Monday, September 29, 2014

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month





October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. This year, I am particularly aware of breast cancer because a very dear friend of mine was diagnosed a few weeks ago with an aggressive form, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. She is in Stage 3C, and her cancer is Triple Negative, which is one of the more rare types. Since her diagnosis, she has been keeping friends and family up to date on her treatment plan, what she can expect as she confronts cancer, and how she is feeling at any given update. Somehow, her e-mails have had an amazing ability to soothe those of us who love her, even though we are the ones who should be comforting her. But that is her nature; she is a caretaker, a lover of people, and a “mother” and “sister” and friend to many. Her spirit is strong, and her faith steadfast.

My first cousin was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer shortly after her fortieth birthday, and fought it hard for nearly seven years. I am still inspired by her strength, her will, her faith and the beauty of her spirit. Though we did not get the chance to grow up near one another, I bonded with her in adulthood, and I miss her very much. She was very fortunate to have her three children, her mother, brothers and sister and their families with her throughout her ordeal. What struck me was her courage throughout her illness, and how much family and friends rallied behind her every step of the way.



Countless people have been affected by cancer in one of its dreaded forms, either directly, or through a loved one or acquaintance. Others have had little experience with cancer, lack knowledge about the various types of cancer and their treatments, and may feel unsure how to provide support to someone who has cancer. Many other people actively participate in the fight against cancer through involvement in one of the many cancer foundations and their various fundraisers. All such efforts should be applauded for their contributions to finding cures for cancer. Breast cancer is particularly prevalent, however, and breast cancer research is in dire need of fundraising efforts and financial support to advance breakthroughs and treatment options and to continue spreading awareness. 

Today, I hope to share a message about prevention awareness and the vital importance of routine mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI screenings. My friend has encouraged me to spread the word to as many women and men as possible, and has given me permission to share her personal story, which she has already shared with friends and family. She is in her mid-forties and has a family history of breast cancer, so had been getting annual mammograms and breast ultrasounds for the past six or seven years. In April of this year, she had her yearly mammogram, and then in June, she had a follow-up breast ultrasound. No cancer was detected on either screening. Then, on September 15th of this year, she was told she had a tumor in her left breast, and a subsequent lymph node biopsy showed that the cancer had already spread. Her journey with cancer began suddenly and unexpectedly; despite her precautions, the prescribed preventative screenings were not enough to detect the cancer.



This is the message my friend would like to impart as she prepares to bravely go up against breast cancer:
Be proactive! Even if you have no family history of breast cancer, know the statistics, and the importance of preventative screenings. Blood tests can also be done to check for markers that would indicate the possibility of cancer. The guidelines for screening vary, but the general consensus is that annual mammograms are recommended for women aged forty and up who are at average risk for breast cancer. For women who have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, annual mammograms are recommended from a much earlier age. Women with dense breast tissue, cysts in their breasts, and/or a family history of breast cancer should INSIST on annual breast MRIs, in addition to breast ultrasounds and mammograms. My friend was very clear in her advice on this, saying she didn’t want anyone else to have cancer missed on a mammogram and breast ultrasound like hers was. She urged all her female family and friends to please get mammograms (and any additional screenings that may be necessary) to be proactive in catching cancer in the early stages. I know medical insurance is an issue for many and these screenings are often not fully covered, but it is so important to prioritize budgeting for these preventative medical expenses and to be diligent about getting them done.

At the end of this post, I have listed some links regarding breast cancer screening, the specific type of cancer my friend has, chemotherapy information, and articles on very recent breast cancer research. Since I learned of my friend’s diagnosis, I have been reading about breast cancer; the facts and details about the type she has, and even about the specific chemotherapy drugs she will be given. She has given all of her friends and family the details about her treatment plan, which has been extremely helpful in understanding her case. Everyone who supports a woman who has breast cancer can do his own research to better understand what she is going through, and therefore try to provide her with better support. It seems the last thing a cancer patient would want to do is to reiterate medical details to family and friends who ask for them. A woman going through treatment needs to save her energy to focus on the complete healing of her body. Having breast cancer awareness can be a way to support a loved one with cancer.




I urge anyone reading this to take some time to become aware of some aspect of cancer previously unknown to oneself. Read about cancer statistics, preventative measures (dietary, lifestyle, medical, etc.), how to provide support to individuals and families dealing with cancer, the latest in cancer research, cancer fundraising opportunities, etc. Try to find some way to become better educated to ensure this National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has its greatest impact yet. My special request, for my friend, is that you take time to read about the different screening methods for breast cancer detection, and the pros and cons of each. Most importantly, I hope all women will heed her advice to get regular screenings as recommended, and men will urge their loved ones to do so.  How will YOU honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month?




EARLY DETECTION SCREENING:


INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA:
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/idc

http://www.seattlecca.org/diseases/breast-cancer-types.cfm

CHEMOTHERAPY:
Use this link to learn about chemotherapy treatment; type in the various drug names in the search window and the site will provide specific information about each of them.

CANCER RESEARCH:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/business/roche-breast-cancer-drug-appears-to-greatly-extend-patients-lives.html?_r=0

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Breakthrough: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140905153015.htm