Think Pink! Sadly no new developments toward a cure have been found to date, but people are diagnosed daily, and more die yearly.
Breast Cancer has many faces and can apply to both women as well as MEN! Yes- you men CAN get breast cancer. Know the facts. An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure!
BREAST CANCER.... God those words sound ugly. I can't even imagine hearing those words from a doctor... I don't WANT to hear those words from a doctor, EVER!
Unfortunately, the very very real truth is that 1 in 8 women will be affected by this ugly disease.
That means that between each of my 2 sisters, my mother, mother in-law, my 3 best friends and myself there is a very real possibility that one of us will be affected sometime in our lives.The scary fact... in over 70% of cases there is NO KNOWN FAMILY HISTORY of the disease.The thought of that just makes me want to cry.
"You have Cancer"... those words are NOT a death sentence. With a positive attitude and aggressive treatment this disease IS treatable. It has been said that once you have cancer you ALWAYS have cancer. knowledge is power, treatment is possible!
I have been fortunate to have never been personally affected by this illness. I do not personally know anyone who has been touched by this cancer. This however does not make me any less willing to get the facts out there for everyone I know. As I said before statistically 1 in 8 women will be affected. It is expected that this year more than 200,000 women & men will be affected.
Definition of breast cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.
Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2008:
New cases: 182,460 (female); 1,990 (male)
Deaths: 40,480 (female); 450 (male)
Know the facts
Early detection:
One of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Additional changes that may also be signs of breast cancer include:
- Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast
- Change in breast size or shape
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
- Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
- Pulling in of the nipple
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast
- An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple
Treatment:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/breast
Questions to ask your Doctor:
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/just-diagnosed-697-143.html
I also highly recommend everyone read the book Nordies at Noon
The personal stories of 4 women "too young" for breast cancer. I read this book 2 Octobers ago, and it touched me. The book also made me want to get the facts out there for everyone I know. We can never ever be too informed. I will be reading this book again as some time has passed and it was a really good read packed with real information.
Breast cancer is real.
Breast cancer is not something to ignore.
Make sure you do monthly self exams, a monthly exam can save your life.
For those of you unsure of how to preform BSE's (breast self exams) PLEASE watch this video at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciO3LlF0Yro
please pass this along to everyone you know.
An ounce of Prevention, is a pound of cure!
Until next time...
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