Blog 15 Review out of all the topics we have covered what has made the biggest impact?

I have truly enjoyed this class. I needed some electives and picked an exceptional class to be involved in. The topics we have covered have given me the opportunity to learn and share with my classmates. I enjoyed sharing my experiences with Breasst Cancer with other women, hopefully educating them on how important self breast exams, and mammograms are to good health for women. The topic that has hit me the most is the domestic violence. I had no idea how many forms domestic violence there are. Physical, emotional, and verbal violence. I have know people who have dealt with physical abuse, but Irealize now that emotional and verbal abuse are just as damaging to the individual. I also have enjoyed doing our blogs. It has been a different experrience at first, but I truly enjoyed sharing ideas with each other on their blogs. THANKS!

Blog 14 What are some possible strategies for women to use in finding balance in their professional, educational, and personal lives?

I chose this question this week because its a big part of my life right now. I work a full time 36 hour a week job, substitute 3 - 4 days a week, carry 18 hours my last semester, and be mom and wife. I have no idea how women with young children go back to school. My son is a senior in high school and that keeps me very busy. The things that have helped me and my family is organization, planning, precooked dinners, and sharing the household chores. I have a daytimer that keeps me going in the right direction on all days. Make a list everyday and mark things off as they are completed helps me to know everything is done.

Blog 13 Is it a sign of weakness or strength for a woman to admit that she has a problem with druds or alcohol?

Women are strong as oxes. We have jobs outside the home, take care of the laundry and housekeeping, and take care of the childrens needs. I think a lot of us do not want to admit that we are not perfect. It is definietly a strength for a woman to admit she has a problem and to seek treatment. We all tend to worry about everyone else until we hit rock bottom, then we notice we need to help ourselves.

Blog 12 What can be done to reduce the stigma and shame that still surrounds mental illness?

Medical record confidentiality is the first step. A person's records are their business and should not be seen at all unless that person is a threat to someone else or themself. I deal with many children and do not know specific diagnosis, however, the families share the information needed for me to provide and protect the child. Also, education is a vital part of reducing the stigma an shame from mental illness. Most people hear the word, mental illness, and make the decision that the person is dangerous. If people would learn more about different mental illnesses I think there would be much less stigma around mental illness.

Blog 11 If everyone lived "with our future in mind" do you think that we would live different?

In our teenage years we are not thinking about living the right way for our future. These times are probably some of the hardest on our bodies. Drinking and smoking are big things in high school and college. At this age, we chose not to realize the damage these two products do on our body. I think individual who have grown up in a home with a parent who has been ill understands the great reasons to start taking care of themselves when they are young. I definitely think if we changed our behaviors at an early age the drinking and driving, drugs, smoking would not get the opportunity to due such harm to our body.

None of us know what is in store for us in the future. I had no idea that I would face cancer before I was thirty-five years old. However, if we live life better with health and exercise it lowers the risk for major illness. It gives us the opportunity for longevity in our life. Many of us are blessed with longevity in our genes and to enjoy it taking better care of yourself in younger years is a must.

Blog 10 What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles and engage in preventive behaviors so as to reduce their risks of CD and Cancer

Women live their lives for their husbands and children. They tend to forget to take care of their selves while taking care of the family. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, genetics, race, obesity, smoking, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, and menopause. Women need to change their behaviors in obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. These are items in which we have control over by using diet and exercise, stop smoking, and continual exercise. Race and genetics is something we do not have control over. Racial differences include Blacks having a higher rate of high blood pressure with more complications. You can look at it as it is predetermined in your hereditary. Mexican American are predestined to be more obese. Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise are the best steps to a healthier lifestyle for women. Make sure you take time for yourself. I am definitely one of those individuals who forget to put myself first sometimes.

Blog 9 What are the biggest challenges to do regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face? How are these challenges going to change for you over

The biggest challenges that I face everyday with exercise and diet is the schedule I live in my home. I work at a before and after daycare, my workday starts at 6:30 am to 8:30 am, then study until 2:30 , return to work and finish at 6:30pm. Dinner normally happens about 7:00pm or later.I have an eighteen year old son that plays baseball who keeps an extremely busy schedule. My current exercise consists of playing with the kids at the daycare and caring clothes up the steps of my home six or seven times a day. As you guys know, I am a breast cancer survivor, eight years I was very thin and fit. Eight years of cancer treatment has put about 45 pounds on me. It has been a constant battle do the medication that I must take to prevent cancer from coming back.

The next five years brings a lot of excitement for me. The ten year cancer free mark will help me get off almost all my medications. Not having these medications I will be able to lose much quicker. Also, upon graduation I will be teaching school and I will not be working late hours any longer. I have taken the right steps already. I joined Fit After 50 where I go work out every other day. I am not fifty yet, however, I do not have to go watch all these skinny young girls working out wishing I could be there again. I know that I will probably never get back to that, however, I can lose the weight that cancer added and firm it all up.