Shelia Lewis: Smith County Extension

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month and to provide more awareness about breast cancer, please read the following information by Courtney Schoessow, one of our health specialists with Texas Cooperative Extension.

October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many people notice the pink ribbons and bracelets that are worn to promote breast cancer awareness, but they may not fully understand the facts behind these items. Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Not only is breast cancer the most common cancer in women, it is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women aside from skin cancer.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both of the breasts. It forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). Breast cancer is not limited only to women; men are also at risk, although males' cases are rare. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast, abnormal thickening of the breast, or a change in the shape or color of the breast.

EARLY DETECTION

These symptoms can be detected through self-exams, but one of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. Mammography screening remains the best available method for early detection of breast cancer.

Breast cancers that are found because they can be felt tend to be larger and more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer could save many more lives if more women and their health-care providers took advantage of these tests.

When should testing begin? According to ACS, women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so each year. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional, preferably every three years. It is suggested that women in their 20s do a breast self-exam, but there are limitations to self-exams, and they should never be substituted for a mammogram. Women at high risk should talk to their doctors about getting an MRI and mammogram every year.

RISK FACTORS

What factors increase your risk of having breast cancer? Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. Race has also shown to be an indicating factor. White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than are African-American women, although African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer. It has also been found that women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk.

Having multiple pregnancies and becoming pregnant at an early age reduces breast cancer risk. Obesity has been found to be a risk factor to many diseases; breast cancer is no exception. Being overweight or obese has been found to increase breast cancer risk, especially for women after menopause. Likewise, evidence is growing that physical activity in the form of exercise reduces breast cancer risk. Use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.

False risk factors have been circulated through many means, including the Internet. Rumors have suggested that chemicals in underarm antiperspirant are absorbed through the skin, interfere with lymph circulation, cause toxins to build up in the breast, and eventually lead to breast cancer. Rumor also suggested that bras cause breast cancer by obstructing lymph flow. There is very little laboratory or population-based evidence to support either rumor. Additionally, silicone implants have been a suggested risk factor. Implants do make it harder to see breast tissue on standard mammograms, but additional x-ray pictures (called implant displacement views) can be used to more completely examine the breast tissue.

According to ACS, the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 35. These statistics have been on the decline, and the reason for that decline is believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improve treatment.

What can you do to reduce your risks of breast cancer? Suggested practice for good breast health for women includes:

Obtain regular mammography screenings starting at the age of 40.

Obtain annual clinical breast exams.

Perform monthly breast-self exams, if you wish.

Obtain a risk assessment from a physician.http://tpedit.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/editsak?Avis=TP&Dato=20071004&Kategori=OPINION0309&Lopenr=710030388&Ref=AR&Top=1&Action=edit&Params=WorkKey%3DTP%3B20071004%3Bburrow%3B710030388%3BAR%2CLiveKey%3DTP%3B20071004%3BOPINION0309%3B710030388%3BAR%2CBackedUp%3D1%2CPrioR%3D0%2CSMS%3D1%2CPriority%3D0%2COrgPriority%3D0%2CNy%3D0%2CNewArt%3D0%2CImage%3Don%2CBlockCount%3D1#
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So, the next time you see someone wearing a pink ribbon or bracelet, remember the things that can be done to protect yourself or your loved one from becoming a victim of breast cancer.


Shelia Lewis is a Smith County Extension agent in family and consumer sciences. She can be reached at sk-lewis@tamu.edu. This column on family and consumer education news appears in the Thursday Community section of the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Shelia Lewis
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