Adding Ultrasound to Mammography May Improve Breast Cancer Detection
in High-Risk Women The addition of an ultrasound examination to mammography
for women at high-risk of breast cancer resulted in a higher rate
of cancer detection, but also increased the number of false-positive
results, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical
Association. Click here for the full article.
Exposure to Sunlight May Decrease Risk
of Advanced Breast Cancer by Half
Women with high sun exposure had half the risk of developing
advanced breast cancer, which is cancer that has spread beyond
the breast, compared to women with low sun exposure. Click
here for the full article.
Incorporating these 10 changes into your lifestyle can help
protect you against breast cancer and other types of cancer.
Eat
a healthy variety of foods each day, emphasizing fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. Cut down on red meat.
If you use tobacco,
take steps to quit today.
Avoid breathing second hand smoke.
It can cause lung cancer in non-smokers.
Maintain a healthy
weight.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity at
least five days a week.
Drink alcohol occasionally or not
at all. Consuming even a few drinks a week can increase your
risk.
Avoid exposure to sun – cover up, wear sunscreen
with SPF 15 or higher, wear UV sunglasses, and a wide brimmed
hat.
Beginning at age 50, have the colorectal screenings your
doctor recommends. Such screenings can detect pre-cancerous polyps
and cancers at early stages that are easier to treat.
Follow
your doctor's schedule for pap tests and pelvic exams,
which can detect pre-cancerous conditions.
Decide carefully
before starting or continuing hormone replacement therapy. Discuss
your options with your doctor.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United
States. According to the American Cancer Society, it's estimated
that About 178,480 women in the United States will be found to
have invasive breast cancer in 2007. About 40,460 women will
die from the disease this year. Right now there are slightly
over 2 million women living in the United States who have been
treated for breast cancer. more...
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but very aggressive
type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph
vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer
is called "inflammatory" because the breast often looks
swollen and red, or "inflamed." IBC accounts for 1
to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. more...
Breast Cancer in Men
Breast cancer occurs primarily in women, but men can also develop
breast cancer. Although men have less breast tissue than women,
they do have breast cells that can undergo cancerous changes.
Male breast cancer makes up less than 1 percent of all cases
of breast cancer, and is usually detected in men between 60 and
70 years of age. more...
Hot Flashes May Be Welcome Sign in Women with Breast
Cancer
Women on tamoxifen therapy who reported having hot flashes were
less likely to develop recurrent breast cancer than those who did
not report hot flashes, according to a study from researchers at
the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Click
here to read the full article.
Join the Sister Study
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women aged 35 to
74 whose sister had breast cancer. It is a national study to
learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting
breast cancer. The goal is to enroll in the study 50,000 women
whose sister had breast cancer, and who do not have breast cancer
themselves. To learn more about the Sister Study click
here.
Breast cancer genes can come from father CHICAGO - A deadly gene's path can hide in a family
tree when a woman has few aunts and older sisters, making it
appear that her breast cancer struck out of nowhere when it really
came from Dad.
A new study suggests thousands of young women
with breast cancer - an estimated 8,000 a year in the U.S. -
aren't offered testing to identify faulty genes and clarify
their medical decisions. more...
Mastectomy Hospital Bill in Congress A mastectomy
is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous
breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy,
you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards.
Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient
procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in
the hospital for 2 days after surgery.
Breast Cancer Hospitalization
Bill - Important legislation for all women. If there was ever a time when
our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those
times. There's a bill called
the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require
insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay
for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating
the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced
to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes
of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes
with drainage tubes still attached.
Lifetime Television has
put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show
your support. Last year over half the House signed on. Please
sign the petition by clicking on the link below. You only need
to enter your name, email and zip code. Click
here to sign the petition.
