Raising Awareness

As we all know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have found some of the info below while doing some research. Please share this information with all of the women in your life:

In 2006 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), more than 191,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 women died from the disease. One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in her life

The Best Defense – A Good Offense

Breast cancer at its earliest stages doesn’t cause any symptoms and is too small
to be felt as a lump. But full-field digital mammograms have been shown to give accurate readings for all women – and especially for women under 50, those with dense breast tissue or who are nearing menopause.

Lowering Your Risk

No one knows the exact reason some women develop breast cancer, but scientists have found that there are a few risk factors, some of which you can change. The factors you can’t change include:

Your age – a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer rises as she ages.

Your family history – women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer have a higher risk of developing breast cancer themselves. If this is the case for you, your provider may suggest you be tested for two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that greatly increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

Your menstrual history – beginning your periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55 increases your risk of developing breast cancer. Not having a child before age 35 can increase your risk of developing breast cancer, as well.

The factors you can change include:

Your weight – being overweight increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy – speak with your provider about the risks and benefits of using hormone replacement therapy to control menopause symptoms.

Drinking — heavy drinking can increase your risk, so drink in moderation.

Know the Signs

The best way to catch breast cancer early is through regular mammograms. It’s also important to know your body. If you notice any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider:

- A new lump in your breast or underarm area
- Thickening or swelling of a part of your breast
- Irritation or dimpling of the skin on your breast
- Redness or flaky skin on the breast or in the nipple area
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
- Discharge from the nipple
- A change in size or shape of the breast
- Pain in any area of the breast

Talk to your healthcare provider at your next appointment about his or her recommendations for mammograms. Your provider can also show you how to perform a breast self-examination, another important way to discover breast cancer early.