October is breast cancer awareness month. I can't think of a more important topic than the health of Americas' mothers. It's been over 18 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through surgery and six months of chemotherapy. I had just started working outside the home, when my first co-worker was a woman who had recently experienced breast cancer. After visiting with her, I realized that I hadn't checked myself nor had an exam from my doctor for several years. I determined to check myself the next morning in the shower and was amazed when I found a lump. Thinking I must be mistaken, I continued to monitor it for a few days before deciding that I needed to have it checked out with my doctor. Imagine my surprise when they sent me for a biopsy with the result that it was indeed breast cancer.
There's a one-in-seven chance of getting breast cancer over your lifetime. Keep in mind, too, that mammograms miss some cancers; depending on whether breast tissue is dense or fatty, the false-negative rate can run up to 15 or 20 percent, says Carol H. Lee, M.D., a professor of diagnostic radiology at Yale medical school and chair of the American College of Radiology Commission on Breast Imaging. That's why many experts believe you also need a clinical breast exam by a doctor every three years up to age 40 and annually thereafter. In a recent Times magazine article titled: "why breast cancer is spreading around the world", it is reported that "The U.S. has the highest incidence rate, greatest number of cases and second highest number of deaths." (Time Magazine)
In a recent article in Good Housekeeping Magazine, we read the following:
- Watch the Wine
Women who have more than two drinks a day increase their risk of invasive breast cancer by 43 percent, compared to those who don't drink at all.
- Restock the Fridge
Two large-scale studies this year showed that food choices do affect breast cancer risk. The National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study found that postmenopausal women whose daily diets average 40 percent fat — a very high percentage — raise their breast cancer risk 11 percent compared to women whose diets include a lean 20 percent fat. The other study, from England, found that postmenopausal women who eat about 4 or more ounces of red meat daily are 56 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who never eat any meat. (Red meat includes beef, pork, and lamb.) Processed meats like bacon, ham, and sausage have an even greater effect, raising risk to 64 percent.
- Move It (Faster! Harder!)
Swimming laps, doing aerobics, jogging — women who engage in strenuous activities like these at least five hours a week, and have done so for most of their adult lives, are 20 percent less likely to develop invasive breast cancer than are sedentary types who get no more than 30 minutes of exercise a week, reports the California Teachers Study, which has been tracking more than 110,000 women ages 20 to 79 since 1995. But the report yielded encouraging news for less-active women: Moderate workouts, like golf or walking, cut the odds of developing one form of breast cancer (estrogen-receptor-negative) for which there are fewer effective treatments.
When going through cancer treatments, I learned the importance of visualization or I should say "positive visualization". Thinking of the body as a wonderful machine that is responding to fight the cancer that is invading it, along with the help of medical professionals, is important in the outcome of your treatment. The body also needs the help of good foods and proper nutrition; not only helpful in preventing cancer, but also during treatments, if that should happen. Read and study about the ways your diet can promote your health. Here are some interesting articles on "Foods That Feed Cancer" and "Does Breast Feeding Prevent Cancer?" and visit the Komen Foundation web site and read the article on "How to do a breast exam".
You will also benefit from seeking out friends that are supportive and positive in their conversations. Many communities also have cancer support groups that can provide valuable help to cancer patients. I found I couldn't dwell on the negative aspects of what was happening. I needed to acknowledge what was happening, then move on to thinking about other things. I'll be forever grateful for my friend who shared her experiences with me and raised my awareness of breast cancer and the need to do self-examinations.
Regards,
Ileen Barlow
2007 National Mother of the Year
American Mothers, Inc.®