Breast Cancer Awareness
Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
Cancer begins in the cells which are the basic building blocks that make up tissue. Tissue is found in the breast and other parts of the body. Sometimes, the process of cell growth goes wrong and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. When this occurs, a build-up of cells often forms a mass of tissue called a lump, growth, or tumor.
Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors develop in the breast. These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into
tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs, the process is called metastasis.
Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? While you can’t usually prevent cancer, it is important to be proactive about your health. Breast cancer can be diagnosed through multiple tests, including a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.
For more information, contact your local hospital. Ask to speak to a social worker, patient navigator, or nurse navigator. They will be able to refer you to any local financial assistance programs for breast cancer exams or breast cancer treatment.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer can include:
- a change in size or shape
- a lump or area that feels thicker than the rest of the breast
- a change in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling (like the skin of an orange)
- redness or rash on the skin and/or around the nipple
- your nipple has become inverted (pulled in) or looks different (for example changed its position or shape)
- liquid (sometimes called discharge) that comes from the nipple without squeezing
- constant pain in your breast or your armpit
- a swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone.
Many symptoms of breast cancer, such as breast pain or a lump, may, in fact, be caused by normal breast changes or a benign (not cancer) breast condition. However, if you notice a change, it’s important to see your GP (local doctor) as soon as you can. read more →
Diet and Physical Activity: What’s the Cancer Connection?
How much do daily habits like diet and exercise affect your risk for cancer? Much more than you might think. Research has shown that poor diet and not being active are 2 key factors that can increase a person’s cancer risk. The good news is that you do something about this. read more →
What are the risk factors for stomach cancer?
A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed.
But risk factors don’t tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And many people who get the disease may have few or no known risk factors.
Scientists have found several risk factors that make a person more likely to get stomach cancer. Some of these can be controlled, but others cannot. read more →
12 Facts About Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV) is breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body, most commonly the liver, brain, bones, or lungs.
- No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. Metastasis occurs when cancerous cells travel to a vital organ and that is what threatens life.
- Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.
- An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer (also called Stage IV breast cancer). This disease accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
- Treatment is lifelong and focuses on the control of the disease and quality of life.
- About 6% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.
- Early detection does not guarantee a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur 5, 10 or 15 years after a person’s original diagnosis and successful treatment checkups and annual mammograms.
- 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with early-stage disease will develop metastatic breast cancer.
- Young people, as well as men, can be diagnosed.
- Like early-stage breast cancer, there are different types of metastatic breast cancer.
- Treatment choices are guided by cancer type, location and extent of metastasis in the body, previous treatments and other factors.
- It is not an automatic death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some will live for many years.
- There are no definitive prognostic statistics for metastatic breast cancer. Every patient and their disease is unique.
Early Detection and Screening for Prostate Cancer
Should I Be Screened?
The question of screening is a personal and complex one. It’s important for each man to talk with his doctor about whether prostate cancer screening is right for him.
There is no unanimous opinion in the medical community regarding the benefits of prostate cancer screening. Those who advocate regular screening believe that finding and treating prostate cancer early offers men a better chance to cure the disease. read more →
Five ways you can help when a friend’s child is diagnosed with cancer
Say something
With something as shocking and momentous as a childhood cancer diagnosis, friends often simply do not know what to say. They may be frightened of saying the wrong thing and causing more upset or they may find the whole situation just too upsetting.
However, to say nothing at all will only make things worse for a family already devastated by the news. You cannot go wrong with the simple words, whether in person or via a text message: “I’m so sorry to hear this. I am here for you.” It will mean a lot.
Bring food to the hospital or home
Immediately following a cancer diagnosis, the child will have a prolonged period in the hospital while they begin chemotherapy treatment, which may then be followed by treatment at home with intermittent care in the hospital. Parents will often take turns staying with the child while caring for other siblings at home. It is a time of chaos and stress.
Pay a visit
If you can visit do so, whether just as a shoulder to cry on or with much-needed practical help.
Dealing with a childhood cancer diagnosis can be isolating and lonely for parents, particularly if one or both has to give up work in order to care for their children. If you can visit do so. Check first to make sure it is a time when it is ok for the child on treatment to have visitors and bring your own kids around to entertain or come armed with sticker books and puzzles.
Don’t ask, just do
People are generally useless at asking for help and the kind offer of “Do let me know if there is anything I can do?” is rarely taken up. So be proactive. Cook meals, take magazines, toys, games to the hospital, offer to babysit, or take the kids to the park, tidy your friend’s house while they are in the hospital.
Think what chores need doing and just do them. I have got a lot better at asking for help when on verge of a breakdown, but still often feel like I don’t want to put people out.
Be there months down the line
A childhood cancer diagnosis changes a family forever.
