Danny became aware of my port just before it was removed. He was only 18 months old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my journey went pretty much unnoticed by this small boy who had no idea ports were not standard on every person he met. Now he is three years old and even though he still has no real idea why a port popped up from underneath my skin for two years, he did come to realize it was something akin to a boo-boo that one day goes away.

My port went away on September 15. And ever since that day, Danny has been very concerned about the incision that marks the spot once home to a foreign device. For one week after my port removal, my incision was covered. Danny wondered why. I told him I was healing, that I had to keep my boo-boo protected, that I could not take a shower because it could not get wet. Danny was very attentive. He pulled at the neck of my shirt every time I held him to sneak a peak at the site of my surgery. He asked if it hurt, if doctors cut me with a knife, if new skin was growing underneath my bandage. "Yes", "yes", and "yes." I told him. And one day when I decided to take a shower, despite orders to keep the area completely dry, Danny said, "The doctor said you cannot take a shower." I told him, "I know." And he said, "But actually you did take a shower." I told him he was right and hoped he would not pursue my disobedience any further. He did not -- he was just checking up on me, he was just concerned about me, he was just wondering if I may have compromised something. I told him I was fine.

I did not do any damage with my rebellious shower, my bandage is off, and Danny only peeks once in a while to monitor the area. He is mostly back to his normal life, free from all nursing duties. And I am mostly back to life, free from my port and happily showered in love by my littlest guy -- the guy who was once oblivious to all things cancer related, the guy who somehow became my caregiver.

Women diagnosed with cervical or uterine cancer, or are at higher risk for these cancers, need to require their sexual partners to wear a condom during sex, as semen appears to speed up the progression of cervical and uterine cancer, according to the results of a study done by UK Medical Research Council researchers.

Researchers found that high levels of prostaglandin present in semen might promote and fuel the growth of certain cancers for women. The hormone prostaglandin is produced by the reproductive glands of women and the levels of prostaglandin primarily regulates how much the uterine lining thickens and sheds each month. Semen contains a prostaglandin concentration 1,000 times higher than women normally produce in their own bodies.

The introduction of semen might promote cervical cancer and uterine cancer, as cervical and uterine cancer cells have prostaglandin receptor molecules on their surfaces. While it is known the human papilloma virus (HPV) might lead to cervical cancer, the researchers feel there might be other factors that fuel the development and spread of these cancers for women. Many women are infected with HPV at some point in their life, but not all women will go on to develop cervical cancer from the infection.