You At Your Best

by KaRen RiCe nWa DemoCRat-Gazette Pink ribbons are a common sight during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and knowledge about the disease is an important component in the fight against it. You probably know someone who has had breast cancer. But do you really know as much about breast cancer as you think you do? According to Komen Ozark, the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, breast cancer is still the most prevalent cancer in the world today, with about 1.3 million people diagnosed annually. One in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In recent years, greater awareness, earlier detection, improved treatments and better access to care has brought new hope and increased chances of survival to patients who are diagnosed with this disease. Separating myths from facts Everyday it seems we hear about a new study that points to something that causes cancer, or reverses a previous study. Learning to decipher between accurate and false information can be especially valuable, as researchers continue to learn more about cancer. • Myth: Drinking milk increases your risk for breast cancer. Early studies raised concerns that drinking milk from cows treated with hormones could increase a person's risk for breast cancer. However, ensuing research failed to find a clear link between the two. • Myth: Lumps indicate breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® says that only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer. However, abnormalities or changes in breast tissue should always be brought to the attention of a physician. • Myth: Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread. This myth is rooted in the incorrect notion that breast compression while getting a mammogram causes the cancer to spread. However, the NBCF insists that cannot happen. • Myth: Women with a family history of breast cancer are likely to develop breast cancer, too. This myth is dangerous because, if taken at face value, it can give women with no family history of breast cancer a false sense of security. Only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Breast cancer can affect anyone, regardless of their family history. An early detection plan The National Cancer Institute found that when breast cancer is detected in the localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. Mammograms are just one component of an overall early detection plan. Here are some more: • Get a grasp of your normal. Inspect your body frequently to get an idea of what constitutes "normal" for you. This way should something seem amiss, you can visit your doctor to have it checked out. • Understand signs and symptoms of breast cancer. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. Painless, hard and irregularly shaped masses are more likely to be cancerous than others, but any mass detected should be checked by a healthcare professional. • Establish a self-exam schedule. Women should perform a self- examination of their breasts at least once a month. According to John Hopkins Medical Center, 40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump. • Book an appointment for a clinical exam. Speak with your doctor or gynecologist about a schedule based on your age and risk factors. • Determine a mammogram schedule. Many experts recommend an annual mammogram starting at age 40. You can sign up for a screening reminder at komen. org/reminder • Determine if genetic testing is right for you. Susan G. Komen says some inherited gene mutations increase breast cancer risk. Women who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are at a greater risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer than those who do not have such mutations. Testing may be recommended for people at very high risk. Information and early detection are valuable assets in the fight against breast cancer. For more information and local resources, talk to your health professional or go to komenozark.org AwAreness is key in the fight against breAst cAncer 12 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST OcTOBER - wOmEn'S HEAlTH | SATURdAY, SEpTEmBER 28, 2019

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