Auction Blog: Early Detection saves lives

Warrior Goddess Charity Auction

benefitting the Pink Door non-profit

for financial support for cancer survivors rebuilding their lives

In yesterday's blog, Kallypso Masters shared with us her story.  30 years ago this month, my mother discovered a lump.  Although she had just had a mammogram 3 months earlier that showed nothing, she called her doctor and went in. She had breast cancer, but her self-check had saved her time, and possibly her life, as the cancer had not spread. 

What I would later refer to as the "silver lining" of my mother's story is that because she shared publicly that she, a young woman at the time, had breast cancer, all the women in her circle of friends went in and demanded to be screened.  3 more women in the community were saved. 

To quote Kallypso Masters:  get regular screenings and pay attention to the signals [your] bodies are sending!

Early detection has proven value:

• Since 1950, there has been a 70% decline in cervical-cancer incidence and deaths in developed countries thanks to a simple screening test, the Pap test.
• Colon cancer caught early has a 91% 5-year survival rate, vs. an only 11% survival rate if it is caught late and has spread to other organs.
• Among the 15% of ovarian cancer cases diagnosed early when cancer is confined to the ovary, over 90% survive five years. Unfortunately, for the nearly two-thirds diagnosed after it has spread, only 28% survive that long. 
• Lung cancer is a major global killer, and most cases of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have either never smoked or have quit smoking.  Over half of new patients are diagnosed after the cancer has spread and only 4% of them will live for 5 years! 
• Early detection is key in breast and prostate cancers.  Five-year survival for breast- and prostate-cancer patients with early stage disease is 98% and 100%, respectively, and survival rates remain high at 10 years

Most cancer research focuses on treatments for late stage disease.  Less than 15% of research funding goes to early detection even though early intervention is far more effective than late stage treatment.  The greatest advances in cancer research can be obtained -- and more lives saved -- by reorienting research toward prevention and earlier detection.

Be Sure To Know Your Own Body:

Symptoms of cancer can include:

• changes in bowel or bladder habits,
• a sore that does not heal,
• unusual bleeding or discharge,
• thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body,
• indigestion or difficulty swallowing,
• obvious change in a wart or mole, or
• nagging cough or hoarseness.

These symptoms are not always a sign of cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Don't wait to feel pain. Early cancer usually does not cause pain.

(above information  borrowed from Medicinenet.com and The Canary Foundation)

There are 70+ items donated to the charity auction,

so be sure to check them all out. 

Here are a few of the items.  Come back each day to learn more about the items donated. 

Auction Link

eBay seller profile:  warriorgoddesses

May 9-16

 Bianca Sommerland, author of the erotic sports romance Dartmouth Cobras series, is donating a CUP Cobra Print Package.   Includes
-Signed Copy of DARTMOUTH COBRAS BOOK  If you order a copy of LINE BRAWL, your package will be delivered without it, but it will be shipped to you as soon as it's released. Any other books you order will be shipped with the package. Only ONE book is included with the package.

-ONE Puck Bunny, handmade BY the author of The Dartmouth Cobras *note* Puck Bunnies are all made a little different, so they will be unique to your order. Color may differ slightly from the example.

-One 'BREAK THE ICE' T-shirt, also available in black
-One Dartmouth Cobras Mug
-FOUR Dartmouth Cobras Playing Cards

 Victoria Saccenti is donating a signed paperback of Destiny's Plan.  Her novel traces three love stories against the backdrop of the late 60's and the Vietnam War. 

 IndiGo Marketing & Design is donating the winner's choice of either a one day book blitz or their ARC management service. From proofreading to marketing…we’ve got your book marketing and promotion covered. Whether you are self-published or just need a little extra promo, we’ll design a targeted approach to reach the right audience for your books.

Kelley Hopkins is donating 25 Handcrafted greeting cards with envelopes.  The cards are blank inside and are 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". The cards are wrapped in plastic and come from a smoke-free and pet-free home.  A lot of different sayings: Happy Birthday, Thank you, Get Well, Congrats, etc. 

 Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is donating autographed copies of The Coin and The Book of Hours, and a The Book of Hours keychain. Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is a romantic suspense author with a unique point of view. Her adventure novels take place in locales across Europe and the United States, reflecting her international upbringing and extensive time as a global traveler. In her duology, The Coin and The Book of Hours, her characters, Gabriela and Richard, walk the same paths as their creator, though her life was never in so much danger.

 Sable Hunter is donating a Signed paperback and a Sable Hunter tote bag.  She writes sexy contemporary stories full of emotion and suspense. Her focus is mainly cowboy and novels set in Louisiana with a hint of the supernatural

 JB McGee is donating a signed paperback copy of Heartfall.   Heartfall is a poignant tale of second chances and how the power of love can save you. JB's writing has been called "devastatingly beautiful".

 

Carol Cassada is donating her ebook Going Home Again.  Carol Cassada is a contemporary romance writer with several novels. Going Home Again is a second chance romance.

 Candace Blevins is donating an ebook copy of Acceptable Risk.  Candace writes BDSM Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and a sinfully hot Motorcycle Club series.

Her urban fantasy series, Only Human, gives us a world where weredragons, werewolves, werelions, three different species of vampires, as well as a variety of other mythological beings exist.

Candace's two paranormal romance series, The Chattanooga Supernaturals and The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, are both sister series to the Only Human series, and gives some kick-ass secondary characters their happily ever after.

 Erika Reed is donating One ebook copy of each of the following 4 books: Tasty Cravings, Goldie, Theirs To Protect, and Playing The Field.  Erika Reed is an author of erotic menage MFM romance.

 Rhys Ford is donating the chance to name a character in the next Murder and Mayhem book. (Must be reasonable name. No Namey McNamersons *grins*) While the majority of Rhys' books are centered around gay detectives and murder mysteries, she also writes the occasional paranormal suspense with a dash of geeky humour as well as urban fantasy. Gay mysteries will always be a first love but there's something to be said about a ghost or a dragon wandering into the story to spice things up.

 Andrew Jericho is donating 1 eBook copy of Hard Times (Prison Masters, book 1).   His books explore gay men in real situations of life and love. Andrew blends romance, passion, and eroticism into all of his characters. Prison Masters is a BDSM club for gay men, and the series includes ménage a trois MMM.

 Milly Taiden is donating various swag items.  She writes sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. Her books are a great, quick way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romantic comedies with lots of romance, heat and happily ever afters.

Come back each day May 11-16 to see more items featured in the auction. 

And don't forget early detection screening to keep your Inner Goddess alive and well!