PACES We believe in your happiness!
Promoted & Applied Social Economy Concepts
Published by the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs Nr. 6, September 2011
He came, came the autumn...
79-81 Dornei Street, sector 1, Bucharest Tel: 0372-770.126, Fax: 021-224.46.95 www.patmedin.ro
Legal liability for the content of this publication belongs Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs © PMI, 2011
Published by Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs 79-81 Dorna Street, sector 1, Bucharest Tel: 0040-372.770.126, Fax: 0040-21.224.46.95 www.patmedin.ro
SCRIB PUBLISHING, 2011
Editorial Team Editor in Chief: Editorial secretary: Editors:
dr. Aurel Storin
Iancu Elena Cătălina Florin Condurăţeanu Octavian Andronic Irina Ghiţă-Cioroba Cornelius Popa Clement Sava Beatrice Iordache Larisa Toader Photo Image Editor: Silvia Mandler WEB Administrator: Mihai Breahnă English Translator: George Wainer Editor: Gabriel Ionescu
aurel.storin@patmedin.ro iancu.elena.catalina@patmedin.ro florin.condurateanu@patmedin.ro octavian.andronic@patmedin.ro irina.cioroba@patmedin.ro cornelius.popa@patmedin.ro clament.sava@patmedin.ro beatrice.iordache@patmedin.ro larisa.toader@patmedin.ro silvia.mandler@patmedin.ro mihai.breahna@patmedin.ro geogwww@yahoo.com gabi@etipografie.ro
Printed in România by SC SIMPLU PRINT SRL GHEŢA ROBERT • 0743-027955 • contact@tipografie-offset.ro
ISSN 2247 – 0573
3
We believe in your happiness!
Editorial
The Democratic Capitalism
A
lmost 22 years passed since the historical events of 1989. We cannot ever forget that, at the time, a whole people fought for the right cause, for freedom. Many of them paid the highest price for their wish for a better life, for having opposed the communist totalitarian regime. The people dreamed of a new society, a democratic market economy, something good for all social groups. But are we there, yet? Of course, there is a certain freedom of life and opinion (personal opinion), especially when persons are not subordinated to political parties. What about the rest? One group has rapidly gained a lot of wealth, almost over night. At the same time, another, much more numerous social group, was dramatically impoverished. I am not concerned of the fact, which is normal in a capitalist society, that there are rich and poor people. My concern results from the fact that the rich get even richer at a staggering pace, while the poor become even poorer. Where is the “middle” class? It becomes dramatically “thin”, having almost disappeared, as they continuously join the poor. I once read one of Alan Greenspan’s statements, the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserves in the USA. He said that “as the income inequality between the rich and the rest of the population becomes very large and continues to grow at such a high speed that it is a threat for democratic capitalism and for the stability of the democratic society”. A state in which most of the people are poor, without a middle class, but with a group of people who are growing richer every day, could be compared to a man who has a head, hands and legs, but does not have a body. The middle class can be seen as the “body” of a really democratic society. Its lack affects us all, the poor and the rich alike. The poor have no other way but to request the aid of the State, of the Government, of politicians. With such an ever-growing burden, a government, no matter if it is from our country or from anywhere else, could not be able to properly manage social economy. My brothers, do not count on it. Count on
yourselves only. Learn about financial education from those who know about it and who know how to apply it successfully. Learn how to manage your own budget, even if it is not large enough, and try to find the legal means to make it grow as a result of your capabilities, competence and talent. But there is a field in which the Government and the authorities can do much more; I am making a serious appeal to them not to neglect the vulnerable members of our society. They are our brothers, being entitled to a normal life. They belong to our social community. Please militate for the implementation of external (non-reimbursable, EU) projects which can provide financial support to this category of people, as well as to other fields which are probably needed, but not as urgent as in the case of vulnerable persons, who are disabled or who suffer from terrible diseases. These persons need help in order to survive. The state budget does not have the necessary funds to really help these persons, but, in Brussels, substantial funds were allotted to Romania for these projects, by POSDRU, axis 6, the main targeted group being that of vulnerable persons.
(Continued on page 4)
4
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
Editorial
The Democratic Capitalism (Continued from page 3) Do not give up the strategic projects supported by this axis or the other projects managed by POSDRU. Should you consider that not any NGO is capable of managing these projects, make a selection, a more proper appointment of these NGOs, but do not simply give up these projects, which are so necessary and stringent. Grant projects are good, too, but not for major projects, which include 2-3 regions at the same time. You, folks, my brothers who make up the civil society, please show interest in vulnerable persons and help them (not necessarily from the material point of view), but show them understanding and that you are close, help them feel normal. These people are just like you, sometimes better and wiser, but they suffer for having been condemned for something they are not to blame.
They are blameless “defendants”. By providing them with your warmth and understanding, all of us, we actually help ourselves, as our society becomes better, more tolerant and generous. Do not forget that real wealth is in your soul, not only in bank accounts. The Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs, the only association of Entrepreneurs which is involved in social economy and in the social issues faced by vulnerable persons, are here for You. We are ready to answer any question about our expertise in the fields of medicine, psychology, economy, about legal issues and social welfare. Let me assure you that we shall use our most competent personnel in order to answer your questions and your possible concerns. I wish you all the best in the world! Liviu Mandler
Three Centers for Disabled People developed by PMI
T
hree centers for disabled persons were founded in Bucharest, Braşov and Constanţa, as part of the “Regional network for the promotion and implementation of concepts of social economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” project. It is co-founded by the Social European Fund through the Operational Program for the Development of Human Resources 2007 -2013, “Invest in People. The target group of the project is made of 800 disabled people, having the following structure: - 200 people with visual perception disabilities, - 200 people with auditive perception disabilities, - 200 people with motor perception disabilities and - 200 people with other types of disabilities. All these people will get professional and psychological counseling at the founded centers, and 420 of them will take part in courses of professional training.
I. The center in Braşov is located at 23 Mihail Kogălniceanu St., block C7, P1. The team there includes two communication experts, two social assistants and two psychologists, as well as the center coordinator. Some of the activities developed at the center in Braşov are: meetings with the representatives of local NGOs, such as the Catharsis Association, the Ge-Ro Foundation (for people who suffer from multiple sclerosis), the Center for Blind People, the Rafael Foundation. They develop activities in common and support each other. The latest event which took place in the center in Braşov was developed on Saturday, August 27. It was a contest of sport fishing for disabled persons who live in the Central Region, at the lakes in Rotbav, Braşov County. This activity was organized together with S.C. Doripesco S.A. and there were 50 participants. Other activities of the center in Braşov include work meetings with public authorities and local
We believe in your happiness! administrations in the six counties for which the Center was founded, as well as exchanges of experience with specialized NGOs based in Europe. II. The center in Constanţa is located at 12 George Enescu St. and the team includes the center coordinator, two social assistants, two psychologists and one communication and public relations expert. The services provided by this center to disabled people are: psychological counseling, general counseling, guidance and professional training, information and connection to the business environment and providing information about the labor market. They also develop activities of tutorship and mentorship, volunteering, counseling for developing TIC (Technologies of Information and Communication) abilities and activities meant to connect them to national and international social networks. There are several advantages for the disabled people who ask for counseling provided by the Territorial Center in Constanţa: - access to services of personal counseling and to socializing activities which favor social reinsertion - participation in free courses of qualification/ re-qualification (advertisement creation, human resources and IT), after which the disabled people get qualification certificates acknowledged at a national and European level, fully approved by the proper authorities. The Center in Constanţa has several objectives for disabled people, such as: - development of habits for an independent life, as well as professional competences in order to favor and facilitate the social integration of disabled people.
5 - qualification of disabled for professions needed into the labor market, which will assure a rise of competitiveness and will facilitate their professional integration - connection to national and international social networks in order to limit the isolation of disabled people. III. The Bucharest-Ilfov region also benefits, since this summer, from a center for disabled people. It is located in Bucharest, in District 1, at 150 C-tin Dobrogeanu Gherea St., fourth floor, apartment 8. The team of the center includes three social assistants, one jurist, one psychologist and two communication experts, plus the center coordinator. The main activities of the team relate to legal, social and psychological counseling for disabled people. Due to the requirements of the project, the team focuses on the reintegration of disabled people into the labor market, as a real chance for social integration and for having a normal life. In fact, the Center will also provide courses for disabled people so that they may become specialized and have an extra chance for their reintegration into the labor market. Thus, the center will host IT training, human resources courses, as well as advertising creation classes. All courses will be certified by CNFPA (The National Council for Professional Training in Adults) and by the Ministry of Labor, being made in such a way as to fit to the abilities and necessities of disabled people. This way, disabled people will have an extra chance into the labor market and, with the help of specialists from the center, will find a job more easily, so as to have the chance of leading a normal life.
A Proposal Which Is Worth Being Taken into Consideration: A Lawful Seat in the Parliament for a Representative of Disabled People
T
he President of the Human Rights Committee within the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Nicolae Păun, has recently proposed that disabled people legally benefit from a seat in the Chamber, just like the national minorities. “Less favored persons should have a lawful seat in the Parliament, as the national minorities, so as to better fight for their rights. As we all know, their rights are not properly complied with. I will
introduce an amendment at the new electoral law in order to do this, so that these people may have access to the decision forum”, said the President of the Human Rights Committee within the Chamber of Deputies. This idea is new only in Romania. There is already a trend in Europe for providing seats for disabled people in the Parliament of Brussels, whose role is to defend the rights of this category.
6
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
One Step towards Normality
A
series of surveys made by the experts of the Territorial Center of the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs in Braşov pointed out distressing data: in Romania, there were 691.482 registered disabled people on March 31, 2011. They are assisted from the public budget and about 45.000 people live in the region of the Center, i.e. in the counties of Sibiu, Alba, Covasna, Braşov, Mureş and Harghita. Starting from this situation, the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs want to substantially contribute to the social reintegration of these people, so that many of them will no longer be just consumers of the public budget, but supporters of the budget. This entails a whole package of moral and material benefits for them, as well as for their tutors and the communities they are part of: • the development of new mentalities for the local socio-economic environment, • the development of pluralist economic markets, • a more dynamic economic development, • a contribution to the implementation of priorities set forth by European Union, especially the Lisbon Strategy, • the development of an economy which leads to social cohesion, • contributions to the development of innovation and flexibility in the field of social inclusion, • more opportunities for occupying the labor market, • a shift of focus from social welfare to the promotion of social inclusion practices, • the people in the target group will no longer be consumers of resources, but a source of added value, • active participation in the spreading of the principles of social economy, • less burden put upon the social welfare budgets, • the development of social economy entails the improvement of general services and thus contributes to the rise of the living standard in local communities, • the greater involvement of the civil society, which will lead to solutions for certain social issues, • the stimulation of a long-lasting development and efficient implementation of European policies / strategies, • fiscal advantages for employers,
• the development of social economy entails less poverty and a rise of the living standard in local communities. Thus, it entails the rise of product/services consumption, • social reinsertion, • development of self-esteem, • a dynamic, normal life These are the values and benefits provided by PMI’s Territorial Center in Braşov, for the implementation of the “Regional network for the promotion and implementation of concepts of social economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” Project POSDRU/84/6.1/S/58636. The Center in Braşov was founded due to the wish and, most of all, the need of a better communication and collaboration between the authorities involved in social economy and welfare and the NGOs, other associations involved in this field and those in need of social welfare and protection. They should not only get sympathy and a minimal financial support. They should be welcomed back into the society, so as to benefit from inspiration and guidance in order to best use their capabilities. This is the case because, until the social reinsertion proper of disabled people, the mentality of the whole community needs to change. Our secondary objective is to create, due to the Territorial Center in Braşov, a connection between authorities, NGOs and disabled people. The first steps were made as we met the representatives of the most important NGOs in Braşov: the Catharsis Association, the Ge-Ro Foundation (for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis), the Center for Blind People and the Rafael Foundation, in order to develop activities in common and to support each other. “We needed an institution to work with specialists in the social reinsertion of disabled people. You know what usually happens: each NGO focuses on its own plan of action, but nobody thought of having us all meet, before. Moreover, each of us had different beneficiaries, but people with different disabilities never got to know each other and share their experience, joy or needs. After the first meetings with the team at the center, I believe we shall be able to help these people get their self-esteem back. This is very important for them”, declared Azota Popescu, the President of the Catharsis Association. The need to give self-esteem back to disabled people was also expressed by members of the team, in the Center: “It is very hard to actually ‘throw’ back
We believe in your happiness! into the labor market a person who always asked for help and enjoyed the presence of persons who either did all they could for them or discriminated them. It is natural for them to feel helpless. This is why we need to focus on their self-esteem. As they start to believe in themselves, it will be very easy for our beneficiaries to develop the abilities and aptitudes they might need for a profession”, said the psychologist of the Center, Milena Popa, during the meeting with the NGOs. The team at the Center held several meetings with the public authorities and local administrations of the sic counties in the range of the Center and not only. The Territorial Center in Braşov developed
7 relations with several associations from Scandinavia, an area which enjoyed acknowledged successes in the integration of disabled people into the society, as well as in the decisional power enjoyed by NGOs in countries such as Norway or Denmark. “We are very thrilled of the credit that PMI Romania, through the Territorial Center in Braşov has given us. We are a very small association, but we could collaborate for the implementation of bilateral projects for the social reinsertion of disabled people”, declared Adolf Ratzka, from the Institute of Independent Living in Norway. This NGO has a lot of experience in training disabled persons for leading an independent life.
Readers’ Corner: Questions and Answers 1. When was your center founded and where do you develop its activity for the Bucharest-Ilfov region? The “Regional network for the promotion and implementation of concepts of social economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” project, developed by The Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs, includes three regional centers: in the South-East area, located in Constanţa; in the Central area, located in Braşov and in the Bucharest-Ilfov area, located in Bucharest. The center in Bucharest–Ilfov was opened on June 1, 2011 and is located at 150 C-tin Dobrogeanu Gherea St., the fourth floor. 2. What is the purpose for which this center was founded and whom is it for? The general objective of the “Regional network for the promotion and implementation of concepts of social economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” project is to facilitate the access of disabled persons into the labor market. This project will last for three years and is being developed since June 1, 2010 until May 13, 2013. By our activities, we wish to support 800 people who suffer from auditive, visual, motor, as well as other types of disabilities. 3. How many people are working in the center and what do they do? Each center has a structured made up of social assistants, lawyers, psychologists, communication experts and one coordinator for each center. We want to offer complete psychological counseling services to the beneficiaries of our center, as well as professional training and classes for them to be better in various fields. 4. What is the communication strategy of the team which coordinates the Bucharest-Ilfov regional center?
The communication strategy of the Bucharest Ilfov regional center is meant to announce the benefits provided by the activities of the center. 5. When will the Bucharest-Ilfov regional center begin operations? We intend to begin work Bucharest Ilfov Regional Centre on September 15, 2011 (earlier than expected in the project schedule - November 2011). The center will operate daily between 10 and 18. 6. How will the launch of the center be developed? In fact, the launch of the center will be a day of open doors, so that disabled people and their dear ones will benefit from the facilities provided by this project. 7. What are the estimated results of the BucharestIlfov regional center? As I see the activity at the center now, I expect that the approximately 300 disabled people in the Bucharest Ilfov region will be pleased of our counseling efforts, as well as of the services they are to be provided with by our specialists. I would like to mention that both our psychologists and social assistants at the center have a lot of work experience with disabled people.
8
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
Romanian Success Stories at Para-Canoe
C
ompetitive sports for disabled people are a chance for them to prove the extent of their will and capability of getting beyond their limits. Romanians do have merits in this kind of competitions. Thus, sportsman Iulian Şerban gained the gold medal at the K1 200 m. race, at the para-canoe competition for disabled people, which is part of the 2011 canoe-kayak World Competition in Szeged. It is not the first time that Iulian Şerban enjoys such a success. He also gained the same medal one year ago, in Poznan. In fact, during the last who years, our sportsman gained an impressive number of prizes: 4 gold medals, of which two at world championships and two at European championships. At the female K1 200 m race, sportswoman Mihaela Lulea, a debutant in such a great competition of para-canoe, gained the fourth place.
A Legless Athlete Competes with Healthy Sportsmen!
A
South-African athlete, Oscar Pistorius, aged 24, also known as “Blade Runner”, had his legs amputated and uses steel prosthetic devices. This did not stop him from competing, in various races, against healthy sportsmen. His scores were so good that, two years ago, the authorities in this field forbade him from running in other races, except those for disabled people, arguing that his steel prosthetic devices gave him an edge in the competition with the other runners. Being a fighter who never gives up, our disabled athlete made healthy sportsmen shiver as he won, this time in a court of law, the right to run in general competitions. So far, this sportsman toppled 26 world records in races for disabled people. Nevertheless, he did not stop here. He recently took part in the series of the 400 m races at the World Championship in South Korea. He placed third and was qualified for the semifinals. This is the first example about the way in which a disabled person was able not only to find his place in the society, but also to be competitive and have outstanding results.
9
We believe in your happiness!
Useful Information for Disabled People Who Live in District 3 of the Capital
B
y law, disabled people are exempt from paying taxes. Since the beginning of the year, in the Capital, at the District 3 Office of the City Hall, a number of 442 exemption requests were filed by disabled people for taxes per buildings and lands, in compliance with the Fiscal Code, art. 284, paragraph 4. It is useful for people to know the necessary documents for them to file at the District 3 City Hall: - property document of the home or plot of land (a copy and the original); - Certificate of disability or invalidity issued by the Local Council – the committee of medical expertise for adult disabled people;
- ID / Identity card (a copy and the original); - The request. The tax exemption per buildings and land will be implemented the next month after the one when the complete documents have been filed. The Local Tax and Duties Department of District 3 invites those who have not filed their requests yet to come to the headquarters in: - 3-5 Lucreţiu Pătrăşcanu St. (tel. 021.341.17.60); - 36 Câmpia Libertăţii St. (tel.021.324.71.94-96); - 32 Sf. Vineri St. (tel. 021.327.51.44/46). Working schedule with the public: Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 16.30, except for Thursday, which is from 8.00 to 18.30.
A National Petition for the Support of Disabled People Was Launched
T
he slogan of the petition launched online for the support of disabled people is “WE, the disabled people in Romania, depend on YOUR signature”. According to statistic data, 12.000 Romanians have signed this petition so far. They consider that disabled persons are not treated properly. “It is for their chance of an equal life. Should you not sign, the law on disabled people will be modified, this September, as the Governments wants it, not as disabled people in Romania need it”, is the message forwarded by the organizers of the petition. The site of the petition informs us that “as a European Union member, Romania should comply with the norms of the other countries and make more efforts in order to really protect disabled
persons, so that they may benefit from their rights as equal citizens. Law 448/ 2006 should be modified for the better. It should take into consideration the issues included in our Petition”. The message of the petition, which invites all who wish to take part in our initiative, is: “I am hereby joining and supporting this initiative since I want to be helpful to all those who have the misfortune of suffering from a disability”. The petition may be accesses at the following link: http://www.petitieonline.ro/ petitie/semnaturi/petitie_pentru_modificarea_legii_ nr_448_2006_privind_protectia_si_promovarea_ drepturilor_persoanelor_cu_handicap-p41158046pg90.html Clement Sava, Publicity Expert
10
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
National Fair of Protected Units
T
he “Alături de Voi” (Together with You) Foundation has organized the second edition of the National Fair of Protected Units, on August 27-29, in Mamaia. The expositional pavilion hosted 41 stands. Thus, visitors could admire adornments, clothes accessories, textiles and handmade jewels which were produced by disabled people in protected units or vocational workshops. This event also included the International
Conference on “Policies and Trends in Social Economy”. The participants, who came from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, shared from their experience in the field of social economy and underlined the fact that public institutions in developed EU member states fund programs for persons in need, up to 50% of the amount. Things
are very different in Romania, said the speakers from our country. They are deeply discontent with the Romanian legislation for disabled people. They hope that the legislative initiatives proposed by them will become laws or that current laws will be modified. Despite the slightly pessimistic mood of the conference, the ambiance was completely different at the Expositional Pavilion. The exposed items simply charmed everybody due to their quality, at least as good as those made by “normal” people. Still, more than anything else, I was impressed by the determination proven by the disabled people who wanted, in this way, to be present in the thoughts and activities of the “others”. Marina Şeuleanu
11
We believe in your happiness!
T
Fifty-three Companies, NGOs and Public Institutions Are Supporting the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs for the Reintegration of Disabled People
he National Support Network which was initiated by the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs, for the support of social inclusion of disabled people, has reached 53 of our partners. The members of the network include NGOs, entrepreneurs, private companies and public institutions in Romania which want to support the social reinsertion of disabled people. The purpose of the National Support Network (RNS) is to strengthen the relation with the business environment and to develop awareness campaigns about the rights of disabled people. Of the 53 members of the National Support Network, 16 are in the South-East Region (Constanţa), 24 in the Central Region (Braşov) and 13 in the BucharestIlfov Region. “We are impressed by the swift reaction of the organizations (be them non-profit, state institutions or private companies), as they expressed their wish to support the socio-economic integration of disabled people by getting involved in the National Support Network. After having seen that they answered so fast to our requests, we are entitled to hope that we shall succeed to change the wrong mentality of the society, as far as human rights and the abilities of disabled people are concerned. We expect the membership of the National Support Network to grow in the future, since more and more organizations are becoming aware of the importance of this social category”, declared Liviu Mandler, President of the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs.
About the project The National Support Network is an activity included in the “Regional network for the promotion and implementation of concepts of social
economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” European Project, co-backed By the European Social Fund through the Operational Program for the Development of Human Resources 2007-2013, Invest in people. The project is being developed from 2010 to 2013 and its central objective is to create a network of multiregional centers for the areas of BucharestIlfov, Center and South-East, in order to facilitate the access of disabled people into the labor market. The beneficiaries of the project are various disabled people who will benefit from our professional and psychological counseling, as well as from classes of professional training in the regional centers.
About the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs The Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs – PMI is a non-governmental, non-profit and apolitical organization, which reunites authorized private persons, medical offices and clinics that perform medical and/or therapeutic services within the organizations they are part of. Our organization implements traditional allopath medicine, as well as complementary medicine (performed by specialized doctors who use all therapies which were proved to be safe and efficient). The President of the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs is Mr. Liviu Mandler. Larisa Toader
12
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
Mammy, What’s My Talent?
I
was asked this question one evening, as I was watching Discovery Channel together with my daughter (she was diagnosed with ASPERGER AUTISM and ADHD). The question surprised me, since I was just explaining to her that a butterfly is an insect belonging to the Lepidoptera order and that butterflies are remarkable for their unusual life cycle, with their larvae state, as a caterpillar, the inactive state of pupa and the spectacular metamorphosis in its adult shape with colored wings. Where did this thought come from? What was going on inside her lovely mind? What made her ask me this question? I took a deep breath and got ready for the battle to come. I started to list all her qualities: her kindness, sincerity, generosity, politeness with those around her… She did not let me finish and told me, slightly annoyed: “I am not referring to heavenly talents. I just want to know whether I have an earthly talent.” What do you mean by an earthly talent? I asked bewildered. Look at my colleagues at school, for example. They think I am stupid to be nice, not to talk dirty and to be like them. Unless I do something bad, I cannot be part of their group. There are a few girls and two boys who accept me. Now, at school, they should learn how to transform themselves into butterflies. They compete to one another, but not to each other, in order to be better (this is a notion that I “inserted” into her memory so that she may not be hurt by the insults of the others). Have you heard what happened at the Bachelor’s Degree Exam? No less than 60% of the student remained caterpillars and they do not care. What will I do? I encouraged her and said: “When a child is born, it is wet, naked, blind and hungry. After that, things go worse, all of a sudden. But you need not worry! Mamma’s going to take good care of you.” As I was looking at her sad face, I got worried. Just like any parent, I looked for practical ways to get help. There are laws, but there are no methodological norms for their implementation, as far as the rights of autistic persons are concerned. Have you heard of inclusive education or of traveling teachers? I only heard that the road to hell is full of good intentions. Law makers know it so well...
Do You Like Me? My child asked me this question. This is why, I decided to show and prove to her my unconditional love, at every moment of her life. In 1938, Hans Asperger said that “Everything which is out of the ordinary, that we consider abnormal, is not necessarily inferior”.
And we often see differences between what we wish to be and what we think we are at a certain point. This conflict may lead to frustration, stress and a low self-esteem. For some people, this conflict may seem overwhelming and lead to depression. For others, such a conflict is a means to mobilize one’s resources in order to reach the wanted ideals. What do you see when you look into the mirror? Your opinion about yourself is the basis of the decision which entails ideas, feelings, your will and actions or, better said, your image about yourself matters a lot. Starting from the famous urge, “Nosce te ipsum!“ – Get to know yourself, we may say that selfknowledge and our image about ourselves, all these have implications upon education and self-education, upon the development and socio-professional, moral integration of one’s personality. Let us study and analyze the features of the selfimage in the case of a special category of children, who are less fortunate and mistreated by the rest of us, from certain points of view. I am referring to autistic children. “How does the self-image forms in the case of special children?“ This is the question we are trying to answer. We know and hope this answer will help us to better understand these children. It should also help us to better organize the educational process.
Veni, Vidi, Vici! I Came, I Saw And I Won! Sometimes, you may feel that you are a modern, revised edition of Sisyphus. Every day, you take your stone and take it all the way up to the peak of the mountain. The next day, you find it all the way down. Sometimes, the night is sleepless and you are neither in Leningrad, nor an Eskimo. You just wonder: why me? For those parents who do not have any hope at all, anymore, let me tell you that, no matter how much time these children might need for progress, it is worth doing everything for them. Your satisfaction will be even greater, as you do not expect it. Depending on the depth of the disorder, there are various levels of progress. In my child’s case, I used to tell her she should be proud of being autistic. One of the features they are worth being respected for is that there is not even a trace of evil in their mind. I don’t know about us, but I am sure that they will go to a better place after this life, here. They shouldn’t be hated or rejected by the society. We should see them as messengers from the Creator. Earthlings, something is being planned for you! Beatrice Iordache
13
We believe in your happiness!
Oppositional Behavior in Children
T
he first mentions voiced by the educator/ teacher or parent about the existence of behavioral issues such as hyperactivity or oppositional trends should make us wonder about the manifestations and behavioral issues of our child. True, in different contexts, children act differently, but it is also true that, when a lot of complaints about our child’s behavior appear from all directions (nursery school, school, family, the playground environment, etc.) it is necessary to grant special attention to the idea of having the child examined in order to determine the existence of hyperactive, oppositional manifestations. A lot of times, many parents wonder: “What can the family do about the unwanted manifestations and behaviors of the child?” In fact, behind this question, there is another question/concern: to what extent is the family actually willing to get involved and really take the first step in order to be closer to understanding the problems faced by the child? The question makes us aware of the fact that unwanted, misunderstood manifestations of the child can be improved and transformed into proper behaviors only up to the extent to which the family is not just willing to invest (resources, efforts, time, energy) in various therapies and interventions for the child, but also to make an effort of selfknowledge and acknowledgement of the (many times conflicting) relations between the members of the family (within the couple of the parents, in the relations between parents and children, in the relations between the generations of the same family, etc.). In other words, the family proper is the central, essential aspect in the case of children who show hyperactive, oppositional manifestations in the family. What are the causes of the oppositional behaviors of a child? What do the manifestations of the child say to us? What is very hard for him or her so that it is impossible to manage? What is the child going through within the relation with his parents? Why is the child not having proper marks at school? Can the child be integrated in a team? Why is the child refusing to play with those who are the same age? All these and many more questions appear and alarm us about the states of high anxiety and lack of safety felt by the child. He or she can only face those feelings with very great efforts, by the oppositional and hyperactive manifestations and behaviors. Also, therapeutic interventions upon children
who have oppositional and hyperactive behaviors points out the need to intensively work the following aspects out: - ludic play (the objective is to increase attention and playing period, on one hand, as well as revealing the emotional content about which the child is speaking more easily in a state of semi-reality); - the development and focus of attention upon a certain given task; - understanding the causes which determine an aggressive behavior and its management/ funneling towards a constructive purpose; - the expression of emotions and strengthening self-esteem by psychotherapy; - at the same time, strengthening connections and relations between family members, by a psychotherapeutic endeavor of the whole family, in order to provide the child with a feeling of safety and ease. Most of the times, parents are desperate. They find themselves at a crossroads and take major decisions, especially when they cannot face the behavior of the child. Thus, there appear difficult relations between parents and children. Quite often, because of the child’s behavior, there appear disputes between parents and children, and the relation between them becomes very strained and hard to manage. On one hand, parents feel they can no longer get a hold on their child and that they have completely failed as far as his or her education is concerned. On the other hand, all these children expect from their parents is to be rejected. As time goes by, they develop fears, a feeling of lack of safety and they have less and less self-confidence. Here are a few questions for parents. The answers may be discovered together with a professional psychologist: 1. What do you think is a behavior issue in your child’s case? 2. How do you usually react when having to face your child’s behavioral issues? 3. How do you manage your child’s crises of fury? 4. When and how should we intervene about the oppositional behavior of the child? Clinician Psychologist Diana O. MORARU Article Published in the PSYVOLUTION PEOPLE Magazine, No. 7, December 2010 – January 2011
14
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
GREAT PERSONALITIES
OF THE
WORLD
WITH
DISABILITIES
RAY CHARLES, A PIONEER OF SOUL MUSIC
A
merican singer Ray Charles developed this previously unknown genre. Soul music is a mix of rhythmic styles, such as blues and gospel. By his recordings, he also contributed to the development of pop and country music. Despite his loss of vision, he was one of the greatest personalities of the music world and of American show business. Ray Charles Robinson (he later dropped his last name, so as not to be confused with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson) was born on September 23, 1930, in a poor family. His mother used to work on a leased plot of land and his father was a railway worker. He started having eye problems at age five. When he was seven, he was already blind, as he was probably suffering from glaucoma. He attended a school for blind people in St. Augustine – Florida, where his talent for music was discovered and cultivated. At the time, he was invited to sing at the local radio station, already. In the meantime, his parents passed away. At school Charles learned classical music only, but he wanted to sing jazz and blues, the music he
had heard at home, on the radio. He later formed his first band: “RC Robinson and the Shop Boys” for Christmas shows performed at school. It is with this band that he presented his own interpretation of the song “Jingle Bell Boogie”. After his mother passed away, in 1945, he abandoned school and went to Jacksonville, at a family which had been close to his mother. It was there that he got hired as a piano player and later sang with various bands in Orlando and Tampa. But his dream was to have his own orchestra. This is why he decided to leave Florida. He chose Seattle (so far, he was not confident enough to sing in large towns as Chicago and New York). He rapidly became well-known and started recording, first for the Down Beat Company. It was there that he had his first hit, in 1949: “Confession Blues” was second on the national chart of “R&B” hits. After that, there was a long list of hits. He signed contracts with “Atlantic Records” company and later with “ABC-Paramount Record”. He sang all over the world with his orchestra, being one of the most appreciated American singers of soul music and not only. He was not just a singer, but also a talented piano player. He never forgot where he came from and did make remarkable stands in favor of civil rights for Afro-Americans. He supported Martin Luther King Jr. and his American Movement for Civil Rights. This is why people were outraged and bewildered as he accepted, in 1981, to make a tour in South Africa, during the time of an international boycott against this country, because of its Apartheid policies. Ray Charles was also invited to sing at the White House, as President Ronald Reagan celebrated the beginning of his second term, in 1985, and by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The Romanian public heard him sing in 1994, when he was invited at the “Golden Stag” Festival in Braşov. Apart from his blindness, the singer also faced another great problem: drugs. He was addicted to heroin for 20 years and was arrested for possession, but he went to a detox clinic and made a successful recovery. He passed away on June 10, 2004. He was married twice and had 12 children, nine of them being born out of wedlock. During his lifetime, he gave each of them one million dollars. Today, institutions, foundations and streets have his name. For Americans and not only, his songs are immortal. Eva GALAMBOS
We believe in your happiness!
15
DISCRIMINATION: 45% of Romanians will not live near persons who suffer from intellectual disabilities; 33% will not have such colleagues at work
T
he Institute for Public Policies (IPP) has made an opinion poll in our country on the perception of the Romanians about disabled persons. The result is that more than 75% of the Romanians believe that disabled persons are discriminated against, but 45% reject the idea of living in the same house with such a person, while 33% are not willing to work with disabled persons. IPP, by IPP DATA RESEARCH, has made a first national opinion poll on April 9–16, on the perception of the Romanians about persons with intellectual disabilities and their place in the society. After having centralized the answers, the result is that Romanians do not perceive intellectually disabled persons as being equal to the other members of the society, but as persons born with an abnormality which affects the way they think (88%), as persons who need support for making decisions (64%) or persons who are not accountable for their deeds (59%). This survey was made with a sample of 1.018 persons, who are representative for the adult population of Romania. It clearly shows that at present, despite the fact that they formally declare themselves tolerant towards intellectually disabled persons, actually, Romanians do not agree with the fact that they are entitled to be and live in their close vicinity. “Romanians tend to give very traditional answers to questions referring to the tolerance/ non-discrimination of intellectually disabled persons: 88% say we should have a higher level of tolerance towards these persons; 75% declare that no one should separate intellectually disabled people from their family and the society, while 74% say that the best therapy for them is to be a part of the community. In reality, they are having
a segregationist attitude. When asked in concrete terms about the right of employment for any person in the society, 33% do not agree, while 43% do not agree with the fact that intellectually disabled persons may start families and bring children up. Nevertheless, 18% of Romanians pretend that mercy and compassion are the first words they think of when referring to an intellectually disabled person. More than 75% of the respondents consider that the State does not support these persons enough. Unfortunately, the answer entails an attitude of passive assistance, instead of suggesting the need of creating a social framework meant to give them the chance of a normal life to lead on their own. Most of the respondents say that the State should allot more money (42%), while only 27% consider more support should be provided to families in order to have intellectually disabled peope integrated into the community. Only 16% of the asked Romanians are in favor of an increased access to education and other public services; 15% consider jobs should be created for intellectually disabled persons. Also, despite the fact that more than half of the Romanians declare that the place of disabled persons should be in the family (56%), a large part of them believe that intellectually disabled persons should be institutionalized – within the community, but under permanent surveillance (24%). Still, only 7% of Romanians continue to believe that intellectually disabled persons are not entitled to a normal life in the society and should keep on being isolated and placed under surveillance by the community. The survey was funded by the Open Society Institute through the Mental Health Initiative.
16
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
If all the guys in the world !!!
I
like those youngsters who seem to defy is with an insolent look, as they run on skates, as well as when they get the highest mark at the Bachelor’s Degree Exam or flunk it all the way, their teachers being to blame, too. We loved them in 1989, when they faced bullets, with lit candles on the stairs of the Cathedral in Timişoara, innocently hoping that the world was about to get better if them, the young, got involved in order to change it. Recently, a situation that happened in Timişoara made me hope again. For Lavinia, a beautiful student in Timişoara, 1997 was to become a gift from God. That was the year she was awarded the Miss World University prize. The top-model career seemed to be about to become a seductive truth, after years of dreaming. The following year, she was one of the winners of the Miss West beauty pageant. But a terrible car crash fractured her spine, together with her dream of becoming a successful model. Being stuck in a wheelchair, the very beautiful Lavinia Conopan left for Germany in order to be treated. There, she met her future husband and
became the most beautiful wife in a wheelchair: young Mrs. Lavinia Rausch. Recently, Lavinia returned to Timişoara with her husband, to visit her relatives. One Saturday night, the Rausch family was joined by a female friend and decided to go listen to music and drink juice. They chose what they thought was a high-class disco, Club Heaven. As they reached the entrance, all “heavens” seemed to fall upon them. The bodyguard, after having stared at the young woman sitting in the wheelchair… decided that only Lavinia’s husband and their friend could enter the club, but NOT the disabled person! While obstinately lying that there was not enough room for the wheelchair in the disco, there was enough room for about 50 hotshots… to walk in. So far, this is a sad story, painted in a dirty grey resulted from discrimination and obstinacy. But the end of the story is that of a fairy tale. Several youngsters, the children of those who lit candles on the stairs of the Cathedral in Timişoara, made a special protest page on Facebook. They say it loud and clear: we say NO to discrimination! Boycott Club Heaven in Timişoara! When I was a child, I saw a movie about a wonderful story of human solidarity. Being marooned in the middle of the ocean, he only chance of a group of youngsters was an S.O.S. signal sent from a radio-telegraph. On the other part of the globe, a teenager could not sleep. He received the message and a desperate race against time began, involving young radioamateurs from all over the world. Thus, they succeeded to save the hopeless survivors. The movie was called If All the Guys in the World“. I snapped out of my daydream with an understanding smile sent to God. I had the certainty that Facebook is faster than the radiotelegraph and this lesson of dignity given by youngsters in Timişoara would make the Earth blossom with love and tolerance… if all the guys in the world… Angela S.
17
We believe in your happiness!
R
Disabled persons are entitled to public transport, as well
omania, as a EU member state, must comply with a legislative context which is specifically designed for disabled persons. We have to implement the same norms as other member states, in order to assure a state of normality and dignity for disabled persons. In Romania, Law 448/2006, republished in 2008, provides, among others: Art. 64. - (1) in order to facilitate the easy access of disabled people to means of transportation and travel, by December 31, 2010, the authorities of the local public administration are obliged to take the following measures in order to: a) adapt all means of public transportation which are in use; b) adapt all public transport stations in compliance with the law, including by marking access areas to the doors of the transportation means with tactile pavement;
c) mount information, visual and auditive panels for the use of disabled people, in the means of public transport. Moreover, Art. 64, paragraph 2 of Law 448/2006 for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Disabled People, republished, provides that authorized taxi companies are obliged to have at least one car which is adapted for the transportation of disabled people who use a wheelchair. Should the driver of the taxi refuse to transport a disabled person and his wheelchair, his refusal is considered an act of discrimination. Thus, we have laws, but it is hard to implement them. Many times, disabled persons face difficulties when using public means of transportation. It actually happens because the law is not complied with.
Cervical cancer What is cervical cancer?
I
t’s a disease in which malign (cancerous) cells are formed into the cervical tissue. The cervix is a portion of the uterus which connects the uterus proper and the vagina. This type of cancer is developed in a long period of 10-15 years, which means that an early discovery of cancerous cells assures excellent chances of healing.
What is the cause of this type of cancer? Here are the main favoring factors: • Infection with HPV (the Human Papilloma Virus), • A large number of pregnancies, • Several sexual partners, • The first sexual intercourse at a very early age, • Other sexually transmitted diseases, • Smoking, • Oral contraceptives, • Weakened immune system.
What is a cervical cancer patient feeling? The patient may not have any symptom of cervical cancer in initial stages, and this is why regular screening is so important. As cancer develops, the following symptoms appear: • Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, between periods or after menopauses.
• Watery or bloody vaginal leaking, which may also have an unpleasant smell. • Pelvic pains or pains during sexual intercourse.
How to detect cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, which affects the sexual organs of women. It is more common in women over the age of 30. The screening (detection) is made during the gynecologic exam, once a year: cells from the surface of the cervix are taken on a small brush or stick. The cells are examined at a microscope in order to see if they are modified. It is called the Papanicolau Test. The doctor may also use a lab test called HPV-ADN in order to determine if there is an infection caused by any of the 13 types of HPV which are more prone to leading to cervical cancer. Like the Papanicolau test, the HPV ADN test entails the collection of cells from the cervix, for lab tests. The screening should begin three years after the first sexual intercourse and should continue until the age of 65, in case the last three Papaniculau tests were negative.
What are the healing chances? The global survival rate at five years is 72% of all cervical cancer patients. In case of early discovery, the rate rises to 92%. It means that the best healing chances are incurred by those who discover the disease at an early stage. Al-Momani Tareg MG V, UMF-Cluj
18
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
Alzheimer-not all is lost…
P
at Summitt is well known in the world of American basketball. The student team (amateur players) she trains, based in Tennessee, won the National Championship nine years in a row. Pat has recently realized that she kept forgetting things: at crucial times during the games, she was forgetting. She forgot what she wanted to shout to the players, what were the next games to play. She forgot what she wanted to do. This is why there are certain days
when she stays at home, instead of going to training sessions. At the end of the season, Pat, a relatively young woman for her diagnostic, aged 59, was simply deterred by the news from the doctors: she was feeling the first Alzheimer symptoms. The doctors at the Mayo Clinic encouraged her to continue to train the team during her treatment, considering that this activity might stabilize her for a while. Pat Summitt has been training the same team for 38 and got no less than 1079 victories. American experts say that each case of Alzheimer is different and that the progress of the disease cannot be anticipated. Pat knows she is vulnerable, for one of her grandmothers suffered from severe dementia. But she is determined to keep on training the team and to fight her condition with medicines and mental exercises. According to official data, the USA has 5.000.000 people who suffer from this incurable disease. Of them, 200.000 are younger than 65. As Joan Connan, the manager of the club, said: “she is a symbol for the women who are involved in basketball and for all women involved in sports. For Pat, having openly described her state of health is a continuous example of courage. Life is a mystery and we do not have a crystal ball to read our destiny. But I know Pat Summitt is an example of excellence, strength, honesty and courage”. Andrei Banc
The Protection of disabled persons should not lead to their isolation and marginalization
I
n the general definition of disabilities, one should take into consideration the fact that there are several perspectives for viewing their meaning. According to a book published by Simona Ponea, “A Different, but Similar World”, at the Lumen Publishing House in 2009, one perspective for defining disabilities is to start from the meaning of loss and lack. I am referring to physical or psychological issues that a person may lack, be them part of the anatomic-physiologic system or of the nervous – psychological system. Another identification of disabilities, according to the quoted author, refers to the various categories of afflictions which entails interruptions of the normal functions
of the human systems. Limitations to a normal life become an everyday situation as they refer to the diminished capability of a person to fulfill daily tasks and perform normal functions, not necessarily social, but at least personal ones. This is the case of disabled persons who need a caretaker and somebody to be with them all the time. It is even more painful when the respective persons could manage on their own, should they have the technical facilities and special installations that could simply free them from the need to have another person with them. Similarly, says Simona Ponea, disabilities may also be a shift from the norms of a group or from
19
We believe in your happiness! social norms, such as physical norms (height, weight or other physical features) or abstract norms (behavior, customs, psychological imprints). Another element of this list refers to disabilities as a form of maladjustment or special adjustment to the social status. This is so because, even when society succeeds to find a form of adjustment and a social role for disabled persons, that role is shaped in compliance with the respective disability. Apart from the fact that these persons are provided with a protected place, the very same protection may lead to the isolation and marginalization of the disabled person. This is precisely why the purpose of the “Regional network for the promotion and
implementation of concepts of social economy, in order to increase the chances of social reinsertion of disabled people” project focuses not only on the social integration of disabled persons, but also on means for the integration of the target group not to lead to an isolating, marginalizing protection of the respective persons. Its goal is to perform a real integration and to lack any type of discrimination. From this perspective, one should take into consideration the fact that discrimination may take subtle forms, and “protection” by exclusion is one of them. It is harder to identify because of its apparent generous nature and it may even be part of the good efforts meant to integrate the less fortunate. Clement Sava
Interview with Ileana Cercel, psychologist of the Center for disabled persons in Bucharest-Ilfov What is your previous experience with disabled persons? I started to work with these persons on a daily basis three years ago, when I founded the National Association for Autistic Children and Adults in Romania – the Dâmboviţa branch. Even if the name refers to autism only, due to our statute, as well as to all our concrete activities, I can tell you that I have worked with all categories of disabled persons. For three years, I have assessed more than 100 children and adults. Seventy of them benefited from various therapies within our center. How will the meetings with disabled persons take place? As they enter the center, each beneficiary is welcomed and a registration file is filled-in. Depending on their situation, they will be directed to the psychologist and/or social assistant (in compliance with their needs). At the psychologist, they will benefit from counseling/therapy, depending on their daily issues: cognitive-behavioral therapy, support counseling, vocational counseling, personal development, therapy by music, therapy by art, sensorial integration, psychology for the visually and hearing impaired, speech therapy, etc. The counseling/therapy sessions may be individual or in groups, as the beneficiaries wish. These interventions are available for disabled persons, as well as for their families. What major problems do you think will be pointed out by the disabled persons who will get counseling at the center?
In general, disabled persons have one or several of the following problems: anxiety, various fears, depression; emotional, behavioral communicational issues; a low self-image and self-esteem, social isolation, etc. apart from these psychological issues, there are physical problems caused by disabilities, socializing problems (isolation, discrimination, marginalization, exclusion), limited access to education, occupational problems, etc. How can you help disabled persons integrate into the labor market? A difficult issue is their integration into the labor market and possibly finding a job for them. At this time, a large number of disabled persons do not have a job, which makes it difficult for them to get their revenue. Most of the times, the capabilities and abilities of disabled persons are not assessed and appreciated at their right value by potential employers. In our center, beneficiaries will be provided with professional guidance, training classes, counseling in the period before and during employment, occupational therapy, etc. Depending on their abilities, education and level of disability, they will be guided towards one of the following employments: - into the free labor market; - at home; - in protected forms (in a protected position or in an authorized protected unit).
20
Promoted & Applied Economy Social Concepts Nr. 6/September 2011
Breast cancer Myth: Contraceptive pills may cause the apparition of breast cancer. Reality: Most of the scientists consider they do not increase the risk of breast cancer, even if there are such antecedents in one’s family.
B
reast cancer is probably the illness that women fear the most. Even if it is not lethal, its consequences, the possible surgical removal of a breast and its physical and psychological effects are especially traumatizing for any woman. The incidence of breast cancer rose especially in the case of older women, who got over menopauses. The survival rate of these women increased and the number of deaths caused by other diseases decreased. In other words, women currently live long enough to get breast cancer. Only 5% of the cases appear in women who are younger than 40 and only 25% appear in those who are younger than 50.
Evolution of breast cancer Breast cancer evolves as a result of gradual changes, from a normal tissue of the breast to a fully developed cancer. The first stage is that of the proliferative fibrocystic affection, also named hyperplasia (meaning excessive growth). This affection is not cancerous. The next stage is named atypical hyperplasia. Cells have an abnormally fast rate of growth and division (hyperplasia), and some of them have unusual features (atypias). This stage is an early alarm signal. The next stage is the in situ carcinoma, when some breast cells have cancerous changes, but the abnormal cells do not invade the neighboring cells. The invasive carcinoma, when abnormal cells invade the neighboring tissue, also being able to infiltrate into the blood vessels and lymphatic ganglions. Types of de cancer: 1. The ductal carcinoma – a type of cancer developed into the galactophore channels, which transport the mother’s milk. 2. The lobular carcinoma – is developed into the lobes which produce the mother’s milk. 3. The inflammatory carcinoma – is developed into the lymphatic ganglions, in the layer under the skin.
Risk factors a) Risk factors which are outside your area of influence - Age: approximately 77% of the women suffering from breast cancer are over 50 years old when diagnosed. - The presence of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter), is a genetically determined familial risk. - Caucasian (white) women: the risk is slightly higher, compared to Afro-American, Asian and Hispanic women, who have a lower risk. - Early menstruation and late menopauses: if the production of estrogen (sexual hormones) during one’s lifetime is longer, they are susceptible of developing breast cancer. The same is valid for women who were never pregnant. b) Risk factors from within your area of influence - Treatment for supplementing estrogen: increases the risk if taken for a period of 10 to 15 years. - Alcohol: it is proven that it increases the level of estrogen, which favors the apparition of cancer. - Overweight: adipose tissue produces estrogen – the extra weight is, in fact, an estrogen factory. - Pollution: substances such as DDE (chemically related to DDT) or DPC (polychlorinated biphenyl). - Unhealthy alimentary regime: if it is rich in fats, it may contribute to the apparition of cancer.
Self-examination and mammography The three means for an early diagnose of breast cancer are: self-examination, the examination made by a doctor and the mammography. None of these methods is efficient alone. All women need to regularly use all of them. It is recommendable for monthly selfexaminations to begin in the period of puberty. Everyone knows their breasts and their aspect best, being capable to palm any modification more efficiently than anyone else. Even if we do not recognize a malign nodule, we are able to discern any change, no matter how subtle, which should be announced immediately to the doctor, in order to be assessed. After menstruation begins, it is proper to do a breast examination every year, on the occasion of the routine clinical or gynecological exam,
We believe in your happiness!
preferably by the same doctor, every year. The third method of diagnosis is mammography, which may discover lesions or nodules which are too small or subtle to be palpated. Mammography should be associated with self-examination and the examinations performed by doctors, but they do not assure maximum protection.
Biopsy of the breast A biopsy is the sampling of tissue fragments for diagnose. Its purpose is to establish the cause of an anomaly showed by the mammography, but which is too small to be palpated, or to identify the nature of a nodule or a lesion that’s large enough to be palpated.
Treatment The purpose of the surgical intervention is to remove the tumor in order to prevent the spreading of cancerous cells in other parts of the organism. Depending on the dimension of the tumor or on the stage of the cancer, together with her doctor, the
21
patient must take certain decisions about the means of treatment. The first one refers to the dimension of the tissue to be removed: to operate only on the tumor, the tumor and a part of the surrounding area of the breast or the whole breast. If the cancer is discovered as affecting only a small part of the tissue (a tumor of 3-4 cm), the treatment options include the excision of the tumor (tumorectomy), the excision of the breast (mastectomy) with the immediate reconstruction of the breast, with a postponed reconstruction or without reconstruction. Usually, women who went through tumorectomy will also go through radiotherapy, in order to destroy all cancerous cells which might have not been removed with the tumor. Chemotherapy is often used as treatment after a tumorectomy or mastectomy. The purpose of chemotherapy is to eliminate all cancerous cells spread in the area of the breast and in the rest of the organism. Şulea Camelia Larisa Medicine student, 5th year.
A normal human gesture: a disabled person at a fishing game. Rotbav, Brasov, August 27, 2011. Action organized by the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs with SC. DORIPESCO SA. After fishing game, Mr. Cornelius Popa, coordinator of the center of Brasov, by the Integrative Medicine Entrepreneurs, shares certificate of participation to 50 people with disabilities who participated at the event.
Important addresses: www.paces.ro www.informatiicancer.ro