This month I’ve been serving as a VIPinks Ambassador for the American Cancer Society. So, I thought I’d take a pause and share with you some valuable information about the American Cancer Society and more specifically breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That is a lot!
While I’m a 12-year cancer survivor, I did not have breast cancer. But, that doesn’t matter. I can go pink because I want to fight cancer. And, one of the main chemo treatments that I took is also used for breast cancer treatment in some cases. So, what I do know is that funding life-saving treatment is VITAL. And, I know that treatments that are used for one type of cancer are sometimes used for others. And, I know that fighting cancer means fighting all of it. I’m not picky because cancer is not picky!
What I also know is that every penny, quarter, nickel, dime, dollar matters. The treatment that was used to send my cancer into remission was developed by an American Cancer Society funded research team. And, at the time of that funding, the main way they were raising money was through the Women’s Field Army. Which was a group of ladies who would walk door to door, sometimes with their children in hand, and ask for donations.
That’s why the second part of my responsibility as a VIPink is to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Its simple to support and you can do that in a couple of different ways:
- Give directly through my donation page
- support my “Unmasked” t-shirt fundraiser
- support my “Snow Peace like Jesus” t-shirt fundraiser
- participate in a Stick a Fork in Cancer event if you live local
For more information about current ACS Breast Cancer research, click here and finding out how common breast cancer is.
And, if you need a person to answer question about a personal process or a speaker for your event, please contact me and let me know.
And, if you want to hear the story of my brave friend Eileen and all that she went through during her own outlier experience as a breast cancer survivor. (you have to get through some banking talk first, that was the podcast topic)
I recently came across some FAQ’s on breast cancer. I’ll be honest, the more I read the more curious I became as I realized there were lots of things I didn’t know. As I read through these, I knew that I had to share them. I think they are questions we all have and are afraid to ask so we don’t feel stupid or because we don’t know who has the answers. I don’t have answers, but I have access to the people who do!!! (insert the American Cancer Society!!!)
Before you read further, let me say this. Breast Cancer is the second most common form of cancer FOUND in women, behind lung cancer. It is also 98% CURABLE when detected and treated early.
Here’s what I’m saying. If you could prevent a house fire by not leaving your oven on while you are gone all day, you would turn it off. If you could keep your water bill from going up by not running a faucet all night while you are sleeping, you would. If you could lose weight by cutting out one coke a day, you would think about it! Hear me…if you are not getting your annual mammogram and doing the necessary things to determine if you are at risk for breast cancer or catch it early, you are hurting yourself and those around you who love you and want to share life with you. Getting your annual check-ups (that goes for all of them for men and women) is IMPERATIVE! Your kids, spouse, and friends will thank you later.
A few years ago, I read the book Why do men have nipples? It was a cheeky medical view to several questions that we may have all pondered, but were too afraid of the cookies that would come if we googled the answer! I kinda feel like some of these breast cancer facts are the same thing. Being curious is not a bad thing, especially when it comes to knowing the facts that could save your life!
1. How many women are affected by breast cancer?
An estimated 226,870 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2012, and 39,510 women will die from the disease this year. Among women, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer.
2. Is breast cancer the most common cancer among women?
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, excluding skin cancer. But, lung cancer is the top cancer of women in the US.
3. What are the Society’s recommended guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer using mammography?
Based on an expert panel’s review of the historic and recent evidence, the Society recommends that women at average risk should begin annual mammography at age 40. Women should have an opportunity to become informed about the benefits, limitations, and potential harms associated with regular screening.
4. Does mammography save lives?
This year alone, an estimated 39,510 women will die of breast cancer. And while mammography is not perfect, getting a high-quality mammogram is currently the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Mammography can identify breast cancer before physical symptoms develop when the disease is most treatable.
A steady decline in breast cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1990 (2.2% per year between 1990 and 2007) has been attributed to early detection by mammography and improvements in treatments. For women under 50, the drop has been particularly strong, at about 3 percent per year. The percentage of women 40 years of age and older who reported having a mammogram within the past two years increased from 29% in 1987 to 70% in 2000. Although this percentage declined by 3.4% between 2000 and 2005, thereafter, it has remained relatively stable (66.5% in 2010).
5. Can men get breast cancer?
Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does occur. An estimated 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and approximately 410 will die of the disease. Currently, there is no technology to detect male breast cancer early. Men should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel and should discuss any changes with their health care provider.
6. Who is most at risk for developing breast cancer?
Several factors contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer. Aside from being female, age is the main risk factor. As age increases, so does the risk of developing breast cancer. In fact, two out of three invasive breast cancers are diagnosed in women age 55 and older. Modifiable risk factors that are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer include breastfeeding, moderate or vigorous physical activity, and maintaining healthy body weight. The use of alcohol is also clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Family history and genetics also contribute. Weight gain during adulthood and being overweight or obese are risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer, as are having a personal history of breast cancer, certain types of benign breast disease, and several hormone-related factors.
7. What effect does a family history of breast cancer have on a woman’s risk of getting the disease?
Women with a strong family history of early breast cancer – two or more close relatives diagnosed before age 50 – are at increased risk of developing the disease. However, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no close relatives (mother, sister, or daughter) with the disease, and most women with a family history will not develop breast cancer.
8. Why is early detection important?
Numerous studies have shown that early detection – having a yearly mammogram – saves lives and increases treatment options. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99 percent among individuals whose cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis.
9. What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray procedure that enables doctors to see the internal structure of the breast and possibly detect breast cancers that cannot be felt. These smaller tumors are more likely to be confined to the breast, meaning treatment is more likely to be successful.
10. When should women have mammograms?
The American Cancer Society’s current breast cancer screening guidelines are as follows:
- Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health. Women with serious health problems or short life expectancy should discuss ongoing early detection testing with their health care providers.
- A breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam, at least every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women age 40 and older.
- Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s, and women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam.
The American Cancer Society recommends that some women – because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors – be screened with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammograms, starting at age 30. (The number of women who fall into this category is less than 2 percent of all the women in the United States.) Women who think they are in this category should talk with their doctor about their history and whether they should have an MRI with their mammogram. They may also call the American Cancer Society for more information about screening.
11. What should women do to stay well and reduce their risk of breast cancer?
Women can help reduce breast cancer risk by choosing to make healthy lifestyle choices to stay well. Many studies indicate that being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women, so all women should strive to maintain a healthy weight. In addition, moderate to vigorous physical activity among both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women has been shown to decrease breast cancer risk.
Weight control and regular physical activity are also important for breast cancer survivors. There is convincing data that obesity is associated with breast cancer recurrence, and data from a large study of breast cancer survivors showed that higher levels of post-treatment physical activity were associated with a 26% to 40% reduction in the risk of recurrence and mortality. Healthy lifestyle choices such as maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and limiting alcohol intake are important steps to helping reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing several other types of cancer.
12. Does mammography detect all breast cancers?
While mammograms detect the majority of breast cancers, they are not perfect and fail to detect about 10 to 20 percent of breast cancers. Women with negative mammograms who find a change in their breast should be certain that their breast change is evaluated by their doctor.
13. Is mammography the only technology currently used to screen for breast cancer?
Mammography is the standard tool for early detection today. Other imaging techniques, however, are under investigation. These include MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound. Some of the techniques are currently used to follow up on suspicious findings from a physical exam or mammogram or mammography in women with increased risk for breast cancer.
14. Are breast cancer screenings covered by insurance?
The Affordable Care Act guarantees women access to proven preventive services such as mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, both in new private insurance plans and in Medicare, with no deductibles or copays. Additionally, most states require that Medicaid provide coverage and reimbursement for the early detection of breast cancer.
15. When should women perform breast self-examinations? What if they detect a lump?
Women should always be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. If a woman chooses to do breast self-examinations, she should do it regularly, preferably monthly. Beginning in their 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam. While research does not show that doing breast self-examination reduces breast cancer deaths, the exam may provide self-awareness and heightened sensitivity to important breast changes. If a lump is detected, a woman should see her health care professional as soon as possible for an evaluation.
16. What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
Breast cancer can be detected by the appearance of irregular images on mammograms. Other signs include persistent breast changes, such as a lump, thickening, swelling, dimpling, skin irritation, distortion, retraction, scaliness, rash, ulceration, pain, and tenderness of the nipple, or spontaneous nipple discharge. During a breast examination, lymph nodes in the armpit and above the collarbone may be felt for enlargement or firmness, which might indicate the spread of breast cancer.
17. Are there opportunities to get involved and help in the fight against breast cancer?
Through the Society’s many breast cancer programs, there are numerous ways to help save lives from breast cancer year-round. Families and friends of all ages can participate in one of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® walks, or other events such as Relay For Life®. Other volunteer opportunities include driving patients to treatment and providing one-on-one support.
Additionally, people can join the Society’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), and help advocate for important legislation and public programs that increase access to breast cancer screenings, outreach and education, follow-up care, and treatment for all Americans.
Please visit cancer.org for more information, and to find out how to get involved in the fight against breast cancer.
Sources based on an article from 2012, for the most updated information visit cancer.org:
Kushi LH, Byers T, Doyle C, et al. American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. CA Cancer J Clin. Sep-Oct 2006;56(5):254-281
Weight control and physical activity, vol. Vol. 6. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2002.
Weight control and physical activity, vol. Vol. 6. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2002.
Holmes MD, Chen WY, Feskanich D, Kroenke CH, Colditz GA. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Jama 2005;293(20):2479-86.
I listed it last week, but if you are interested in more information beyond what you read above, here’s a good resource!
