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Early warning signs for breast cancer
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reast cancer affects millions of women across the globe every year. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, affecting 2.1 million women each year. As daunting as that may seem, the WHO also notes that early diagnosis can greatly reduce a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer. Women can be proactive in the fight against breast cancer by learning to identify early warning signs of the disease. The nonprofit breast cancer advocacy organization Susan G. Komen notes that the warning signs for breast cancer are not the same for all women, but the most common signs include a change in the look or feel of the breast or a change in the look or feel of the nipple. A discharge from the nipple is another common warning sign of breast cancer. Physical changes in the breast can vary, but Susan G. Komen® advises women who notice these changes to bring them to the attention of their physicians immediately: • Lump, hard knot or thickening inside of the breast or underarm area • Change in the size or shape of the breast • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast • Dimpling or puckering of the skin Women with breast cancer also may notice physical changes in their
nipples, including: • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple • Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast It’s important that women recognize that physical changes in their breasts are not necessarily indicative of breast cancer. In fact, the American Breast Cancer Foundation notes that not all lumps in the breast cause cancer and that many such lumps are benign. Fibroadenomas and intraductal papillomas are examples of benign lumps, though it’s important to note that even benign conditions such as these may put women at greater risk of developing breast cancer. Susan G. Komen notes that breast tissue naturally has a lumpy texture. If lumpiness can be felt throughout the breast and it feels like your other breast, then it’s likely that this is just the normal texture of your breasts. However, women concerned by a lump or lumpy texture are urged to discuss those concerns with their physicians immediately. Discharge from the nipple is another potential sign of breast cancer, but Susan G. Komen notes that such discharge is rarely a sign of cancer. Discharges that occur without squeezing the nipple, occur in only one breast or are bloody or clear are potentially indicative of more serious conditions, including breast cancer. (METRO CREATIVE)
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Breast cancer is a formidable foe. But women who arm themselves with knowledge of the disease, including its early warning signs, are in better position to overcome it.
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Debunking common myths associated with breast cancer
Physical changes are common after cancer treatment. Women can try a handful of strategies to successfully confront these changes. STOCK PHOTO Think Pink
Take charge of your body How to cope with physical changes resulting from cancer treatment
Among American and Canadian women, breast cancer ranks as either the most commonly occurring cancer or a close second. The World Cancer Research Fund says there were two million new cases of breast cancer in 2018 across the globe, while the American Cancer Society notes the chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 2.6 percent. Fortunately, for most women, a cancer diagnosis is not terminal. Early detection and thorough treatment helps to improve the five-year survival rate, especially for those with cancer that is localized to the breast or has only minimally spread. Women may have to undergo various forms of treatment, including radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
The National Cancer Institute notes that, while they’re effective, breast cancer treatments can cause changes that affect a woman’s physique, body image and sexuality. Some changes will be short-term, such as hair loss or fatigue. Others may be permanent, such as breast loss or scarring from lumpectomy and mastectomy. Fertility also may be affected, potentially compromising a woman’s ability to get pregnant after treatment. Regardless of the changes, breast cancer patients must realize they are not alone. Scores of women have experienced similar feelings and can be sources of support and inspiration during recovery. In addition, a handful of strategies can help women confront the physical changes resulting from cancer treatment in a positive way.
Your feelings matter
Understand that it is okay to feel frustrated, upset or angry with the changes that have occurred. It doesn’t make you shallow. Anyone has the right to grieve treatment options that have changed their bodies in various ways.
Focus on strengths
Attempt to focus on how cancer treatment and the entire experience has made you stronger and more in tune
with life. Cancer can be a wake-up call that sparks positive changes going forward. Focus on your strengths, rather than on what you cannot reverse.
Consider a makeover
Look for new ways to enhance your appearance, like a new hairstyle. A makeup makeover also can help. Some women like to splurge on a stylist who can help shape a wig or offer them some innovative ideas to change their appearance.
Talk to the doc
Speak with a doctor about what you can do to treat and camouflage skin changes from treatment. Topical creams may alleviate redness or dry patches while other remedies can minimize surgical scarring. The changes in body image that breast cancer survivors experience tend to be connected to the features that society characterizes as “feminine.” Loss of one or both breasts can greatly affect body image. However, if mastectomy surgery is necessary, speak with your doctor about reconstruction possibilities. There also are very good prosthetic inserts and bras that can mimic the look of natural breasts under clothing. (METRO CREATIVE)
Cancer claims the lives of millions of people across the globe every year. But the fight against cancer is anything but hopeless, as the World Health Organization notes that between 30 and 50 percent of all cancer cases are preventable. Learning about cancer is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves from this deadly disease. Researchers continue to learn more about cancer everyday and routinely discover that information once thought to be accurate was actually off-base. Despite researchers’ best efforts, some myths about cancer still prevail. Some of these myths are about cancer in general, while others refer to specific cancers, including breast cancer. Myths about breast cancer can be as harmful as accurate information is helpful, so learning the truth and debunking those myths can be an important part of women’s preventive approach to breast cancer. • Myth: Drinking milk increases your risk for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that early studies raised concerns that drinking milk from cows treated with hormones could increase a person’s risk for breast cancer. However, ensuing research failed to find a clear link between the two. In fact, a 2002 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found no significant association between dairy fluid intake and breast cancer risk. • Myth: Lumps indicate breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. says that only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer. However, abnormalities or changes in breast tissue should always be brought to the attention of a physician. • Myth: Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread. This myth is rooted in the incorrect notion that breast compression while getting a mammogram causes the cancer to spread. However, the NBCF insists that cannot happen. In fact, the National Cancer Institute touts the benefits of mammograms while the ACS recommends women between the ages of 45 and 54 get mammograms every year. For additional breast cancer screening guidelines, visit the ACS at www.cancer. org. • Myth: Women with a family history of breast cancer are likely to develop breast cancer, too. This myth is dangerous because, if taken at face value, it can give women with no family history of breast cancer a false sense of security. However, the NBCF notes that only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that a woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a first-degree relative, including a mother, sister, daughter, or even a male family member, who have had the disease. But breast cancer can affect anyone, regardless of their family history. (METRO CREATIVE)
The risk factors for breast cancer
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o two women are the same. But when it comes to breast cancer, women from all walks of life share various risk factors for a disease that the World Health Organization indicates is the most frequent cancer among women. Risk factors are anything that affects the likelihood that individuals will get a certain disease. In regard to breast cancer, the American Breast Cancer Foundation notes that various factors, some that result from lifestyle choices and others that are not changeable, can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Recognizing these risk factors can help women make any necessary changes and even highlight the importance of routine cancer screenings that can detect the presence of the disease in its earliest, most treatable stages.
Alcohol consumption
Breastcancer.org notes that researchers have uncovered links between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. One study found that women who consume three alcoholic beverages per week have a 15 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who don’t drink at all. And while research into the connection is limited, a 2009 study found a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer recurrence.
is that women who understand the link between certain habits or behaviors and breast cancer can avoid those behaviors to decrease their risk of developing the disease. According to Breastcancer.org, the following are some habits, behaviors or lifestyle choices that can increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
Smoking Smoking has long been linked to cancer, and Breastcancer.org notes that smoking has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women.
Unchangeable risk factors
Women are not helpless in the fight against breast cancer. Knowledge of breast cancer, including its various risk factors, is a great weapon against it as women look to reduce their risk of developing the disease. STOCK PHOTO Think Pink
Sedentary lifestyle Exercise consumes and controls blood sugar and limits blood levels of insulin growth factor. That’s an important connection, as insulin growth factor can affect how breast cells grow and behave. A sedentary lifestyle also can increase a
woman’s risk of being obese, which the ABCF notes is a risk factor for breast cancer among postmenopausal women.
Lifestyle-related risk factors The ABCF notes that certain habits or behaviors can increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. But the good news
Unfortunately, many risk factors for breast cancer are beyond women’s control. For example, the ABCF notes that roughly two out of three invasive breast cancers occur in women age 55 and older. Women cannot change their ages, but recognizing the link between age and breast cancer risk is important, as such a recognition may compel more women 55 and older to prioritize cancer screening. Gender and family history are two additional unchangeable risk factors for breast cancer. Women are much more likely to get breast cancer than men. In addition, Breastcancer.org notes that between 5 and 10 percent of breast cancers are believed to be caused by abnormal genes that are passed from parent to child. (METRO CREATIVE)
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Headcovering options for cancer patients
A cancer diagnosis can be difficult to process. However, advancements in cancer research over the last several decades have helped more people survive such diagnoses. That should come as good news to people who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. BreastCancer.org estimates that 276,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and around 49,000 non-invasive cases are expected in 2020 in the United States. Breast cancer treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, personal choices as well as doctor recommendations. Other factors like preexisting conditions or health history also may play a role in determining patients’ treatments. In many cases, chemotherapy is included in a treatment plan. Chemotherapy targets fast-growing cancer cells in the body to prevent cancer from spreading and to shrink tumors. However, the American Cancer Society says other normal cells that are fast-growing can be affected by chemotherapy and cause side effects. These cells include blood-forming cells in bone marrow, hair follicles, cells in the mouth, digestive tract cells, and reproductive system cells. This is why many people lose their hair during chemotherapy treatments. Many women confront chemotherapyrelated hair loss with head coverings, and
they have various options at their disposal.
Scarves Many women like to tie lightweight scarves around their heads. These scarves come in various patterns. Pre-tied scarves that can be pulled on also are available.
Cloches A cloche is a fitted, bell-shaped hat that gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s.
Turbans Turban style hats are pull-on options and are knotted or twisted in the front or side. Some may have decorative embellishments on the front.
Baseball hat Some baseball hats designed specifically for cancer patients provide more coverage than traditional baseball hats by stretching further down the back of the head and neck. They feature a brim and can offer substantial protection while out in the sun. Other baseball hats may come equipped with artificial or real human hair extensions attached inside of the hat to offer stylish options.
Wigs When a hat or scarf is not desirable,
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Is 3D mammography right for you? Mammograms take images of breast tissue to determine the presence of abnormalities, including lumps. Women may undergo traditional, 2D mammograms, but increasingly many healthcare facilities are now employing 3D technology because it can provide clearer pictures. A 3D mammogram, also called digital tomosynthesis, takes several different X-rays of the breasts and combines those images to establish a threedimensional picture. The Mayo Clinic says that a 3D mammogram is typically used to search for breast cancer in people who may have no outward signs or symptoms. It also may be used to help diagnose the cause of a breast mass or nipple discharge. Doctors may suggest 3D imaging to get a better look at any growths or help identify the source of any symptoms a person may be concerned about. Two-dimensional mammograms are still the industry standard. The 3D versions are obtained in a similar fashion by pressing the breasts between two imaging plates. Rather than just taking images from the sides and top to bottom, the 3D version will take multiple angles to make a digital recreation of the breast. Medical News Today says this enables doctors to look at small, individual sections of the breast tissue that may be as thin as just a single millimeter. A study published in the journal JAMA Oncology says cancer detection rates are higher in people who do 3D imaging over time. Three-dimensional mammograms can be useful for women with dense breast tissue or those at higher risk for breast cancer. Although experts at MD Anderson Cancer Center advise any woman who needs a mammogram to get the 3D version. However, 3D mammography may not be covered by all insurance plans. It’s important to note that a 3D mammogram releases the same amount of radiation as a traditional mammogram. It is of no greater risk to the patient, and it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Also of note, because 3D mammograms produce more images, it may take a radiologist a little longer to read one than it would a 2D mammogram. (METRO CREATIVE)
Three-dimensional mammograms are an option for women screening for breast cancer. STOCK PHOTO Think Pink
Hormone therapy is an option to treat breast cancer
In addition to chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, hormone therapy may help some patients overcome a breast cancer diagnosis. STOCK PHOTO Think Pink
Hormone therapy is one of the many types of treatment used in the fight against breast cancer. Hormone therapy helps address breast cancers that are affected by hormones like progesterone and estrogen. With such cancers, the breast cancer cells have receptor proteins that attach to estrogen and progesterone to help the cancer cells grow. Hormone therapy treatments, also called endocrine therapy, help stop the hormones from attaching to receptors. The therapy also can decrease the body’s production of certain hormones. The Mayo Clinic says hormone therapy is only used for breast cancers that are found to have receptors for estrogen or progesterone. Doctors refer to these types of cancers as estrogen receptor positive (ER positive) or progesterone receptor positive (PR positive). Doctors who specialize in analyzing blood and body tissue will study a sample of cancer cells to see if they have receptors for estrogen or progesterone. It is important not to mistake hormone therapy for breast cancer with menopausal hormone therapy, which is sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, advises the National Cancer Institute. With menopause treatments, progesterone and estrogen may be used to relieve symptoms of menopause. Cancer hormone treatment does the opposite. The therapy blocks the growth of ER or PR positive breast cancer cells. Typically, drugs are used to stop estrogen
and progesterone from helping breast cancer cells grow; otherwise, drugs or surgery will be used to keep the ovaries from making these hormones. Radiation therapy aimed at the ovaries also may help stop hormone production. Various drugs may be used during the course of hormone therapy. These include aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen production. Other drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators bind to estrogen receptors to prevent estrogen from attaching to cancer cells. The NCI notes that research has shown that adjuvant hormone therapy after surgery for ER-positive breast cancer causes reduced risks of breast cancer recurrence, including new breast cancer in the other breast, for at least five years. Sometimes hormone therapy can be used to prevent breast cancer in women who are at increased risk of developing the disease. The Mayo Clinic says that an oncologist will determine the type of hormone therapy that will be right for a particular type of receptor positive breast cancer. There are some side effects of hormone therapy that depend on the type of treatment. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, loss of libido, and risk of blood clots may be possible. Doctors can weigh the risk between the benefits and side effects of hormone therapy.
(METRO CREATIVE)
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Did you know? Women diagnosed with breast cancer who want to speak with someone who has survived the disease can do so thanks to a unique program sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The Reach to Recovery program from the ACS connects current cancer patients with breast cancer survivors via an online chat. Patients, regardless of where they are in their cancer journeys, can connect with volunteers for one-on-one support. Volunteers can help patients cope with treatment and side effects while also offering advice on speaking with friends and family, working while receiving treatment and more. Even people facing a possible breast cancer diagnosis can sign up. The program works by asking patients and volunteers to join the program and create profiles on the Reach to Recovery website at www.reach.cancer.org. Patients then look for a match by searching volunteer profiles, filtering through suggested matches and sending an online chat request to volunteers. Patients and volunteers can then schedule a chat and discuss any concerns patients may have. Volunteers with the Reach to Recovery program are breast cancer survivors who have been trained by the ACS to provide peer-topeer support to people facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Volunteers can provide support to patients, but are prohibited from offering medical advice. More information about the Reach to Recovery program, including how to join as a patient or volunteer, is available at www.reach.cancer.org. (METRO CREATIVE)
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The vital role of a cancer support network The moment a person is diagnosed with cancer can elicit a variety of emotions. Fear of what’s to come is a common reaction to such a diagnosis, and some people may feel alone upon learning they have cancer. But no cancer patient should face their diagnosis and treatment alone. In fact, a strong support network can be vital to patients’ recoveries. According to Weill Cornell Medicine, recent changes in the healthcare industry have shifted the burden of care from the hospital to the home. That underscores the importance of a strong support network. Many of the challenges cancer patients face in the months after diagnosis will be new, and patients can expect a range of emotions. According to Breast Cancer Now, a charitable organization that funds one-third of breast cancer research in the United Kingdom, women may experience emotions such as shock, anger, disbelief, anxiety, and sadness after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Having loved ones there to help them make sense of those emotions and stay positive as they navigate their way through the treatment process is essential.
In addition to providing emotional support, loved ones of breast cancer patients may need to take on additional roles as they help their friends or family members face the challenges that lay ahead. Because of the industry changes noted by Weill Cornell Medicine, cancer caregivers and support networks may need to prepare themselves to take on the following roles, each of which is vital to cancer patients’ survival.
Monitor the disease Support networks may need to keep track of how their loved ones’ disease is progressing and if there are any complications from treatment.
Manage symptoms Breastcancer.org notes that treatment causes severe side effects in many women. Such side effects may include nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pain, arm swelling, shortness of breath, and skin irritation. Thankfully, most of these side effects can be treated. In addition, Breastcancer.org notes that most side effects ease up after treatment is completed. In the
meantime, support networks may need to help patients manage those symptoms, performing a host of tasks to make their loved ones’ lives easier. For example, patients experiencing shortness of breath may be incapable of performing chores around the house. In such instances, members of a support network can tackle those chores until their loved one bounces back.
Administer medication Breast cancer patients may be too overwhelmed to handle their own medications, so support networks can take over this important responsibility for them.
Assist with personal care Some patients may experience fatigue after treatment. In such instances, support networks can help patients maintain their personal hygiene.
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ABOVE: Support networks can be vital to helping cancer patients overcome their disease and navigate their way through successful treatment regimens. STOCK PHOTO Think Pink
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