As we move quickly into the month of October with midterms and the fun and festivities of Halloween, let’s not forget about breast cancer. For those who don’t know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month you will see numerous campaign efforts to get the word out about breast cancer. This is a national event to help raise public awareness about this disease. It’s unfortunate that despite a low incidence of breast cancer among African American women, death rates are higher than white women.  According to a report by the American Cancer Society (ACS), by 2002, death rates among African American women were 37% higher than white women.  Those who can’t afford healthcare insurance and other socioeconomic factors that are substandard, it’s not surprising. Sisters, you are you’re best advocate when it comes to your health. It is so important to ask your doctor or health practitioner questions regarding your health and don’t stop there, educate yourselves.

Breast lumps can be benign or malignant. Benign breast lumps are not cancer. These lumps are abnormal growths that do not spread outside the breast. These breast lumps can be considered not life threatening, but you’re risk of getting breast cancer can increase. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor about any changes you may notice.  However, malignant lumps are considered cancerous. These cancerous cells grow in a woman’s breast tissue. A woman’s breast is made of fatty and connective tissues, blood and lymph vessels, breast milk ducts and other tissues. The lymph vessels are important because they help carry immune system cells and waste products to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes act as filters to rid the body of bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances; it’s the body’s defense system against disease. You have lymph nodes located throughout various areas of your body. Once the cancerous breast cells have reached the lymph nodes located in the underarm (axillary) area and continue to grow, the cancer is more likely to spread throughout the body. The spread of cancer from where it originated is what is referred to as metastasis. Because the woman’s breast is made of different structures, there are many types of breast cancer. To learn about the most common types of breast cancer, you can visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known, but certain risk factors are associated with the disease. Age, gender, genetics, race and family history are risk factors you can’t change. But, risk factors such as smoking, obesity, alcohol, certain hormone replacement therapy drugs and a high fat diet can be controlled or eliminated.  However, there are women who have several risk factors and may never get breast cancer, just as there are women with no risk factors who get the disease.

Early detection of breast cancer is key. When you detect early changes in your breast, it increases your chances that treatment will be successful. The following recommendations are from the American Cancer Society (ACS) for finding breast cancer early in women without symptoms:

Mammogram: 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 exam: Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert, preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a CBE by a health expert every year.

Breast awareness and breast self-exam (BSE): This is an option for women starting in their 20s, but all women can do this exam. You should get know how your breast normally look and feel. You will be able to notice changes more easily. You should have you doctor or nurse check your method to make sure you are doing it correctly.

Women at a higher risk should talk to their doctor about possibly having mammograms earlier than recommended, extra tests and frequent exams. The use of mammograms, an x-ray of the breast, is a common tool among other tests to help detect breast diseases in women. Other signs you should look for according to the ACS are as follows:

            ● swelling of part of the breast

            ● skin irritation or dimpling

            ● nipple pain or nipple turning inward

            ● redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin

            ● nipple discharge other than breast milk

            ● a lump in the underarm area

If you detect changes in your breast(s) don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor.  Your treatment plan will depend on a number of factors and your doctor will discuss treatment option(s) for you as an individual. Remember, the earlier you find changes, the better your outcome will be.

We have to be responsible not only in our daily lives, but with our health as well. Look, listen, learn and feel your body. You are your best healthcare advocate. You should always talk to your health practitioner about any and all concerns regarding changes you’ve noticed with your body. Become informed, aware and most importantly ask questions, especially if there is something you don’t understand.

If you would like more information about breast cancer, talk with your health practitioner and you can visit the following sites for information and support:

• The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345, 24 hours a day.

• Susan G. Korman Breast Cancer Foundation at www.komen.com or call 1-800-IM-AWARE(1-800-462-9273).

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/des or call 1-800-232-4636.

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) at www.cancer.gov or call 1-800-4CANCER(1-800-422-6237).

Contact Shannon at SArmstead@b-now.com