Up & Coming Weekly

October 18, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 22 UCW OCTOBER 19 - 25, 2022 HEALTH Be aware of risk factors for breast cancer a STAFF REPORT According to the American Can- cer Society, breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged or older women. In fact, the median age at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62. ough it's possible for women far younger than 62 to be diagnosed with breast cancer, the ACS reports that only a very small number of women younger than 45 are diag- nosed with the disease each year. Despite the average age of onset being over 60, breast cancer is highly treatable. e World Health Organization notes that breast cancer treatments routinely achieve survival probabilities of 90 percent or higher. However, those probabilities de- cline considerably in lower-income countries where access to screen- ing and other medical services is limited. For example, the WHO notes that five-year survival rates for breast cancer routinely surpass 90 % in high-income countries like the United States and Canada. However, those rates are as low as 40 % in South Africa, where early detection of the disease is less likely than it is in wealthier na- tions. at disparity in survival rates underscores the need for greater resource allocation in lower-income countries, but also highlights the effectiveness of screening and other measures in high-income coun- tries where women are taught to report any abnormalities with their breasts. Does breast cancer run in families? No woman is immune to breast cancer. However, some women with extensive family histories of the disease may wonder if they're more vulnerable to breast cancer than those without such a link. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 3% of breast cancers result from inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are passed on in families. Inherited mutations in other genes also can cause breast cancer (as well as ovarian cancer), but BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most commonly affected genes. And it's not just women who can inherit these mutations. ough men account for only a small per- centage of breast cancer patients, they can get the disease, and those who inherit mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are more likely to de- velop breast cancer than other men. e CDC notes that not everyone who inherits a BRCA1, BRCA2 or other mutation will develop breast cancer, and women with such mu- tations can take steps to help lower their risk for the disease. Doctors can discuss those steps with women, but they may include genetic counseling and testing. e CDC also notes that, even in instances when counseling and test- ing is not ultimately recommended by a physician, women should con- sider talking to their doctors about starting mammography screening in their 40s. at's earlier than some organiza- tions recommend, though physi- cians may feel it's worth it depend- ing on the individual. Women are encouraged to speak with their doctors and be aware of their risk factors for breast cancer. 439 WESTWOOD SHOPPING CENTER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28314 910-860-1220 STORE2974@THEUPSSTORE.COM FORT BRAGG MINI-MALL REILLY ROAD 910-436-7877 STORE4787@THEUPSSTORE.COM The UPS Stores – Veteran Owned/Operated Send print projects to print2974@gmail.com COMING TO HOPE MILLS LATER IN 2022 Print & Business Services Westwood & Fort Bragg faxing shipping mailboxing notarizing signing shredding blueprinting designing freighting plaqueing brochuring boxing engraving packing copying printing

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