This month is all about boobs.
Now that I have your attention, seriously, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Lake County is blessed with the organization Sponsoring Survivorship, a support network to assist women who are suffering and battling breast cancer.
Last Saturday Sponsoring Survivorship held its 13th annual WALK/RUN and approximately 200 people participated in the event that raised more than $8,000.
“The incredible outpour from our community, friends and family, was so wonderful,” according to Julie Kelley founder of the organization.
Sponsoring Survivorship is a shining example of what makes this county so extraordinary.
There is a core feeling of caring in Lake County exemplified by organizations like this one.
Dr. Susan Love writes informative books on all aspects of breast cancer including mammography, risk reduction, who is at high risk for breast cancer, what options are available for high-risk women, cancer recurrence, survivors, treating menopause, pregnancy, populations of interest – particularly the phenomenon of men with breast cancer, community and the connection of how to find groups like Sponsoring Survivorship. Dr. Love”s books answer tough questions comprehensively and competently.
Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) there are two main types of breast cancer. The first and most common, ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are this type.
The second type is called lobular carcinoma which starts in parts of the breast called lobules that produce milk. It is true that in rare cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast.
Many breast cancers are sensitive to the hormone estrogen. This means that estrogen causes the breast cancer tumor to grow. This cancer is called estrogen receptor positive cancer or ER positive cancer.
Some women have what”s called HER2. HER2 refers to a gene that helps cells grow, divide, and repair themselves.
When cells have too many copies of this gene, those cells – including cancer cells – grow faster.
Experts think that women with HER2-positive breast cancer have a more aggressive disease and a higher risk of recurrence than those who do not have this type, according to NIH.
At least one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Inevitably someone you know will be facing this.
That said, I would like to provide some handy facts. Maybe they will help someone you know. Maybe they will help you. There are risk factors for breast cancer that cannot be changed such as age, gender, family history, genes and menstrual cycle.
Avoidable risk factors include alcohol use or abuse. Women who have never had children or had children after age 30 are at high risk and women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage, may have increased risk of cancer once over the age 40.
There is a higher risk of breast cancer for those who received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many women take HRT to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Obesity has been linked to breast cancer as well as radiation therapy.
The younger the age of the person who receives radiation therapy; the higher the risk, primarily if the radiation was given when a female was developing breasts.
For those at high risk, including those who have or had a close family member with the disease, annual mammograms should begin 10 years earlier than the age at which the relative was diagnosed.
Breast implants, using antiperspirants, and wearing underwire bras do not raise your risk for breast cancer. There is no evidence of a direct link between breast cancer and induced abortion or pesticides. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces the risk of breast cancer.
The National Cancer Institute provides an online tool to help you figure out your risk of breast cancer at www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool. For more information on a national scale, visit www.NationalBreastCancer.org.
For those seeking more information in Lake County; for support, to become involved with the organization or to donate, please visit www.sponsoringsurvivorship.com or call Shirley Crawford at 279-1364 or Julie Kelley at 263-1094.
Mandy Feder is assistant managing editor/night desk for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32. Opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lake County Record-Bee or its management.
