Breast Cancer What is this Disease Second leading

Breast Cancer

What is this Disease? • Second leading cause of cancer death in women • Malignant (cancerous) tumor – Develops from cells in the breast that are growing abnormally & out of control – Some cells may break away and travel to other parts of the body (metastasis) – When cancer comes back after successful treatment – it is called a recurrence.

Breast Cancer Starts Where? • Ductal Carcinoma – Breast milk ducts – Most frequent location • Lobular Carcinoma – Breast milk lobes • Other breast tissues – Fatty & connective tissues – Lymph vessels

U. S. Statistics - 2002 • New cases – 203, 500 (women) – 1, 500 (men) • Deaths per year – 39, 600 (women) – 400 (men) • 5 -year localized survival rate - 96% • 5 -year overall survival rate - 86

2006 • 212, 920 women will be diagnosed this year • 40, 970 will die from breast cancer this year • Over 2, 000 women who have been treated for breast cancer • 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime • 1 in 33 will die from breast cancer

Am I At Risk? • Gender – 100 times more common in women that men • Age – Risk increases with age – 77% of women diagnosed are >50 years of age. • Race – White & African American – higher risk • Family history – 1 st degree relative double the risk – Most women diagnosed do not have a family history

• Additional risk factors: – – – – – History of non-cancerous breast disease Starting monthly periods before age 12 Starting menopause after age 55 > 5 years post menopausal estrogen replacement therapy Never having children Having first child after age 30 Use of alcohol Obesity, especially weight gain after menopause Physical inactivity

How Do I Know If I Have It? • • • Detection of a new lump or mass Generalized swelling of part of a breast Skin irritation or dimpling Nipple pain or retraction Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin • Discharge other than breast milk • All of these symptoms require follow up

What Can And Should I Do? • Prevention – Many risk factors are not modifiable • Those related to age and hormones – Lifestyle changes are modifiable • Maintaining a healthy diet and weight • Routine physical activity • Reduce the use of alcohol – Knowledge and awareness • Being aware of your risk factors • Knowing your body • Early detection

Early Detection – Best Outcome • Mammograms – Over age 40 – every year • Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) – Age 20 – 39 – every 3 years – Over age 40 – every year • Breast Self Exam (BSE) – Know how your breasts normally feel – Over age 20 – every month • Talk to your doctor – If family history present

Are There Successful Treatments? • Most successful when treated early • Treatment depends on many factors – Progression of the disease – Patient choices • Surgical interventions – Breast conservation surgery – lumpectomy – mastectomy • Medical intervention – Chemotherapy – Hormone therapy – Radiation therapy

What Does The Future Hold? • Risk factors – Further investigation re: lifestyle & environmental factors • Genetics – How to use gene testing • Screening – New technology • Hormone Therapy – Investigating use in prevention • Chemotherapy – New drugs and drug combinations

How Does Diagnosis Impact Lifestyle? • Social – Changes in appearance and activity tolerance • Physical – Pain, fatigue, sleep difficulties • Psychological – Fear of recurrence, guilt, depression – Impact on loved ones – Financial concerns • Spiritual

Who Can Help? • Support from family & friends • American Cancer Society – Cancer Survivors Network • www. acscsn. org • 1 -877 -333 -HOPE • Links for Life – Support group • www. linksforlife. org • 661 -322 -5601

Who is “Links For Life”? • Local Breast Cancer Organization – 2 Full & 1 Part time employees – Many, many volunteers • Provides an organization to benefit person affected by breast cancer • Challenges each women in Kern County to be aware of her breast health • Educated the general public, teaching that optimum health and early detection saves lives

Links For Life – Lives are being Saved • Raise funds for local programs – Pro-Am Golf Tournament & Gala – Paint the Town Pink (October • Over $100, 000 raised in 2005 – – Field over 4, 000 phone calls from the public Provide 240 wigs from our wig shop Provide 20 Bras/Prosthesis Arrange for needed tests for women under 40 who are uninsured or underinsured • 440 mammograms • 240 ultrasounds • 45 needle biopsies – Results of these tests: • 4 positive cancers detected – 3 women under 40 – 1 man

• Other services – Support group • Encouragement, support, friendship, & information – Seminars • Community education – Library • Current reference books & videos – Scholarships • Support our local nursing students – Health fairs

Where Can I Receive More Info? • American Cancer Society – 1 -800 -ACS-2345 www. cancer. org • Links for Life – 661 -322 -5601 www. linksforlife. org • National Cancer Institute – 1 -800 -4 -cancer www. nci. nih. gov • Susan G. Komen Foundation – 1 -800 -IM AWARE www. komen. org • National Allicance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) – 212 -719 -0154 www. nabco. org • Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization – 1 -800 -221 -2141 www. y-me. org