Saying No to the Culture of Death

Last weekend Belinda Emmett at the age of 32 lost her battle with cancer. The actress, was a star on a TV show, when at the age of 24 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It appears that Belinda had noticed the lump 2 years before the cancer was diagnosed. Belinda became a tireless campaigner in getting the message out there, that women need to check their breasts on a regular basis and if they spot any lumps then go and get it checked. Belinda fought her battle very well, but the cancer had gone to her bones. There is no cure for bone cancer.

The big C has been touching my personal life a lot lately. Last year my sister died from bone cancer and this year a dear friend lost his battle with cancer. My mother in law died when I was in my twenties as a result of breast cancer. I know that if the cancer is caught at an early stage then the prognosis is good, but if the cancer has spread to the lymph glands there is very little chance for survival.

Belinda Emmett was a very brave young woman and she was a great support to other women who found themselves in the same predicament. During her battle with cancer,  Belinda met and fell in love with Rove McManus, and he was a great support Belinda. They married only a few years ago, after Belinda had been told that the cancer had gone to her bones. Rove has cancelled his own T.V. shows for the remainder of the year. The poor man is devastated over the loss of Belinda.

Belinda's battle with cancer and her untimely death is a reminder that cancer does not discriminate when it strikes. I hope that with Belinda's death that there will be a rethink regarding the preventative measures that can be taken and can reduce the risk of women dying as a result of breast cancer. The government needs to expand the breast screening program, making it freely available to women under 50. The statistics need to be reviewed to take into account that many women are diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50 and that their survival rate often means that they die over the age of 50.

Breast cancer in a woman as young as Belinda is very aggressive. There is little chance of survival if it is caught too late.  In Belinda's case, the secondary cancer was incurable, and she had a brave fight once the cancer had gone to her bones. Belinda is now at peace. May God rest her soul.