October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
What every woman must do…

If you are between 20-40 years old:
Monthly
Every 3 years
At age 35

Breast Self Exam
Clinical Breast Exam
Mammogram

If you are between 40-50 years old:
Monthly
Every year
Every 1 or 2 years

Breast Self Exam
Clinical Breast Exam
Mammogram

If you are over 50 years old:
Monthly
Every year
Every year

Breast Self Exam
Clinical Breast Exam
Mammogram

(American Cancer Society, Inc. 1993)


Where Breast Cancer Occurs -- Concern™
where occurs


mamogram reminder


Facts Every Person Should Know

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1 in 8 women will have breast cancer at some point in their lives

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ONE MILLION American women are living with undetected breast cancer right now

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80% of women diagnosed won’t have a genetic predisposition to the disease

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97% is the probability of survival BUT only for women who get early detection and treatment
(3-Day AVON Breast Cancer Advertisement)




Who is at risk to develop breast cancer?

Every woman is at risk! It is the most common cancer of women and as women get older the risk increases. Three-quarters of all breast cancers occur in women over 50. Although it is rare, Men can also develop breast cancer!
(American Cancer Society, 1995)

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

The most common sign is a lump or thickening that does not go away or seem to change. Most lumps in the breast are not cancerous- four out of five are from other causes. A doctor should check all lumps. Other signs to be aware of if they persist are swelling, puckering, or dimpling. Skin irritation, pain, or tenderness of the nipple.
(American Cancer Society, 1995)

Are some women at special risk for breast cancer?

Risk is somewhat higher in women whose close female relatives-their mothers or sisters-have had the disease. Also women who never have had children or had their first child after age 30 seem to be at some-what higher risk.
(American Cancer Society, 1995)

Where you can get more information on Breast Cancer?

Community Breast Health Project
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
American Cancer Society
Imaginis- The Breast Health Specialists
Gilda’s Club Worldwide
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
National Breast Cancer Coalition
SHARE
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
Young Survival Coalition

Can we please make this a sticky again like last year?

Steph

Thank you for enlightening folks on this...we all need to be aware of this.

Thx for this thread

Unfortunately in the UK they do not do regular Clinical Breast Exams or
Mammograms to women 20-40

i'm sooooo glad this was posted



rub ya boobies this month ladies.....


(and every month)


also for us brown girls....get your mammogram done in your 30's.....black women are normally diagnosed at an earlier age than others. And brownies, stop thinking this is a white woman issue as well, even though more white woman are diagnosed, more black women die from breast cancer mainly because of late detection. I had a friend pass away from breast cancer some years ago. she made sure she educated all of us about the illness.


So EVERYONE get ya pink ribbons.....

Thanks EVER
[Edited 10/1/05 7:16am]

Thanks for responding you guys And thanks mods for making this a sticky

Mach said:

wow that is beautiful Mach....thanks

I'm aware!

http://www.bcc-uk.org/
http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/Home
http://www.cancerresearch...astcancer/

wave edit.
[Edited 10/3/05 5:22am]

Beating me to it or not, GREAT THREAD Steph!!!

Mods, thank you for making it a sticky!

If you are too young to get a mammo, please try to encourage the women you know that are of age to get a mammo. And all gals, do breast exams every month.

Please do not let cost be a factor. If you have health insurance it is usually covered 100%. In October, it is easy to get free mammo vouchers. Go to your city, county or state health department.

Men, this is not just a womens' issue. Not only can you lose your mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, friends etc. to breast cancer, but MEN CAN develop breast cancer as well as women.


:pinkribbon:

I have been lucky and blessed enough to not see any women in my family go through breast cancer But, it has affected friends and coworkers of mine.
It only takes a moment to do a self-exam...and it's worth it. I haven't had my first Mammogram...and I'm not looking forward to it... I've heard it's quite painful.
Has anyone had one done here?

applekisses said:

I haven't had one done, but I'm in clinicals for a mammography program. Unfortunately, pain is a factor. The breast/tissue has to be compressed to a uniform consistency to get the most accurate mammogram. But in the end knowing that you've done what needs to be done to take care of yourself outweighs the pain.

Great thread!




Also if you click here, The Breast Cancer Site , you can help fund free mammograms!!!!!

Please click everyday

senik said:

Thanks for the link

Nothinbutjoy said:

Amen I have had one and it does hurt lol BUT it was worth finding out if the lump I had was cancer or not.....thankfully it was nothing. Even though they give an age range it still doesn't matter. You can get cancer as young as in your 20's with a family history or not. SO CHECK YA SELF BTW Men can get breast cancer too, so start checking men

HollowellSA said:

I'm never getting one unless I or my doctor find a lump. I think self and clinical exams are a great idea, but I see no need to put myself through that pain and exposure to radiation for nothing.

applekisses said:

I encourage you to rethink that. Mammography can demonstrate problems before they get to the point where they can be felt by a physical exam. The earlier lesions are detected, the greater the chance of recovery.

As for your concerns regarding exposure to radiation, again the theraputic benefits outweigh the risk. Mammography does require a significant dose to make a diagnostic radiograph, but with current technology, it is much less than in the past.

I would rather take the temporary pain and minimal exposure of a screening mammogram once a year than face chemo or radiation therapy. (JMHO)

it is important to check yourself regardless of age. Also don't panic too much if you do find something. I found a lump 2 years ago and went into denial about it for about a month but finally i plucked up courage to go to the doc. I was referred straight to a specialist but due to its location they could not take any cells from it and the scans had it show up as a solid lump. The next day i was having it removed and am very pleased to say it was benign. I now check myself every week and know that if i did find anything being breast aware i have probably caught it earlier enough.

A friend of mine has had both breasts removed and had reconstructive surgery 3 months ago She is a very brave person and i admire her strength.


Also to the guys out there don't forget that men have a small chance of breast cancer. Also, cancer does not automatically mean you are going to die. My fiance had cancer and he is fine now. If anyone has any worries at all go see a doc please.

ellieadore said:

Steadwood said:

My apologies, Eddie Didn't see to click your link before I posted. You were on the ball first, pal. Nice one, Mr. Steadwood


p.s. Crackin' avvie, bruv

Nothinbutjoy said:

The thing that gets me, though is that when you go for a dental x-ray they make sure to put that lead apron on you...but, when you have a mammogram your goods are immediately exposed to the radiation. It doesn't make much sense to me.

ellieadore said:

I miss you girl

yup...and at the gas station I work at, we are accepting donations for breast cancer research. U're supposed to ask every customer. Every once in a while I become absent minded and mistankingly say breast awareness month instead of breast cancer awareness month. Occasionally I get glares.

Denver has one of the largest RACE for A Cure events in the United States.

I was fortunate to particpate on Oct. 2nd.. It was a 5k run/walk race.

There were over 65,000 people there. All walks of life, all ages of survivors,
and families of those who didn't survive.

It was one of the most touching races I have done.

To those who have survived, hats off to you.

And for those who didn't.

This is a subject that is very important to me, as I've known too many people who have had to deal with this horrible disease. The good knews is that almost all of those folks have survived!

We had a scare last year with my wife, when she found a lump in her breast (and her doctor basically ignored it. She told my wife she was just being paranoid because her mom had breast cancer. Well DUH! Shouldn't she be a little on the concerned side?). Anyhoo, she got a mammogram, they saw the lump (and THEN her doctor was like "oh my! There really IS something there"! Dumb bitch!), and she's gone back for follow-ups. It appears she has a strangely swollen lymph-node, but there is no sign it is cancerous. She will have to keep and eye on it for quite a long time, but I was quite relieved.

I click everyday on the breast cancer site, and I urge everyone here to do so as well. I wanna see this, and all other cancers, eradicated in my lifetime. Maybe I'm idealistic, but it can happen!

senik said:

No worries senik..Sir...

...The more links to it the better....besides,... you advertised it better


...I wondered what my avvie was like....I can't see any...

Thanks you guys for all the info and posts Keep them coming