October is National Breast Cancer Month!
Early Detection is Our Hope.
At some point in our lives we will know a woman diagnosed with this disease… be it your mother, a sister, an aunt, a neighbor, a friend, or an acquaintance. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. These facts are staggering, but they can and have been improved due to the simple act of early detection and knowledge.
Breast Basics
With all the upsetting statistics that come our way about breast cancer it’s easy to panic the instant you feel a lump in your breast. Stay calm, lumpiness, plus tenderness or pain is often felt at certain times of the month. This is called fibrocystic [FI-bro-SIS-tic] breast changes. These changes are a normal part of the menstrual cycle. You are most likely to notice them in the premenstrual phase of your cycle, or if you are past menopause, when taking hormones. Fibrocystic changes do not increase your chance of getting breast cancer.
So when should you be concerned? The following are signs that you will want to have checked out by your physician:
lump, hard knot or thickening
unusual swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
change in the size or shape
dimpling or puckering of the skin
an itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
pulling in of the nipple or other parts
nipple discharge that starts suddenly
pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
Certain breast problems, such as infections, nipple discharge or itchy nipples usually are not cancer, but can look just like symptoms of some rare types of breast cancer. No matter what the diagnosis, if you feel that something is wrong, ask for a biopsy or get a second opinion. After all, no one knows your body better than you. 1
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but men can get breast cancer as well. The information we are talking about here refers only to breast cancer in women.
One of the biggest challenges in understanding breast cancer is understanding the medical lingo that goes along with it. Here are some terms that describe the most common types of breast cancer 2 :
In situ (in SIGH-to) : This term is used for the early stage of cancer, when it is confined to the place where it started. In breast cancer, it means that the cancer is confined to the ducts or the lobules, depending on where it started. It has not gone into the fatty tissues in the breast nor spread to other organs in the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) : This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer is confined to the ducts. It has not spread through the walls of the ducts into the fatty tissue of the breast. Nearly all women with cancer at this stage can be cured. The best way to find DCIS early is with a mammogram.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) : Although not a true cancer, having LCIS increases a woman's risk of developing cancer later. For this reason, it's important that women with LCIS have a physical exam two or three times a year, as well as a mammogram every year.
Infiltrating (invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC) : This cancer starts in a milk passage or duct, breaks through the wall of the duct, and invades the fatty tissue of the breast. From there it can spread to other parts of the body. IDC is the most common type of breast cancer. It accounts for about 80% of invasive breast cancer.
Infiltrating (invasive) lobular carcinoma (ILC) : This cancer starts in the milk glands or lobules. It can spread to other parts of the body. About 5% of invasive breast cancers are of this type.
There are many other rare types of breast cancer that can be learned about on the American Cancer Society Website.
What Every Woman Can Do About Breast Cancer
Knowing what causes breast cancer would help put many women’s minds at ease regarding the disease. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. Below you’ll find a list of risk factors you can’t control and ones you can. 1
Factors you cannot control: Age Height Family history & genes Person medical history
Breast density
1st period & menopause Benign breast disease Radiation exposure
Factors you can control:
Weight
Physical activity & exercise
Diet
Alcohol
Birth control pills
Having children & breastfeeding
Postmenopausal hormones
So know that we know the factors we can control, what else can we do? Simple. Get tested regularly. This is your best chance at lowering your risk of dying from this disease. There are several different tests that can be performed.
Mammography: is a technique that uses X-rays to provide an image of the breast. These images, called mammograms, are used to find tumors in the breast that can’t be felt (nonpalpable lesions). Overall, mammography is the best breast cancer screening tool available today; it can detect tumors at an early stage, when they are small and most responsive to treatment. Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year, and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
Clinical Breast Exams: this is a physical examination done by your physician, nurse practitioner and/or other trained medical staff. The exam involves checking the look and feel of the breasts and underarm for any changes. The breasts are checked while a woman is sitting up and lying down. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health expert every year.
Self Breast Exam: this is a screening method that is intended to find early tumors, particularly those that develop in the time between annual mammograms and clinical breast exams. By doing breast self-exams once a month, women can become familiar with the way their breasts look and feel normally and thus may be able to recognize changes, such as thickening, lumps, spontaneous nipple discharge or skin changes, such as dimpling or puckering. Women, starting in their 20s and continuing as long as they are able to, should perform self breast exams regularly.
Until there is a cure, there is always going to be something we can do to help eradicate this disease. There are plenty of ways to help. You can make a monetary donation to any one of the numerous organizations dedicated to Breast Cancer or you can volunteer your time. Most of the organizations also organize events, such as runs, walks, and dance-a-thons, even wearing denim for the day, all to help raise money for research. There are also products you can purchase that proudly display the pink ribbon, the symbol for breast cancer awareness, in which proceeds are donated to various charities.
Even by eating a bag of candy you help support the cause — M&M’s ® has designed special pink and white milk chocolate candies to symbolize their commitment to the cause. 8oz. packages will be available at retailers across the country throughout September, October, and November. For every package sold, M&M’s brand will donate 50¢ to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
We are not Victims
Women across the country and around the world must know — we have the power to control this disease! Starting today, perform a self breast exam, get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam. Early detection is our key to surviving Breast Cancer.
This October take notice of Breast Cancer, then take action!
1 Susan G. Komen Cancer Breast Cancer Foundation Ó 2004
2 American Cancer Society Ó 2004
