Profiles

Woman's plight raises awareness of breast protection

By Guo Qiang (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-11-16 16:40

Having a breast removed destroyed Ya ya's (alias) relationship, but her plight, which she posted online, has raised breast cancer prevention awareness on the Internet, the Youth Weekend reported on November 9.

Ya Ya. [file]

Ya Ya, a 21-year-old Hubei woman who now works in South China's booming city of Shenzhen was dumped by her boyfriend after she was diagnosed with a tumor in her right breast and had to have it removed.

Her Internet posts regarding her plight garnered 30,000 hits and ample sympathy from netizens as well as inspired a number of female readers to go to a doctor for a breast exam.

Urban women in China have been paying more attention to their breasts since the introduction of China's Pink Ribbon Breast Prevention Movement, which falls on the third Friday of every October.

The movement is a breast cancer awareness campaign that urges women on early detection and prevention of the disease.

According to media reports, breast cancer is the number one killer of women in China. Every year, 170,000 women are diagnosed with the killer disease and 40,000 die from it.

Ya say her doctor told her she developed breast cancer from her 'irregular lifestyle'.

"When I was with my boyfriend before, I always stayed up late waiting for him or playing mah-jong at night, and this caused my disease. I didn't cherish my health," she said.

According to medical information, certain risk factors are linked to the disease, such as age, family history, personal history of breast cancer and earlier breast radiation.

Ya said she is a volunteer for the Pink Ribbon movement.

"I have looked up lots of information about my disease," she said. "I am willing to help raise breast cancer awareness."

"Many female netizens have the same disease. I hope that women will value their health and live a healthy lifestyle."

Aside from raising awareness on the Internet, Ya also wants her boyfriend back.

"Netizens show me a lot of sympathy. Why can't he?" Ya asked. "Love is fragile."

"I was deeply moved after I posted my story on the Internet. I was thinking of suicide before, but the warmth and courage netizens have shown me and their courageous stories have changed my mind," Ya said. "Their sincerity helps me to go on living."