“HEALTH IS FIRST”

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33128, 19 January 1973, Page 5

“HEALTH IS FIRST”

Advice on operation

fN.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) , NEW YORK, January 17.1 Mrs Shirley Temple Black, who recently underwent sur- i gery to remove her left breast; because of cancer, writing in the latest issue of "McCall’s”, magazine, says that 32,000; women will die next year because they failed to face up; in time to breast cancer. “I want to urge other' women, please, please, not to | wait. It could be, would be all right as long as you do 'not wait too long. Don’t sit ! home and don’t be afraid.” But she said: “Just because! I am among those fortunate; ones who seem to be adjust-1 ing successfully to this un-| expected change, I don’t! want to leave the impression' that the whole thing is at all' easy. "It is an ugly operation, a. maiming operation, and there; is a certain amount of physi-; cal pain. I am not yet com-: fortable in my revised body., My left arm hurts from the; elbow to the shoulder. I seem to be off balance and as I look in the mirror I feel quite unattractive.” However, she told women faced with the decision of! having a breast removed to forget beauty and vanity. “Consider instead, as I do, i the more fundamental virtues: of enthusiasm, intellectual vigor and the unquenchable desire to serve others until; the final bell rings. With or 1 without a breast, I plan to! keep doing precisely what I I have been doing. Only bet-' ter.”