishment for women the world over. In 1970 there were no shelters for abused women. Today more than 2,000 shelters exist as part of a national movement to give women and their children a safe environment free from the threat of violence.

If you are interested in organizing for community awareness about Domestic Violence, visit this site here.

If you are in need of help from Domestic Violence, call this number NOW . The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Jennifer Hudson, a finalist from season three of American Idol and Academy Award winner in the 2006 motion picture Dreamgirls is also the unfortunate victim of a tragic crime that struck her family just last weekend on the South side of Chicago, Illinois.

Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found murdered, shot to death, in the living room of their home and to make a horrible, senseless crime even more difficult to swallow, for almost two days, her seven year old nephew, Julian King was missing and later found with multiple gunshot wounds, in the backseat of her brother’s stolen SUV.

Julian’s stepfather, William Balfour was detained for questioning in connection to the case. He was later transferred to prison for a parole violation charge.

Jodifur, from MamaPop said, “Ironically, October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. It is often overshadowed by Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is also a fabulous cause. But domestic violence touches so many lives, and this case is a prime example of the collateral damage caused in DV relationships. We think the batterer may just kill his wife or partner, (and I use his because 95% of the time it is a man, but not always) but that is not always the case. They often do kill the children or other family members. As is what may have happened in this case.”

Learn more about Domestic Violence, or call 1-800-799-SAFE, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Hudson sang at the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 at the request of Senator Barack Obama’s campaign.

SOURCE: CNN, MamaPop

The East African nation of Rwanda is trying something new. Historically dominated by men, women are driving the economy by working on construction sites, in factories, as truck and taxi drivers and also holding seats in the government.  With a population of 10 million, 55percent are women.

Rwanda is integrating women into government far more aggressively than any other African nation and this is putting them at odds within the continent.

Women currently hold a third of all cabinet positions. The foreign minister, education minister, police commissioner general, and Supreme Court chief are all women. Rwanda’s parliament is the first in the world where women are in the majority.

The countries of Africa have historically been ruled and governed by archaic patriarchal laws, including one that prohibits women from inheriting land. The legislature, now ruled by women is passing bills aimed at ending domestic violence and child abuse. There is hope that discriminatory laws will be purged from the legal code now that women are in charge and looking out for the greater good of the country, particularly one that requires a women to get her husband’s signature on a bank loan.

While the scars of recent genocide run deep, there exists a strong sense of national purpose among these women.

The capital of Rwanda is Kigali. Rwanda is bordered by Congo to the west, Burundi to the south Tanzania to the Southeast and Uganda to the northeast. It rests just south of the Equator and just west of Lake Victoria.

Source: The Washington Post, Print Edition, Monday October 27, 2008

Karen Hughes spoke on Larry King Live tonight (CNN) about Sarah Palin’s wardrobe and she was wearing a leopard print silk blouse.  And as I type this I am wearing unmatching pajamas and old ratty stained slippers.  So who has a better leg to stand on?  I don’t know, actually.

Within moments of being chosen as John McCain’s running mate the Republican National Convention had shoppers at Neiman Marcus and Saks shopping for new clothes for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  They have spent over $150,000 so far on clothing, make-up and accessories.  It was also reported by the Huffington Post and the Politico that the RNC also purchased clothing for her husband Todd Palin and her infant son.

Did you donate money to the RNC?  Do you mind that your money was spent on such adornments? I have heard that they plan to donate the clothes to charity but I do not have a source to back up that claim.

With all the crisis going on in this country right now it is shameful that we are discussing this issue.  Shameful that thirteen days before the most crucial and pivotal Presidential election in our nation’s history we are discussing a state governor/Vice Presidential candidate’s clothing as the headline story on Larry King Live.

McCain headquarters has said this is a trivial issue.

I think I agree.

Be careful what you say Democrats, it wasn’t too long ago that Republicans jumped on John Edwards for getting a $400 haircut with his own campaign funds.  He later paid the campaign back with his own money.  It isn’t unheard of for candidates running for a major office to treat themselves to some fancy tailoring and primping.   It really just gives us something to talk about on a slow news day, or when the DOW drops yet another 500 points.

More evidence of what RNC donors paid for:

…. at least she wears it well?

We credit the information age with allowing us faster communication, rather, instant communication. Email, text messages, twitter, blogs, Blackberries and cellphones with cameras, video baby-monitors and TiVo; we can see our sleeping children in the other room while pausing live television so that we can send a message via Twitter that we have updated our blog with a photo taken with the camera on a cellphone. There is nothing that cannot be communicated around the world in a matter of minutes, er, seconds.

But what if that email contained some information that you would rather hear in person and possibly over muffin laced with a serious apology. inSpot.org, launched in 2004 is a website that allows users to notify partners anonymously that they need to be tested for the STD HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis.

I think it is great that there exists a way to notify past partners that they could have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, however, this is a little, oh, odd? The benefits of someone getting tested and therefore early treatment outweigh the inhumane and potentially insensitivity of this notification method.

The site reported to CNN that over 50,000 cards have been sent since their launch and while the potential of misuse was a concern they have actually had very few complaints, specifically less than 10 cards that were received in error. Started in San Francisco this site has spread to New York, Chicago, Canada and Romania.

The website inSpot also provides information about where to go for testing and treatment. It also provides great and accurate information about treatable and curable STDs.

inSpot’s RESOURCE link is also quite well stocked.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer affecting women today in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 182,460 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2008. About 40,480 women will die from the disease this year. In the United States alone there are two and a half million survivors.

The best methods of breast cancer detection and ergo, eradication is a trifecta of behavioral practices: mammograms, an x-ray of the breast, for screening, clinical exams performed by your health care provider and monthly breast self-examination, BSE. Women over the age of 40 should have yearly mammograms. Women in their 20s and 30s should have regular yearly exams with a physician and it is advised that BSE begin in the 20s. Early detection is the key to survival. It saves lives. Breast cancer survival rates are the highest when detection occurs before symptoms begin.

The American Cancer Society also lists the follow as symptoms. If you experience any of these, see your health care provider immediately.

• swelling of all or part of the breast
• skin irritation or dimpling
• breast pain
• nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
• redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• a nipple discharge other than breast milk
• a lump in the underarm area

Survivors improve physically with exercise
On a more positive note, breast cancer survivors often are left with a limited range of motion in their arms and upper body after surgeries and treatments. CNN recently reported that paddling these ancient Chinese boats is great therapy and exercise for breast cancer survivors. It increases the range of motion, improves strength and minimizes swelling in the upper body.

SOURCE: CNN

India’s Christians have something to celebrate today: At St. Peter’s Square Pope Benedict XVI declared four new saints to the Roman Catholic church including an Indian woman. Her canonization is a morale boost to Christians in India. Catholics are a tiny minority in India and they often suffer violence at the hands of the Hindu peoples.

The Vatican announced that the honor was given to Sister Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception. She is the first Indian woman to become a saint. Alphonsa was beatified by Pope John Paul II when he made a pilgrimage to India in 1986. Beatification is the last formal step before sainthood. Sainthood is the Church’s highest honor. Alphonsa was a nun from southern India. She died at age 35, in 1946.

Source: CNN

I think Michelle Obama would make an excellent First Lady and I hope and dare to say, I think she will get that chance in just a few short weeks from now.

I heard her really speak for the first time when she gave her introductory speech for Barack Obama at the recent 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado.  A video and transcripts are available on this New York Times website.

I think she a classy, educated, balanced, ambitious and incredibly poised woman, wife and mother.  I think she truly understands the hardships that average women face on a daily basis.  She also speaks candidly about how she and Barack make their daughters a priority and check in with them on a daily basis at an absolute minimum.  She is working tirelessly to help Barack get elected next month which is only the beginning of some excellent change for this nation.

She recently said on Larry King Live and in other news outlets that she is not mad at Sarah Palin for the negative campaigning and that she isn’t angry at John McCain for refering to her husband as “that one” during the debate last night.  She speaks articulately about her life as a mother and wife and how she is listening to and identifying with other women across this nation who are struggling each day with the juggling act of motherhood.

If you Google her name the results are endless.  Among the media clips and news articles is a site designated to keeping track of all of her appearances and media mentions, Michelle Obama Watch is a repository of photos and media captions.