The connection to my topic is based on my interest in learning more about Cancer and its effects on Native Americans, especially those in my community. Creating cancer awareness is especially important because it will help my community and family’s health. At a young age, I learned about cancer and its effect on individuals through the diagnoses of multiple family members. My whole family began to deeply realize the impact when my aunt and grandpa were diagnosed. With them, I got a general understanding of what the physical effects of Cancer were and even started to learn the treatment process. My aunt went through different treatment options for her cancer but unfortunately passed away. This moment opened my eyes to how I can support my family in the future with their health. My grandpa was fortunate to be diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer at a very early stage; he went through treatment and beat the Cancer. This gave me a better motivation and showed me that there is hope in overcoming any obstacle. These experiences in my family sparked a deep interest in learning about my health risks, which later created the idea of spreading awareness for Cancer in my family and tribal community. In the future, I plan on working in the medical field and hope to help prevent or treat Cancer for many individuals.

The article Sharing One Skin by Jeanette  Armstrong projects the idea that your physical self, Emotional Self, intellectual self, and spiritual self-work together to state who we are. Our physical self is how we identify ourselves and where we come from. The Emotional Self is where we feel aware it affects our thinking. The thinking intellectual self is our logical thinking; it's essential to what decisions we make. Your spiritual self explains how we are conscious, how we are tied and apart of everything in life.  These “selves” can’t thrive without each other, it's how life is able to function. 

Article Citation:  Armstrong, Jeanette. 1996 “Sharing Oneskin: The Okanogan Community” Pp 460-470 In Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.

Memories and stories are connected to our land as described by the article by B Toastie “How place names impact the way we see landscape”, by sharing the idea of how individuals may have an identity or relation to a place. It is based on the theory of how our past and memories bring someone to a place, especially to indigenous peoples. Our stories are tied to Landscapes, to our past experiences. The stories we as indigenous peoples tell define the names of the land. 

Article Citation: Toastie,B.2022 “How Place names impact the way we see landscape:'' High County News. KNOW THE WEST hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the way--we -see-landscapes/print_view

The article, “And then i went to school” by Joe Suina creates the idea that school and the ways of the white men, physically, spiritually, and mentally changed the community of his. At the young age of six, the author was forced to go to school. Where he faced a cultural shock. The students of the school had to only speak English and not their traditional language, they were told that their lifestyle was not the right lifestyle. And overall abused to live the way of the new “modern World”. School affected his traditional life and “Home did not feel right anymore”. Being away from home, at long periods of times, strained personal relationships and caused him to feel like he should not practice his traditional beliefs anymore. The articles created a belief that schools can force our ways of life, losing our identities. 

Article Citation: Suina,Joseph “And Then I went to School, memories of a pueblo childhood” pp1-6, Reprint with permission of the author from New Mexico Journal of Reading, writer 1985, Val.V, No.2. 

In the article, “A history of cancer and its treatment” by Seamus Mcaleer, explains the context of cancer, how it came to be and how the treatment for it has evolved over time. The disease of cancer has been around for a very long time, the first recorded case was 520 Bc. Society did not know much about it, cancer was not properly acknowledged until it became more common to get. Many factors were identified to why people were getting cancer.The environment individuals worked in seemed to be the main focus. Exposure to poor air quality increased the risk for getting lung cancer for many factory workers in the 20th century. Patients diagnosed with cancer before the 20th century, never had the right treatment as past treatment could only manage cancer not cure it, and it could also present risks of other diseases. Treatment created in the past included systemic therapy, radiotherapy-chemotherapy, and Immuno therapy, which uses cells, genetics, radiation to treat. Doctors today recommend that early detection is possible through screening, it is vital. 

Artilce Citation:  Mcaleer, Seamus. “A history of cancer and its treatment. Presidential address to the ulster medical society. 7th october 2021. “The ulster medical journal vol 91 (2022) 

The article “History of Cancer, Ancient and Modern Treatment methods” by Akulapalli Sudhakar expresses that Cancer has been around for many years, it's been identified and treated from many different theories and experiments. It’s the second leading cause of death in the world. In most cases, when cells start to grow abnormally out of control, this is a usual sign of cancer forming. Treatments in the ancient past were unavailable as it was identified as being uncurbale until the 1800’s when technology advanced. Now technology is used to treat patients. Cancer can be detected  early and is somewhat manageable thanks to the theories and experiments of the past.  

Article Citation: Sudhaker A (2009) History of Cancer, Ancient and Modern treatments. J Cancer Sci Ther 1

In the new clip by CBS news “A history of cancer”, the report expresses the history of cancer treatment. From the start of time, cancer had been thought to have no treatment or simply no cure. Research for cancer has been traced to ancient times around 400 BC, little theories and experiments have led to today's resources. It was identified that chemicals could cure cancer cells, but the main problem that plays into question is “How to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells?”. Many researchers still work to identify this.  

Citation: “A history of cancer” CBS news. March 12, 2017

The article “Why New Cancer Treatment Discoveries are Proliferating” by Karen L. Brooks explains how Penn Medicine created a new Car T Cell therapy. Chimeric Antigen receptor  (CAR)- T Cell Therapy uses genetically modified T cells to help locate and destroy cancer cells in the body. Researchers found CAR-T cells can sometimes harness the immune system to fight cancer. By this discovery “Penn Medicine” has discovered new ways to treat cancer, Everything we think we know about cancer has probably changed, it is constantly changing thanks to new discoveries. It is important to stay updated. 

Article Citation: Brooks, Karen. “Why New Cancer treatment discoveries are proliferating”ww.penn medicine.org, 24, Apr, 2023. Www Penn Medicine .org /news /publications -and -special  -projects/penn-medicine-magazine/spring-2023/why-new-cancer-treatment-discoveries-are-proliferating. 

The news clip by PBS news hour “New Study highlights systemic barriers to cancer treatment for women '', and shares how women with cancer have harder times dealing with it. The CDC found that “A gendered investment case for cancer would better inform policy making cancer prevention, care, and control, meaning we need to prioritize cancer women patients more than we do already. We live in a very patriarchal society, where men get more resources than women, we need to balance it out more. As primary care providers, women tend to give up more of their financial resources for healthcare than men if there are not enough resources for them.

Article Citation: “New study highlights systemic barriers to cancer treatment for women''PBS News. October 14, 2023. 

On November 21, 2023, the University of Bristol released an article, “Ultra-processed foods and higher risk of mouth, throat, and esophagus cancer”. Over the past 14 years, a diet and lifestyle study was done, studying 450,111 different adults.  It was found that ultra processed food was not only associated with increased body mass but the possible factors for many diseases. Ultra processed foods are “convenient and cheap, favoring the consumption of large portions and excessive number of calories' ', which more and more people are incorporating in their lifestyle. Experts believe that it is important to eat healthier or know what you are eating because “UPF'' foods may contain contaminants from packaging and the manufacturing process. In other words ultra processed foods are not great food for your body, even if it may taste good.

Article Citation: University of Bristol, "Ultra-processed foods and higher risk of mouth, throat, and esophagus cancers, "Science Daily. Science Daily 21 November 2023. 2www. Science daily. com/ releases/2023.

In a recent article done by Medical News Today, suggests how obesity and alcohol may be linked to a rise in colorectal cancer deaths in young adults. Scientists believe that colorectal cancer deaths amongst young adults will increase by 39%. Individuals diagnosed with Cancer aged under 40 are the main concerns to researchers as cases are becoming more common. Researchers conducted points towards certain lifestyle factors as a potential risk to many chronic diseases. The factors include obesity, diabetes, levels of physical activity, diet, and excessive alcohol consumption. Information from the National Cancer Institute shares the activity of excessively drinking alcohol increases the chances for many health complications, like increasing the risk of colorectal cancer by 50% amongst individuals. Researchers advocate that you need to know your risks. The World Health Organization also shared that “There is no safe amount” when it comes to alcohol consumption for your health. Alcohol affects the body, which includes the liver and pancreas, and causes high blood pressure, increasing chances for long-term health issues to occur. Public Health researchers recommend that in order to lower your chances of being diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer or other health issues, that a lifestyle change is needed. A healthy lifestyle is based on diet and excersize, Cancer screenings are also highly recommended. 

Article Citation: Mammoser, Gigen. "Colorectal Cancer, Obesity. Alcohol linked to deaths in Young Adults" Medical News Today, Medilexicon International" 

A disease commonly faced by women can also happen to men. Breast Cancer can affect all genders. Men also have small amounts of breast tissue which puts them at a risk for possibly being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Many males don’t know their risks for Breast Cancer, so they won’t think much of a small lump on their chest. Men go through the same treatment as women. Most times, chest removal surgery is needed. In society it is believed that males don’t need as much Cancer screening as compared to women, but medical researchers advise that it is still vital. A two time breast cancer male survivor shares that it is important to “Educate. Advocate. Eradicate.” When is comes to men getting Cancer. Anyone can get get Cancer, wether it comes from genetics or lifestyles, you are still at a risk. 

Article Citation:   “Male breast cancer more common than many think.” InvestigateTV, 29 January 2024.

The article, Poisoned by Pesticides: Health Crisis deepens in Brazil’s Indigenous Communites, by Mongaby, shares how harsh pesticides used in farming are affecting the local natives in Brazil. Many individuals are getting sick, developing chronic illnesses from harsh pesticides being sprayed on the land. Brazil is one of the world’s top contributors for cotton and soybeans, so they mass produce it, it is a big economic contributor for many of the families. Pesticides, which are sometimes illegal, are being used on many of the croplands where many indigenous peoples are farming or reside by. The land is being contaminated, which many of the indigenous people rely on physically and spiritually. The most common illnesses occuring include Cancer, Neurological and/ or Psychiatric diseases, Leukemia, and Lymphoma. Many of these are long term and require heavy medical treatments. For the tribes, many who are located in rural areas, don’t have access to basic health care or just lack the medical knowldege of what to do. A Tirecatinga native said, “ We are not taking any precaution because we have little understanding of how to deal with the issue”, which develops the idea that there is little awareness on the subject that affects many of society. Many climate and health activist blame the Brazilian government for allowing such chemicals to still be sprayed on the land, others argue it’s whats needed, as an economic factor for Brazil.

Article Citation: Gabay, Aimee. "Poisoned by Pesticides:Health Crisis deepest in Brazil's Indigenous Communities". Mongabay Environmental News. 8 February 2023.