In its goal to screen 500 women in 2024, the Mammogram Access Program (MAP) has planned a number of events this October to draw attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, kicking off with the "Battle of the Bra" competition and wrapping up with the "Pink Lotus Affair" gala party.

The theme for the month is "Patients, Partners and Progress" and proceeds from all of the activities will go toward MAP's programs in the fight against cancer, said MAP founder Nikeia Watson.

"We wanted to do something different this year," Watson said. "In particular, I wanted to do something to capture the attention of younger women, because over the last few years as I have been doing my work, I've found that women who are under 30 are just as impacted as women who are 40 and over.

"The 'Battle of the Bra' is a unique competition between MAP, the Grand Bahama Cancer Society and Sister Sister Support Group of Grand Bahama. We have designed our own cancer-themed bras that are being presented to the public for their vote."

Proceeds will be raised from the casting of a vote for a donation of $5.

Voting can be done online at map-bahamas.com and on the Facebook page MAP Grand Bahama.

"So, go out and vote," Watson urged.

President of the Grand Bahama Cancer Society Lyndette Curtis said the events planned for October are in support of the organizations' quest to help those dealing with the illness at this time.

"And because we are non-profit organizations, we are always looking for donations and support as we host these fundraising events," Curtis said.

"We are excited about the 'Battle of the Bra'. Our bra is ready so vote for the Cancer Society because we are coming with it."

Sister Sister representative Sharon Simmons said the work that MAP, Sister Sister and the Cancer Society do is vital, especially in Grand Bahama.

"When we consider the rate of cancer diagnoses that we have, you can't be ignorant of the fact," Simmons said.

"Women are being diagnosed daily, and women are dying because they don't have access to getting screened in time."

To end the Cancer Awareness Month activities, the Pink Lotus Affair cocktail party is set for October 27 at 7 p.m. at Blair House on Magellan Drive, near the Garden of the Groves.

Special tribute will be paid to the late Jessica Capron-Butler, who lost her battle against cancer in 2021, and who has been named the recipient of the inaugural Golden Lotus Award.

"She was the visionary behind 'In the Pink, No One Fights Alone,' an organization advocating in the fight against cancer," Watson said.

"The 'Golden Lotus' is a distinction granted to a cancer warrior for their contribution to breast health awareness. It is a tribute to the individual struggle with the disease."

MAP has screened 330 women since its inception in 2021.

Watson said that while the program's focus has been on women in the Northern Bahamas, this year they will branch out to other islands.

She encouraged the Grand Bahama community to support their events throughout the month and help in the fight against cancer.

Simmons remembered her own experience several years ago in the public health system and said that she was lucky.

"It worked for me, but not everyone is as fortunate," she said. "There are delays, the machine is not working and not having access to things is stressful. When MAP was established that was a godsend."

She added, "Being able to get women diagnosed and to possibly catch cancer in its first stages is lifesaving.

"Literally, MAP is saving lives and with the other cancer support groups that from the moment you get your diagnoses to when you go through your treatment, if you need someone to hold your hand or go to your appointment they are there.

"These are the services that they provide and it is very important."

Simmons said October will be a busy month.

"So, if you see any event hosted by the three groups, please support, support," she said.

Have you ever been booted out of the bed or a chair because your feet are icy cold? Well, it may not just be the chilly weather. New research may have answers to help explain your cold feet. There are a number of conditions that can cause cold feet, ranging from poor circulation, disorders of the nervous system as well as cold exposure and low thyroid conditions. Women are up to nine times more likely to suffer from cold hands and feet than men. Women tend to feel changes in temperature and the seasonal chill more than men.

Our bodies are made to conserve heat and energy. The body's response to cold is to cut off blood flow to the extremities to maintain blood flow to warm the core internal organs like the heart and brain. Scientists have identified proteins within the skin's blood vessels that play a part in the body's reaction to cold, whether it's exposure to chilly weather or touching a frigid surface with your bare hand. But for some people, this response is too strong, or it occurs by mistake. One such condition is called Raynaud's (ray-NOHZ) disease, as the body over reacts to cold or stress, blood vessels narrow in the fingers and toes, which may feel numb and turn from white to blue to red during an attack. Sometimes blood flow can stop all together and cause gangrene and amputation to the toes and fingers. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculosketal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the cause of Raynaud's is not always known but it occurs mostly in women 15 to 25 who live in cold places or have an autoimmune connective tissue disease like scleroderma, Sjorgen's syndrome and lupus.

There are many other reasons why women suffer from cold feet more than men. Women have thinner skin and less subcutaneous fat than men, so less blood flows to the hands and feet, and they are less efficient in maintaining body temperature. Also, women can suffer from iron deficiency anemia which can hamper blood flow and lead to feeling cold. Aging can affect blood flow to the hands and feet. As we get older, blood supply to the skin decreases leading to distal hypothermia – cold fingers and toes. Medical professionals say our circulation is also linked to our hormonal system. When women lack iron, especially in the thyroid they get cold, since the thyroid regulates body temperature. Exposure to extremely cold conditions like cold air condition or cold rooms can also cause cold feet. Even your mood can influence your temperature; people who are lonely or socially excluded, emotionally unstable, or have depression tend to feel the cold more.

Symptoms

When the feet get cold, the feet and toes can cramp and cause pain. There can also be swelling and tingling. Raynaud's disease causes fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold. In Raynaud's disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to areas (vasospasm). Other signs and symptoms may include numbness, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief. During an attack of Raynaud's, affected areas of your skin usually turn white first, then turn blue and feel cold and numb. As the feet warm and circulation improves, the affected areas may turn red, throb, tingle or swell. The order of the color changes isn't the same for everyone, and not everyone experiences all three colors.

Treatment

Women have tried many ways to get warm such as stuffing their hands in their pockets, wearing thick socks and gloves, using heating bottles or space heaters but often they remain miserable and no closer to banishing the cold and having warm feet.

Wearing multiple layers of clothing that are loose fitting and tend to remain dry are the best for cold-weather activities. Rain and wind can markedly increase the rate of heat loss from the body, so if these conditions develop, you need to protect your feet and be prepared to stay warm and dry.

To boost hormone activity and enhance muscle tissue, it's essential to exercise, and ensure you get six to eight hours sleep per night.

What to eat: A proper eating plan, high in dark green and dark red vegetables such as spinach and beetroot, complete protein sources, as well as daily supplementation with targeted vitamins and minerals, such as B12 and folate can help. Vitamin k is important; it helps to strengthen the cardiac muscles in your heart as well as the blood capillaries. It also improves circulation around your body, including your feet, therefore keeping them warmer. Ginger, fish, parsley, salad, spring onions, apricots and celery are all good sources of vitamin K. Avoid alcohol or caffeine as both increase blood flow to the skin, so while you might feel warmer, your body is losing heat rather than preserving it.

Exercise regularly: Regular exercise — whether it be a brisk walk, cycle or run — helps keep the heart healthy and strong, and so much more efficient at pumping blood around the body especially to the feet.

Use a foot spa: If you have very cold feet, it's important not to warm them up too quickly, such as with a hot-water bottle or against a heater. The most effective way is bathing your feet in warm water or using a foot spa. This will warm up your feet slowly and naturally, and also keep them hydrated from the outside, improving circulation. Caution to people with diabetes – never soak your feet or expose them to extreme temperatures – hot or cold.

Drink lots of water: When you are dehydrated your hands and feet get colder too, as dry skin fails to maintain a good moisture balance and so does not retain heat.

Wear natural socks: Wearing socks is important to keep the feet warm from the outside in. Cheap, synthetic, man-made fibers are so closely woven together that there are no air pockets in which to retain your natural body heat. Natural wool and cotton socks have more textured fibers and are less tightly bound, so they hold more warm air around the feet.

Moisturize: Lanolin helps to retain moisture in the skin, helping to improve blood flow and, therefore, retain heat.

Treatment of Raynaud's disease can be more complicated and depends on its severity and whether you have other health conditions. For most people, Raynaud's disease isn't disabling, but can affect quality of life. If the circulation to the feet is not good you may need to see a vascular doctor to have an in-depth evaluation, treatment or intervention. If you have any concerns about cold feet or foot pain you may need to see a podiatrist.

 
• For more information email info@familyfootcentre.com or visit www.foothealthfacts.org or www.footlogix.com. To see a podiatrist visit Family Foot Centre on #45 Daffodil Avenue, Independence Highway or call 605-3668; Bahamas Surgical Associates Centre at Hill Top Medical, telephone 603-1814/5. In Grand Bahama visit Lucayan Medical Center on East Sunrise Highway or call 373-7400. 

On the same day that Bahamian professional baseball player Jasrado 'Jazz' Chisholm Jr. and the Miami Marlins clinched a spot in the National League (NL) playoffs of Major League Baseball (MLB), the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League officially got underway at the Baillou Hills Sports Complex.

Seven games were on the schedule as the league officially opened on Saturday. League Commissioner Geron Sands said that it has been a dream of Chisholm.

"He wanted to come back in some way and start a league to help many more kids who hasn't been helped," Sands said. "Coming out here and seeing all these people support this is amazing. The games went well with four teams in each division. To see the players out here and the support of the fans here at this amazing event, is something that we need more of. Hopefully all these players come back one day and give something back to the younger kids. Our country is in need of it."

The divisions that are a part of the little league are T-Ball (5-6), Coach Pitch (7-8), 12-and-Under (12U) and 14-and-Under (14U). There are four teams in each of the divisions. The league will look to wrap up on December 3 with their championships.

Jazz Blue and Jazz Black were the winners on Saturday in the 14U Division. Jazz Blue won 12-5 over Jazz Yellow. Jazz Black won 7-2 over Jazz White. Jazz Blue was dominant in the 12U Division with a 13-1 victory over Jazz Yellow. In the other game in that division, Jazz White got a slim 12-11 win over Jazz Black.

There was only one game in the Coach Pitch Division with Jazz Blue winning 11-5 over Jazz Yellow. Jazz Yellow won 20-13 over Jazz Blue in the T-Ball Division. In the other T-Ball game, Jazz Black got the better of Jazz White by an 11-4 scoreline.

One of the directors of the foundation, Kim Sweeting, was happy with the response they got.

"'Jazz' is thrilled – he is coming back and giving back to The Bahamas. We are excited to see where this whole season is going to go. We are excited to see how well the players develop since it is a developmental league. We are looking to see how these players develop under these coaches who know the game," Sweeting said.

This is the offseason for baseball in New Providence. Sands said it was intentional that they chose this window to have league play.

"We want no issues with the other leagues or create any turmoil. We want to give these players more games to play and more instructions. We have good coaches out here. We wanted to do it when it was the offseason and have everybody attention. It is also during the offseason for Chisholm and other pro players," Sands said.

Sands also spoke about the possibility of them branching off into the Family Islands. "It is something that we should make known to the Family Islands and somehow get those kids down here from the islands. We just want to do whatever we can do to expand our horizon here in The Bahamas to these kids," Sands said.

According to Sweeting, the foundation is planning to have a fishing tournament in December. They are also looking at putting on a toy drive.

Chisholm's dad, Jasrado Chisholm Sr., delivered the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday.

A 17-year-old student of Central Eleuthera High School died at home on Sunday morning several days after he was diagnosed with dengue fever, according to his mother, who also told The Nassau Guardian he was born with a hole in his heart.

A grief-stricken Laquell Thompson said yesterday her son, Chykino "Kenny" Thompson, died in her bed.

Thompson said Chykino, who was the eldest of her three children, was told by medical personnel at the clinic in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, last week Monday that he had dengue fever.

The Bahamas in recent weeks has been experiencing an increase in the number of cases.

Thompson said he was given Motrin for pain, told to drink a lot of liquids and sent home, but she said Chykino's condition did not improve and he was weak throughout the week.

"And then I called the hotline for him on Thursday and then they gave him the same thing again. He got weaker. He couldn't move. He couldn't do nothing for himself. I had to move him around," she said.

"All Saturday night, I was with him. I just left him like 5:30 Sunday morning. I told him [I was leaving] so I can go get some sleep, and so he said, 'Mommy, if you want go sleep just go. Put me on my stomach. That's the only way I can get comfortable'.

"So I put him on his stomach. And then when I got up I [went] in the room and checked on him. He was warm, and then when I really looked in his face, his eyes were open and I saw blood coming out [his] mouth and that's when I made a call to the police and the clinic and everything."

Thompson added, "The last words he told me is he didn't want to die; he didn't want me to die. He loved me and stuff like that."

She said her son was a happy person.

"Everybody loved him," Thompson said. "Everywhere he [went] he was loved. He was a good student, never got himself in [any] problems with the law or with the school. He always used to be on good behavior."

Thompson said her son's body was taken to the morgue in Spanish Wells and is expected to be transported to Nassau today where an autopsy will be performed.

"I'm feeling depressed," she said. "I still can't get over it because I still don't know why they didn't put him on any drips. He did tell them he was in pain and they only gave him Motrin for the pain."

Thompson said she is awaiting the completion of the autopsy before making burial plans.

Chykino's death came a day after the death of Dario Rahming Jr., the Queen's College head boy who fell ill at the New Providence school while at a basketball practice session and died.

Dario was also 17.

Yesterday, Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin offered condolences to the teens' families on the education ministry's behalf.

"We all grieve the loss of these precious boys and pray that God strengthens their parents and family members during this difficult time," the ministry stated.

"Condolences are also extended to the faculty, staff and students of Queen's College and Central Eleuthera High School.

"It is our prayer that their families, friends, loved ones and school communities find strength and comfort in our God, who has promised to supply us with a level of peace which surpasses all understanding."