October is about Pink

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought it was important to get information out there about this horrible disease.  Breast Cancer has touched so many lives, I think it is of the utmost importance we look at early detection.  Call your forever friend this week and remind her to do her monthly breast exam...It just might save her life.

In 1998 I lost my nanny and second mom to breast cancer.  From that day on, I have always pledged to try and educate my friends and family on the subject matter.  This is important information for every women and man.  "Knowledge is power."  We are our only advocates....I dedicate this post to my two wonderful grandmother's who are breast cancer survivors and to Jeanne, my second mom.  I wish we knew back then, what we we know now.  May your memory be carried on by those who loved you!

Below I have posted some stats about breast cancer and early detection.  Share them with the ones you love!

-The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2009:

-about 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women

-about 62,280 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

-about 40,170 women will die from breast cancer

 

-Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional, at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.

 

-Breast self exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.

-Women at moderately increased risk include those who:

have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 15% to 20%, according to risk assessment tools that are based mainly on family history (see below)

have a personal history of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)

have extremely dense breasts or unevenly dense breasts when viewed by mammograms.

-Due to the increased use of mammography, most women are diagnosed at very early stages of breast cancer, before symptoms appear. However, not all breast cancer is found through mammography. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. These are listed below:

•Lump, hard knot or thickening

•Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening

•Change in the size or shape of the breast

•Dimpling or puckering of the skin

•Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

•Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast

•Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

•New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

 

 

Want to get involoved.....Participate in a Walk for the Cure!

Share with me how your life has been touched by breast cancer. 

"Knowledge is Power"