Portia and Two Cs -- Culture and Cancer

Semi-autobiographical book deals with the impact of breast cancer on one woman and her family.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portia and Two Cs -- Culture and Cancer

(PRWEB) October 4, 2004 -- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagonosed form of cancer amongst American women (although rare, men can also be challenged with the disease). According to the American Cancer Society, 123 out of every 100,000 African American women had a breast cancer incidence 1995-1999 which is lower than that for their Caucasian counterparts. However, 37 out of every 100,000 African American women died of breast cancer annually during the same period compared to 28 out of every 100,000 Caucasian woman. Early detection plays a major role in treating and healing a womans body of breast cancer. Early detection allows a woman and her physician to catch and begin battling the disease at the beginning of the diseases staging processes. Additionally, according to the National Cancer Institute, in 2001 alone the estimated costs for cancer was $156 billion. Fear of knowing" one has the disease or fear of not having the medical insurance necessary to properly treat breast cancer, keeps some women from being tested for breast cancer.

Author Denise Turney (online at http://www.chistell.com) knows what it feels like to fear" breast cancer. While serving in the United States Navy and only in her early 20s, doctors discovered a lump in Turneys breast. I went to specialists, doctor to doctor. I didnt have a car at the time, so my then supervisor and his wife drove me to one out-of-town doctor visit. I tried to put on a brave face, but I had a sinking feeling that this was it. I know what it feels like to look as deep into your personal future as you possibly can and not being able to see anything beyond the next six months," Turney states. While wrestling with the thought of death being just-around-the-corner at only 22 years old, I sat down and pondered how I would tell my family Id soon be gone," Turney adds. What started as a love story to my family, words of thank yous to them for their circle of love, became Portia. My first step (Portia) at using my Creator-given talent (writing novels) was cradled in the threat of death," Turney states. I am committed to sharing Portias story. Portia has gifted countless women with inspiration, encouragement and inner-strength. To be able to take my own fear and create a story like Portia, a moving story that frees other women from crippling fear, means more to me than words can fully express," Turney concludes.

Title: Portia

Author: Denise Turney

ISBN: 0-9663539-0-0

Publisher: Chistell Publishing

Available thru Chisel Publishing, Amazon.com, Cushcity.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Baker & Taylor, Ingram Books, Culture Books Plus and bookstores everywhere with special order

ABOUT DENISE TURNEY

Denise Turney is the author of the books Portia, Love Has Many Faces, and Spiral. She is a magazine and newspaper columnist. She served on active duty in the United States Navy where she earned two Navy Achievement Medals. She is a mentor with Girls Incorporated. She is a former Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer and has worked with the National Youth Leadership Coalition, No Longer Bound (a drug and alcohol prevention agency in Bucks County, Pennsylvania) and Saturday Scholars (a military literacy program). She is the editor of the bi-monthly literary periodical, The Book Lovers Haven. Turney host her own literary radio program Off The Shelf" at www.blakeradio.com where she focuses on the importance and the value of literacy. Her work is featured online at http://www.chistell.com

Contact: Rhonda Campbell

http://www.chistell.com

(215) 245-6222

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