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
