Take Care of Yourself - Safeguarding Against Breast Cancer (part 1)

The statistics and facts regarding Breast Cancer are disturbing at best. According to the Breast Cancer Information Service, one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Think about that for a minute. Just imagine yourself in your office, local supermarket, with eight of your best friends, or your family members. Now apply this statistic. In this scenario, one of your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends, your relatives, or even you will contract breast cancer. I am not a gambling woman, but these do not strike me as good odds!

Breast cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and the American Cancer Society estimates that in 1999 about 175,000 new cases will be diagnosed among women in the U.S. Is anyone else feeling more than a little uncomfortable with these numbers?

So, who is at risk here? More scary stats from the American Cancer Society coming up:

• Breast cancer is 100 times more common among women than men.
  
• A woman's risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.
  
• Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.
  
• Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease, or who themselves had previous bouts of breast cancer.
  
• Women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk.
  
• Long time use of Hormone Replacement Therapy, after menopause, may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
  
• Regular consumption of alcohol, cigarette smoking, and a diet high in polyunsaturated fats increases your risk of developing breast cancer.

It is a little hard to feel comfortable after reading this, isn't it?

Okay, so what are the choices for prevention here? Lifestyle and eating patterns can be changed, but otherwise, it seems that vigilance is the best preventitive measure. More than 90 percent of women whose breast cancer is found and treated early with no spreading beyond the breast, will survive. The two best defenses in your personal armory are REGULAR monthly self-exams and, after age 40, yearly mammograms.

Sure, but who remembers or has time to check every month? Consider the alternative. If you don't remember every month, come up with a reminder program that works for you. Mark your personal calendar, send yourself e-mail, leave yourself a note on the bathroom mirror the night before you are due. Whatever helps you remember to regularly check your breasts is the best plan.

Mammograms alone are not enough to safeguard you, they are not 100% accurate. Mammograms are read by humans, and humans make mistakes. They are a powerful tool when combined with regular self exams.

If you need more detailed information or want to review the studies about Breast Cancer, see the Breast Cancer Information Service site and The American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Resource Center . The URLs for both sites are located on the Health Resource page.

Next week, we'll discuss exactly what to look for during your self-exams. In the meantime, be well!

all the best,

Catie