I started this blog to offer my advice to others so that they could have a more beautiful, tasty, cleaner, easier to care for Southern home. A large part of what makes us Southerners so great at welcoming others into our homes is the warmth that seems to have been bred into each one of us. To continue fostering this warmth inside ourselves, we must learn to take a step back from time to time and take care of our needs. Although I normally fill my blog pages with my ramblings on cooking, cleaning and such, I wanted to take a moment to share a cause that is very near and dear to my heart so that you all might learn to better take care of yourselves.
As you probably know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many wonderful events take place during this most glorious of months that pay homage and bring awareness to one of the biggest killers of women. Furthermore, you most likely know that I make a living treating cancer with radiation. One of the most common forms of cancer that I treat is breast cancer. This is not merely a coincidence as breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Considering that my readers largely scew female, I would like to share some of my knowledge on this disease.
According to projections from the American Cancer Society (ACS), over 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in 2011. While this number may not sound like a lot in our country with a population of over 300 million, that would be the equivalent of over 3 times the population of Jonesboro being diagnosed with breast cancer in a single year.
I was first introduced to breast cancer at a young age when my grandmother was diagnosed with this disease. She fought hard while the cancer advanced its way through her body. My granny died the day after Christmas, answering one last prayer request that she had to be with her family through the holiday. Breast cancer research has improved treatment by leaps and bounds since that day in the early 1990s. The ACS projected a mortality rate of just over 7% for 2011. This is proof that breast cancer can be cured if detected and treated early. In fact, although breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it isn't the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the biggest killer in both women and men. One reason that breast cancer doesn't take as many lives as lung cancer is the awesome network of fund raising that exists through organizations like the ACS and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
One thing that I cannot stress enough about breast cancer is that it is not prejudice to any age group. I have seen women treated for the disease in their 20s all the way through their 90s. Therefore, proper examination starts early. The ACS recommends that women begin breast self-examination (BSE) in their 20s. It is a great habit to develop a routine and exam the breast monthly. You can even make a pact with your friends to remind each other on a specific date each month. Something that you don't notice one month may very well be there the next.
The ACS also recommends that women in their 20s and 30s receive a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of their periodic health examination with healthcare professional preferably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, this examination should be performed yearly.
Additionally, starting at age 40, women should have a yearly mammogram. Although nobody will tell you that having this exam performed is a fun experience, it is a necessary examination that has proven to save lives. If you cannot afford a mammogram, there are programs available to ensure that you receive this life-saving examination. St. Bernards, for one, provides a mobile mammography vehicle that travels all across the area providing this service to citizens.
The standard of care for treating breast cancer is currently a lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly chemotherapy. This may not always be the case as several different factors dictate what the best treatment should be. The good news is that treatment has progressed so much from the days when it was thought to be necessary to basically mutilate the female chest to cure the disease. We in the field of oncology are getting better and better at destroying the cancer and minimizing side effects.
If you are curious to learn more about breast cancer, visiting the American Cancer Society website at http://cancer.org is a great place for information. Another great source is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website which can be found at http://ww5.komen.org. You may also contact me or any healthcare professional and we will gladly assist you to ensure that you receive the best information and care possible. Whenever you see breast cancer research fund raisers or events, take note. Chances are you, or someone you know personally will develop this disease. If we continue working and fighting we can put people like me out of work. That would be the greatest retirement gift of all.
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