BreastCaner_2012

PAGE 2 — CLAREMORE PROGRESS • Breast Cancer Awareness October 21, 2012

Breast cancer affectshundreds of thousandsof families each year. Apotentially deadly dis-ease, breast cancer isassociated with severalrisk factors. Some ofthose risk factors, in-cluding gender andage, are beyond an in-dividual's control, whileother risk factors areassociated with certainlifestyle choices. Buteven if a woman hasthe risk factors forbreast cancer, thatdoes not mean she willget the disease. In fact,a woman can several ofthe following risk fac-tors and never getbreast cancer, whileother women can havejust one of the risk fac-tors and still get abreast cancer diagno-sis.

Risk factors beyondyour control

• Gender: Womenare far more likely todevelop breast cancerthan men. The Ameri-can Cancer says breastcancer is roughly 100times more commonamong women thanmen. That's likely be-cause men produce farless estrogen and prog-esterone, female hor-mones that canpromote the growth ofbreast cancer cells.

• Age: An individual'srisk for breast cancerincreases as he or she

ages. Roughly two-thirds of all invasivebreast cancer casesare found in womenover the age of 55,while just 13 percent ofsuch cases are found inwomen younger than45.

• Genetics: The ACSnotes that roughly 5 to10 percent of all breastcancer cases are be-lieved to be hereditary.These cases resultfrom mutations, or de-fects in a gene, inher-ited from a parent. Inmany cases a personwill inherit a mutation inthe BRCA1 and BRCA2genes, which will nor-mally prevent cancer bymaking proteins thatkeep the cells fromgrowing abnormally.However, when thesegenes mutate, the riskfor developing breastcancer is significant, ashigh as 80 percent forsomeone who has in-herited mutated BRCAgenes.

• Family history:Women with a bloodrelative who has hadbreast cancer are alsoat greater risk of devel-oping the disease. If afirst-degree relative,which includes amother, sister or daugh-ter, has had breast can-cer, a woman's riskroughly doubles. Hav-ing two such relativeswho have had breast

cancer triples awoman's risk.

• Race and ethnicity:White women areslightly more likely todevelop breast cancerthan African-Americanwomen. However,African-Americanwomen are more likelyto die from the disease.Asian,Hispanic and Na-tive American womenhave a lower risk of de-veloping and dying frombreast cancer.

• Dense breast tis-sue: Women with densebreast tissue, which isnoticeable on a mam-mogram, have a higherrisk of breast cancer.But dense breast tissuecan make it harder forphysicians to detect po-tential problems on amammogram.

• Menstrual cycles:Women who beganmenstruating prior toage 12 and/or wentthrough menopauseafter age 55 have aslightly higher risk ofbreast cancer. Re-searchers believe thisis because thesewomen had a longerlifetime exposure to es-trogen and proges-terone.

Risk factors you cancontrol

• Having children:Women who havenever given birth orwho gave birth for thefirst time after the age

of 30 have a higher riskof developing breastcancer. Pregnancy re-duces the total numberof menstrual cycles awoman will have overher lifetime, whichsome feel is the reasonthat becoming pregnantcan reduce a woman'srisk.

• Oral contraceptiveuse: Women who haveused oral contracep-tives, often referred toas birth control pills,have a higher risk ofbreast cancer thanwomen who have neverused them. But that riskreturns to normal whena woman stops takingbirth control.

• Breastfeeding:Some research haslinked breastfeedingwith a slightly lower riskof developing breastcancer, especiallyamong women whobreastfeed for 11/2 to 2years. However, breast-feeding for such a

lengthy period is rela-tively uncommon, whichhas made the potentiallink between breast-feeding and a lower riskof breast cancer difficultto determine.

• Alcohol consump-tion: The ACS notesthere is a clear connec-tion between alcoholconsumption andbreast cancer risk. Themore alcohol a womanconsumes, the greaterher risk for developingbreast cancer. Womenwho consume two tofive alcoholic bever-ages daily have roughly11/2 times the risk ofbreast cancer aswomen who do not con-sume alcohol.

• Overweight andobesity: Women, espe-cially those who arepost-menopausal, whoare overweight orobese have a greaterrisk of developingbreast cancer. Aftermenopause, most of a

woman's estrogencomes from fat tissue,and a woman with morefat tissue will likely havehigher estrogen levels,increasing her risk ofbreast cancer.

Blood insulin levelsalso tend to be higherin overweight or obeseindividuals, and ele-vated blood insulin lev-els have been linked tosome cancers, includ-ing breast cancer.

• Physical activity:More and more evi-dence is piling up tosuggest that exercisecan reduce breast can-cer risk.

Studies vary as tohow much exercise isnecessary to reducethe risk, but the benefitsof exercise are so nu-merous as to encour-age women to be morephysically active re-gardless of how muchthey may reduce theirrisk of developingbreast cancer.

e risk factorsfor breast cancer

Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of families each year. A po-

tentially deadly disease, breast cancer is associated with several risk fac-

tors. Some of those risk factors, including gender and age, are beyond an

individual's control, while other risk factors are associated with certain

lifestyle choices.

CLAREMORE PROGRESS • Breast Cancer Awareness October 21, 2012— PAGE 3

Technology to Change a Life......in a Relaxed and Comfortable Environment

191

A State-of-the-Art Cancer Center Close to Home

a

A aCC

r CatA S

r Cncenceaa

r eta o-

r eettnnee C C

e of- ht-f

e ssoollr Cr C

oeh A--A

oo Ho He te t

etrAemmoo

oncheTTe

e gnhao Cy tgol

e...iffe...e a L

n a R...i

od Cnd aexale R

ve Enlabtromffoo

119911

tnemnorvi

There are many peo-ple -- male and female -- who are completelyunaware that men aresusceptible to breastcancer.

With preventativemammograms andmessaging largelygeared toward women,men may not even thinkabout the breast cancerrisk to themselves.

Although less preva-lent among men, breastcancer is not exclusiveto women.

The American Can-cer Society estimatesthat about 2,000 newcases of invasivebreast cancer are diag-nosed in men each

year, and approximately450 men die frombreast cancer annually.

Male breast cancersaccount for approxi-mately 1 percent of allbreast cancer cases.

The Canadian Can-cer Society reports thatless than one percentof Canadian men de-velop breast cancer,and men over the ageof 60 are most likely tobe diagnosed.

To understand howmen get breast cancerone must to know aboutthe physical makeup ofthe male body.

Like women, menhave breast tissue.

Before boys or girls

enter puberty, theyhave similar breaststructures, includingbreast tissue and a fewducts under the nippleand areola.

During puberty, fe-male hormones furtherdevelop the milk ductsand lobules, or milk-producing glands.

For males, testos-terone levels increaseduring puberty, stallingfurther growth of breasttissue.

However, what wasalready there remains,and in that tissue, can-cerous cells can growand multiply.

There also are lymphnodes in the breast re-

gion and under thearms.

Cancer cells cantravel through thelymph nodes to otherareas of the body.

Because men haveconsiderably lessbreast tissue thanwomen, diagnosis ofcancer can be easier.

A lump in the breastis more noticeable on aman than on a woman.

The American Can-cer Society also lists afew other symptomsthat could be indicativeof breast cancer:

* lumps in the nipplesor chest muscle.

* nipples turning in-ward.

* skin dimpling orpuckering around thenipple.

* redness or scalingof the nipple or breastskin.

* discharge from thenipple.

Benign growths canbe mistaken for breastcancer.

Also, men can havea condition called gy-necomastia, which is anoncancerous breasttissue growth that maybe mistaken for cancer.If any symptoms arepresent, they should bebrought to the attentionof a doctor for furtherinvestigation.

If it is breast cancer,treatment methods arelargely the sameamong men andwomen.

A combination ofchemotherapy, radiationand surgery may be

recommended depend-ing on the stage andpositioning of the can-cerous tumors.

Although it is rare,breast cancer doesoccur in men.

Therefore, guysshould be aware oftheir bodies and thebreast area and be onthe lookout for anychanges that could leadto problems.


Breast cancer is not exclusive to women

Although less prevalent among men, breast

cancer is not exclusive to women. The American

Cancer Society estimates that about 2,000 new

cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in

men each year, and approximately 450 men die

from breast cancer annually.

Early detection of breast cancercan improve survival rates andlessen the severity of treatment op-tions.

Routine mammograms are essen-tial to catching signs of breast cancerearly on but so can home-basedbreast exams.

Over the years there has beensome debate over the effectivenessof breast self-exams, or BSEs, is ef-fective.

Different breast cancer organiza-tions have different views on the sub-ject. Some studies have indicatedthat a BSE is not effective in reducingbreast cancer mortality rates.

Some argue that these exams alsomay put women at risk -- increasingthe number of potential lumps founddue to uncertainty as to what is beingfelt in the breast.

This can lead to unnecessarybiopsies.

Others feel that a BSE is a goodpractice, considering that roughly 20percent of breast cancers are foundby physical examination rather thanby mammography, according toBreastCancer.org.

The American Cancer Societytakes the position that a BSE is anoptional screening tool for breastcancer.

For those who are interested inconducting self-exams, here is theproper way to do so.

* Begin with a visual inspection ofthe breasts. Remove clothing andstand in front of a mirror. Turn andpivot so the breasts can be seen atall angles.

Make a note of your breasts' ap-pearance. Pay special attention toany dimpling, puckering or oddnessin the appearance of the skin.

Check to see if there is anychange in symmetry or size of thebreasts.

* Continue the examination withhands placed by the hips and thenagain with your hands elevated over-

head with your palms pressed to-gether.

* Next you will move on to a physi-cal examination. This can be done ei-ther by reclining on a bed or the flooror any flat surface.

The exam also can be done in theshower. To begin examining thebreasts, place the hand and arm forthe breast you will be examining be-hind your head.

Use the pads of your pointer, mid-dle and ring fingers to push and mas-sage at the breast in a clockwisemotion.

Begin at the outer portion of thebreast, slowly working inward in a cir-cular motion until you are at the nip-ple. Be sure to also check the tissueunder the breast and by the armpit.

* Do the same process on the op-

posite breast. Note if there are any

differences from one breast to the

other.

If you find any abnormalities, mark

them down on an illustration that you

can bring to the doctor.

Or if you can get an appointment

immediately, draw a ring around the

area with a pen so that you will be

able to show the doctor directly

where you have concern.

It is a good idea to conduct a BSE

once a month and not when menstru-

ating, when breasts may change due

to hormone fluctuation.

Frequent examinations will better

acquaint you with what is normal with

your breasts and better help you rec-

ognize if something feels abnormal.


How-to conduct a breast self-exam

Over the years there has been

some debate over the effectiveness

of breast self-exams, or BSEs, is ef-

fective. Different breast cancer or-

ganizations have different views on

the subject.

A person's life changes when heor she receives a breast cancer diag-nosis. There are many questions thatneed to be answered, and one ofthem is usually, "What are my op-tions?"

One of the treatment options in thefight against breast cancer is a mas-tectomy. Though the number of mas-tectomies performed each year wasin decline a mere decade ago, moreand more are now being performedthanks in large part to less invasivetreatments. A study of more than5,000 Mayo Clinic cancer patients re-vealed a 13 percent increase in thenumber of mastectomies performedbetween 2003 and 2006.

A small but growing number ofwomen are also electing to have"preventative" mastectomies, whichcould involve removing one or both

of the breasts if there is a high ge-netic disposition to getting breastcancer in the family or if cancerouscells were detected in one breast. In2006, the last year for which nationaldata is available, more than 15 per-cent of breast cancer patients ages18 to 39 had a healthy breast re-moved, says the University of Min-nesota's Elizabeth Habermann,co-author of a 2010 study in theJournal of Clinical Oncology.

A mastectomy is an umbrella termused to describe the removal of theentire breast, portions of the breast,or just the lymph nodes under thearmpits. The main types of a mastec-tomy include:

* Modified radical mastectomy:This involves removal of the entirebreast, including the breast tissue,skin, areola, and nipple. In some

cases, the lining over the chest mus-cles, as well as most of the underarmlymph nodes, is also removed.

* Simple total mastectomy: Thissurgery involves removal of the en-tire breast, tissue, skin, areola andnipple.

* Skin-sparing mastectomy: Thebreast tissue, nipple and areola areremoved, but the skin is spared.Breast reconstruction surgery is typi-cally performed immediately after.

* Nipple-sparing mastectomy: Onlythe breast tissue is removed, leavingthe skin, nipple, areola and chestwall muscles. Again, reconstructionof the breast is typically performedimmediately afterward.

After SurgeryExpect to stay one to two days in

the hospital after surgery. The nurs-ing staff will have a dressing over thesurgical site, so you likely will not beable to see the results until a follow-up visit a week or more after the sur-gery.

The doctor will advise properhome care to keep the area clean,and you should be aware of signs forinfection. You may have surgicaldrains in place that will need to bewatched and emptied.

Some pain is common post-surgery, and pain medications maybe prescribed. Adequate rest isurged for proper healing and to pre-vent opening the wound site. Dis-solvable stitches are often used toclose the wound, but some doctorsprefer staples, which will be removedat a follow-up visit. Bruising andsoreness are to be expected. A fevercould be indicative of an infection.

Recovering from surgeryDepending on the type of mastec-

tomy performed, you may be left withanything from small scarring to asunken, asymmetrical chest. Youmay want to avoid wearing or gettingfitted for a new bra until the wound iscompletely healed and swelling hasdeclined, which can take six weeks.

Although strenuous exercise

should be avoided, many patients

will be given exercises to perform so

they can regain movement and flexi-

bility. Walking is an exercise that can

be done immediately, but a doctor

will be able to tell you when more ex-

ercises can be done.

You may resume driving when

pain medication is no longer needed.

Practicing driving in a parking lot can

help you figure out if there is any

pain associated with turning the

wheel or pressing down on the accel-

erator or brake.

Body imageIf reconstructive surgery is not an

option, breast prosthetics can restore

balance to the breast area and help

with post-mastectomy body image.

Professional fitters can help size and

fit a prosthetic to your body. Some

cancer organizations offer free pros-

theses if insurance doesn't cover

them.

Mastectomy bras are another op-

tion. They generally have pockets in

the cups that can hold breast forms.

Some women choose to wear regu-

lar bras and simply slip forms inside.

In cases where underarm lymph

nodes had to be removed, there may

be extensive scarring under the

arms. Therefore. when trying on

blouses and other shirts, take a close

look at the armholes. Anything too

loose may make you feel uncomfort-

able if it exposes scarring.

Depending on how much tissue

and breast wall has been removed,

the chest may actually be concave.

Wearing patterned shirts can help

disguise this area and draw attention

away. Fashion has come a long way,

and there are now many different op-

tions in post-mastectomy clothing.

Having a mastectomy is seldom

easy, but knowing what to expect af-

terward can chase away some of the

anxiety.


What to expect after a mastectomy

A number of organizations sharethe goal of raising money to fundcancer research and help individualsbattling cancer to get the care theyneed.

Breast cancer has captured thehearts of many across the globe, an-nually inspiring various companiesand organizations to fund researchopportunities.

Each -year con-sumers can purchasepink merchandise,and a portion of thosesales is donated tobreast cancer initia-tives.

Makeup, food andclothing manufactur-ers are not the onlypeople who are rais-ing donations; thereare several differentbreast cancer organi-zations doing theirpart, too.

* Susan G. Komenfor the Cure: SusanG. Komen foughtbreast cancer with herheart, body and soul.

Throughout her diagnosis, treat-ments and endless days in the hospi-tal, she spent her time thinking ofways to make life better for otherwomen battling breast cancer insteadof worrying about her own situation.

That concern for others continuedeven as Susan neared the end of herfight. In 1982, her sister Nancy or-ganized a movement to furtherSusan's efforts.

Since its inception, the organiza-tion has invested more than $1.9 bil-lion in breast cancer research and, inefforts to raise breast cancer aware-ness, has become the largest sourceof nonprofit funds dedicated to thefight against breast cancer in theworld.

* National Breast Cancer Founda-tion, Inc.: The National Breast Can-cer Foundation's mission is to savelives through early detection and to

provide mammograms for those inneed.

Their mission includes increasingawareness through education, pro-viding diagnostic breast care servicesfor those in need and providing nur-turing support services.

* BreastCancer.org: Breast-cancer.org is a nonprofit organization

dedicated to provid-ing the most reli-able, complete, andup-to-date informa-tion about breastcancer.

Their mission isto help women andtheir loved onesmake sense of thecomplex medicaland personal infor-mation about breastcancer, so they canmake the best deci-sions for their lives.

* CanadianBreast CancerFoundation: Since1986, the CanadianBreast Cancer

Foundation has been at the forefrontof a nationwide movement to raiseawareness and mobilize action onbreast cancer. Today, the foundationis the leading organization in Canadadedicated to creating a future withoutbreast cancer. Their investments invital research, education and healthpromotion programs have led toprogress in breast cancer prevention,diagnosis, treatment, and care.

* Breast Cancer Society ofCanada: For 20 years, the BreastCancer Society of Canada has beena registered, national, not-for-profit,charitable organization dedicated tofunding Canadian breast cancer re-search into the detection, preventionand treatment of breast cancer andto ultimately find a cure for the dis-ease. It was begun by the husbandand parents of Pamela Greenaway-Kohlmeier after she lost her battlewith breast cancer in 1992.


Breast cancer organizations

While there are many healthscreenings relevant to both men andwomen, there are also tests specificto each gender. Two of the more im-portant routine screenings womenshould be aware of are regular mam-mograms and pap tests, which canboth diagnose risk factors for certaintypes of cancer.

MammogramA mammogram consists of X-ray

pictures of the breasts and is used todetect irregularities in breast tissuethat may reveal the presence of can-cerous tumors. Screenings alsomight detect microcalcifications thatcan sometimes indicate breast can-cer as well.

The Centers for Disease Controland Prevention says that 40,678breast cancer deaths occurred in2009 and that 26 out of every

100,000 females will die from breastcancer. Most organizations, includingthe National Cancer Institute, recom-mend that women age 40 and overhave a mammogram done every oneto two years to help catch cancerearly, which improves a woman'schance of survival. However, notevery woman is routinely gettingscreened. In the United States,roughly 68 percent of women havegotten mammograms within the lasttwo years, according to the CDC.

Although mammograms requiresmall doses of radiation, which cancause cancer, to take the images,the benefits nearly always outweighthe risks. It is recommended thatwomen age 35 to 39 get a baselinemammogram so they have an imageof the healthy breast to which futuremammograms can be compared.

Pap TestsA pap test, also known as a pap

smear, is a diagnostic tool thatchecks for cellular changes in thecervix. The cervix serves as a barrierpoint between the vagina and theuterus. The pap test is usually donein a gynecologist's office, althoughfamily practitioners also may admin-ister it in their own offices. The doctorwill insert a speculum into the vaginato widen the passageway so he orshe can see the cervix. He or shethen will take a sample of cells frominside and outside the cervix andsend them to a laboratory for testing.

It is recommended that a womanrefrain from sexual activity prior toher pap test. It's also best if a womandoes not use any lubricants,cleansers or medications that areused intravaginally before the test.Also, she should not use tampons. Infact, those who have their menstrualperiod will want to reschedule thepap because it can be difficult for adoctor to get a good collection ofcells for testing.

The frequency of pap tests will bedetermined by the woman's age, re-sults of prior pap tests, medical his-tory, and history of the humanpapilloma virus, or HPV. Many

women get annual pap tests startingat age 21 or when they first becomesexually active. Those who have hadnormal results for at least three yearsin a row may opt to get tested everytwo or three years. Women who areage 65 or older may be able to ceasepap tests, but annual pelvic examsare still advised. For those who havehad a hysterectomym which involvesthe removal of the uterus, pap testsare still necessary. However, after atotal hysterectomy (removal of theuterus and cervix), pap tests maystop.

Pap tests are not always 100 per-cent accurate, however. False posi-tive and false negative results canhappen. The doctor may require adifferent type of test if a pap testcomes back with a positive result.

To remain healthy, women are ad-vised to keep up with routine physi-cals and tests that can help diagnosecervical and breast cancer in theirearly stages. If lack of medical insur-ance is preventing a woman frombeing tested, she can contact theNational Breast and Cervical CancerEarly Detection Program to find pro-grams that offer free or low-cost paptests to women in need.


Routine check up schedule for women

Women are advised to get routine examinations, including pap tests and

mammograms.

Cancer has surpassed heart dis-ease as the foremost cause of deathfor people in North America.

A cancer diagnosis can be life-al-tering. Although there are many suc-cessful treatments for cancer, thereis no definitive cure.

Plus, certain cancers continue tobe more ominous than others.

According to the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention, thereare more than 100 types of cancer,characterized by their location in thebody and abnormal cell growth inthat area.

Millions of dollars have beenraised and spent on cancer researchand finding new and innovative meth-ods of treatment.

Although the five-year survival ratefor those with cancer in the UnitedStates has improved considerablyover the last three decades, the Na-tional Cancer Institute still lists manycancers as the primary killers ofmany people.

Here is the most recent classifica-tion of the five cancers that claim themost lives each year.

1. Lung cancer: Lung cancer isresponsible for more deaths than anyother cancer.

Roughly 160,000 people succumbto lung and bronchial-related cancerseach year. Although it is the mostdeadly, it is also the most preventa-ble, as many cases of lung cancerare the result of certain lifestylechoices.

Quitting smoking is the single mosteffective way to reduce your risk oflung cancer.

2. Colorectal cancer: In 2008,52,857 Americans died from colorec-tal cancer, says the CDC.

Most cases of colorectal cancerbegin with groupings of small, benign

cells called polyps that over time be-

come cancerous. Screening is nec-

essary to check for cancer of the

colon and rectum, but because they

are embarrassed and uncomfortable,

many people avoid preventive meas-

ures.

3. Breast cancer: The second

most common cancer in women,

breast cancer can affect both sexes.

It is also the most deadly cancer

among women, with roughly 35 per-

cent of the cases in the United States

resulting in fatality.

4. Pancreatic cancer: The pan-

creas aids in digestion and metabo-

lism.

This cancer is deadly because it is

difficult to detect in its early stages,

as it does not always produce symp-

toms and the cancer tends to

progress rapidly.

Pancreatic cancer claims around

40,000 lives each year.

5. Prostate cancer: Prostate can-

cer is exclusive to men and is the

second-leading cause of cancer

deaths among them, according to the

NCI.

This type of cancer forms in the

prostate, a gland that produces semi-

nal fluid that carries sperm. It is esti-

mated that 28,000 men will die from

prostate cancer in 2012.

Although many cancers are fatal,

survival rates are improving.

Thousands of people diagnosed

with cancer beat the odds and go on

to live healthy, disease-free lives.

e five mostdeadly cancers


Certain cancers claim more lives than others.

PAGE 10 — CLAREMORE PROGRESS XXXX

Breast cancer is a universal termto describe several different cancersthat form in and around the breasts.

Breast cancer types are generallycategorized based on where the ill-ness begins, most often in the ductsor lobules, the parts of the femaleanatomy responsible for producingbreast milk.

About 226,870 new cases of inva-sive breast cancer in Americanwomen will be diagnosed in 2012,while more than 22,000 Canadianwomen will be diagnosed with breastcancer over that same time period.

The National Breast Cancer Foun-dation lists seven different types ofbreast cancer. Here's a look at them.

* Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS):This is an early form of breast cancerthat refers to the presence of abnor-mal cells inside a milk duct in the

breast. This type of cancer is gener-ally found during mammograms andis considered non-invasive. Thismeans it hasn't spread yet.

This makes treatment for DCISeasier than for other forms of breastcancer.

* Infiltrating ductal carcinoma(IDC): Also known as invasive ductalcarcinoma, this is the most commontype of breast cancer.

According to BreastCancer.org,roughly 80 percent of all breast can-cer cases are IDC. This cancer startsin the ducts, but "infiltrating" meansthat it spreads to the surroundingbreast tissue.

Over time, IDC can spread to thelymph nodes and possibly to otherareas of the body.

* Medullary carcinoma: This is aless common form of breast cancer.

It is a type of IDC, but it gets itsname from the color of the tumors,which are close to the color of braintissue, or medulla.

Medullary carcinoma is quite visi-ble during mammograms becausethe cancer cells are large and form abarrier between healthy tissue andtumors.

* Infiltrating lobular carcinoma(ILC): The American Cancer Societysays that 1 in 10 women will be diag-nosed with ILC, which originates inthe milk-producing glands of thebreast. In ILC, abnormal cells insidethe lobule begin to divide and breakthrough the wall of the lobule to in-vade the surrounding connecting tis-sues.

* Tubular carcinoma: This is acommon cancer for women ages 50and older.

When viewed under the micro-scope, tubular carcinoma cells havea distinctive tubular structure. Thereis a 95 percent survival rate for tubu-

lar carcinoma.

* Mucinous carcinoma (Colloid):

This is a rare condition in which the

breast cancer cells within the breast

produce mucus.

The mucus and the cancer cells

join together to form a jelly-like

tumor. The tumors may feel like

bumpy water balloons, but some are

too small to detect with the fingers.

* Inflammatory breast cancer

(IBC): This is a rare and very ag-

gressive type of breast cancer that

causes the lymph vessels in the skin

around the breast to become

blocked. The cancer gets its name

from the appearance of a swollen,

red and inflamed breast.

Women are advised to get a base-

line mammogram in their mid-30s

and then annual mammograms start-

ing at age 40.

Early detection is generally vital

for any form of cancer and is espe-

cially so for breast cancer.


Exploring the different types of breast cancer

The National Breast Cancer Foundation lists seven different types of

breast cancer. Here's a look at them.

The pink ribbon has been synony-mous with breast cancer for years.Nowadays, people rarely think twicewhen they see pink ribbons, havinggrown accustomed to the pink ribbonand what it symbolizes.

Breast Cancer Awareness Monthhas been celebrated each yearsince 1985, and many otherbreast cancer awareness ini-tiatives have been devisedsince then. While the pinkribbon may seem like it'sbeen in use for just as long,it was actually establishedonly about 20 years ago.

Ribbons have long sym-bolized something important.For decades, yellow ribbonshave been used to alert others tosoldiers at war or hostages thathadn't yet come home. Peopleoften tie yellow ribbons aroundtrees at home until their serv-ice men and women camehome safely. During theheight of HIV/AIDS ac-tivism and awareness, redribbons were worn tosymbolize support forthose with the disease.

Although the pink ribbon evolvedbecause pink expresses femininity,calm, health, and youth, the firstbreast cancer ribbon was actuallypeach. Charlotte Haley is creditedwith devising the first breast cancerribbon in 1992. She was a breastcancer survivor and came from afamily of women who also fought thedisease. She created peach-coloredloops at home and then distributedthe ribbons at her local grocerystores. Haley encouraged people towear the ribbons and contact legisla-tors to demand more funding forbreast cancer research. An attachednote was distributed with the ribbons

stating, "The National Cancer Insti-tute annual budget is $1.8 billion,only 5 percent goes for cancer pre-vention. Help us wake up our legisla-tors and America by wearing thisribbon."

The same year Evelyn Lauder,senior corporate vice president for

the Estee Lauder company, andSelf magazine editor AlexandraPenney teamed up to producea pink ribbon. It was distrib-uted at makeup counters allacross the country. The com-pany collected more than200,000 pink ribbon petitions

asking the U.S. government forincreased funding for breast can-

cer research.Although Lauder and Haley

reached people on different lev-els, their goals were the same:

To educate the public on thelack of funds allotted to breastcancer research.

Pink ribbons are nowseen all over and have be-come the uniting force formillions of women who arefacing breast cancer orsupporting someone with

the disease. In 1996, Nancy Nick created a

blue-and-pink ribbon to symbolizemale breast cancer ribbons in honorof her late father. The ribbons remindothers that breast cancer can affectmen as well as women.

Although you can see waves ofpink every October for Breast CancerAwareness Month, many people dontheir ribbons year-round.

Great strides have been madewith respect to breast cancer, butwith about 225,000 new cases pop-ping up each year in the UnitedStates alone, there is still work to bedone.


Establishing thepink ribbon symbol

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been celebrated each year since

1985, and many other breast cancer awareness initiatives have been devised

since then. While the pink ribbon may seem like it's been in use for just as

long, it was actually established only about 20 years ago.

PAGE 12 — CLAREMORE PROGRESS XXXX

Date post:	03-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	claremore-progress
View:	215 times
Download:	0 times

BreastCaner_2012

Documents