La Paz launches new education initiative
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2001, my mother, then just shy of celebrating her 44th birthday, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Twenty-three years later, breast cancer indices have skyrocketed globally. This increase in cases is due to many factors, one of which is more awareness and fewer taboos on the topic, which allows for more screenings and as a result, more diagnoses.
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“Cancer” was a taboo topic when and where I was growing up, something that was whispered and that carried both a stench of fear and shame equally. Folks preferred to hide their cancer diagnosis for reasons unrelated to just privacy.
Taboos organically form within societies from various causes. Cancer in general, let alone breast cancer, is still a huge taboo in many cultures around the world in 2024, including Mexico. This is mostly due to the fear of the unknown which leads to the creation of stigmas that generally leads to shame and guilt.
If you are trying to figure out why “shame” is associated with cancer, this indicates that you probably grew up in a part of the world or in a family unit where the education around the topic was different.
“A lack of education” is undoubtedly the answer to many questions and it is the answer I offer to you as well. For example, beliefs that such terrible diseases can only occur as divine punishment, a curse, evil eye, or as they call it in Mexico “mal de ojo” and other supernatural causes are in direct correlation with the level of education one has on the topic.
During the initial months after her diagnosis and post-surgery, I remember vividly the inner and outer turmoil she had to endure from the lack of awareness and education of others. That was in addition to all her existing physical and emotional issues.
Occasions like phone calls from random people who heard through the grapevine that my mom “got the sickness” were frequent. There was the time when the wife of an extended family member, living in a different country, called to ask her if she had asked for forgiveness from everyone she’s harmed since, of course, that’s why she had breast cancer in the first place; why else would she be sick?
In an era, culture and country where cancer was such a taboo, my mother fiercely and independently broke down, one by one, all these invisible walls around her, opening a fresh, real and necessary dialogue on the topic. This benefited her as much as all the other people she touched with her openness.
When I spoke to her today, before writing this article, she wanted to share this: “I believe that I did the right thing back then. I educated myself on the topic in an era where information was not as readily available as it is today. I was not afraid to speak out loud about it and I never treated it as a taboo. Yes, it was very hard, something I never expected to endure, but I was very blessed. I had the full support of all those around me, my family, my work, and my friends. It made me turn to my faith even more and that, I am very appreciative of.” She goes on to say that her ability to openly talk about her cancer was a big part of her healing.
Cancer awareness, diagnosis and healthcare are inconsistent throughout Mexico, making cancer and especially breast cancer more taboo in the areas with limited access to healthcare. These are taboos that have too many negative ripple effects on the cancer patient and by extension, their family.
With my mother’s grit, courage and faith, she came out of this phase stronger, and without her education on the topic, she might not have gone for her annual mammography, not done her self-check-up, and not known to be concerned when she felt a lump; you get the picture. I invite you to open up the dialogue on the topic. If this is an important cause to you, I invite you to find meaningful ways aligned with you to raise this awareness. www.naailahauladin.com
