Unusual October 2007, it is PINK!

Yesterday, at around 12:25pm, got an sms from my friend telling me our coursemate back in university has passed away that morning.

We were told that she is diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She is already seriously ill and lying on bed by the time we got the news. The feeling is quite complicated, maybe a mixture form of sad, worry and shock that I had.

After graduation, I used to check on coursemates news through their Friendster photos. I saw her traveling photos, photos taken with her colleagues and photos where she is prettily make-over to attend certain functions. To me, she is just doing fine all the time in West Malaysia.

Upon hearing her condition, for us who are in Kuching, we tried to send in cards and one even gather some friends and record a DVD to send to her. For those who are in west Malaysia, they have tried to free their time visiting her. We just want to show her our support and give her as much as encouragement that she needed. Other than that, we can only pray for her.

And I realised that what we can do is that much.

For the first time, many of us waiting eagerly in front of the PC just wishing to know more of her updates from those who have visited her.

And now, we have lost her.

SAD.

Again, helpless hits onto me.

Ever since I know about her condition, I have been browsing through the internet for information on breast cancer.

In fact, this month, October, is the month of Breast Cancer Awareness. You might notice the new logo on top right corner of the blog, that is for anyone who have a blog or forum or website to publish it in order to raise breast cancer awareness. It started out by Matthew Oliphant. Yeap, I decided to go PINK too. By the way, Pink Ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.

I find that wikipedia provides very good piece of information on Breast Cancer. Please love yourself and read it to learn more including the symptom, factors, prevention, diagnosis,screening and treatment.

Also, I came across the international breast cancer research fundation - http://www.ibcrf.org/. You may visit the site to learn more how you can help.

Last but not least, let's look at the facts about cancer compile by World Health Organization

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million (or 13%) of all deaths. The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality are:

* lung (1.3 million deaths/year);
* Stomach (almost 1 million deaths/year);
* Liver (662,000 deaths/year);
* Colon (655,000 deaths/year) and
* Breast (502,000 deaths/year).

The most frequent cancer types world wide are:

* Among men (in order of number of global deaths): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal, oesophagus and prostate.
* Among women (in order of number of global deaths): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical.