November Cancer Awareness Overview

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By Terry Orr

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases. Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and death.

How common is cancer?

Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes.

Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing many types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person’s lifestyle, for example, by staying away from tobacco, limiting time in the sun, being physically active and healthy eating.

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Each month, we try to identify key health-related topics to share with you.  Cancer is one of those health-related topics too large to be adequately covered under just one heading. So, throughout the year – nearly every month has more than one cancer-related topic of the month.  November has five such – and they are:

• Lung Cancer Awareness Month;
• Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Month;
• National Family Caregivers Month;
• Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; and
• Stomach Cancer Awareness Month

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Each of these will be topics will have separate articles posted during the month.  The Big “C” has probably touched all of our lives – I know it sure has mine as my Grandmother and Dad both died as a result of cervical and renal cell respectively.  In addition, several family members and friends have had one form or another of Cancer.

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Educating ourselves and family members about Cancer, symptoms, treatments, care, giving our love and support are critical items in helping others.  There are several support groups available to assist you and your love ones in dealing with these terrible diereses and strong recommend seeking their help.

To learn more about Cancer, I recommend the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov) – they have a list of all types of Cancer that includes the following types of information:

• Definition of the type of cancer;
• Estimated new cases and deaths;
• Online booklet information;
• Treatment, Prevention, Genetics, Causes,
• Screening and Testing;
• Clinical Trails;
• Literature;
• Research and Related Information; and
• Statics (including fact sheets).

From the good folks over at the National Library of Medicine – The most common cause of cancer-related death is lung cancer.

The three most common cancers in men in the United States are:

1. Prostate cancer
2. Lung cancer
3. Colon cancer

In women in the United States, the three most common cancers are:

1. Breast cancer
2. Colon cancer
3. Lung cancer

Please take a couple minutes to review some of these links – bookmark as appropriate.  Thank you!

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References and Links:

• http://www.cancer.org/?gclid=CLKjxKuYqrMCFQqe4AodzScAqA
• http://www.choosehope.com/cms-category/calendar-of-cancer-awareness-months
• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/index
• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/cancer
• http://www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancer.html
• http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Aboutcancer/AboutcancerHome.aspx#.UJE6ScWHKSo
• http://www.cancerquest.org/
• http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-031941.pdf
• http://cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov/
• http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/
• http://www.nfcr.org/
• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/alphalist
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002267/

National Mammography Day

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By Nurse Diane

October is Breast Cancer awareness month; it is also Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  We discussed both earlier this month.  Today is the day to do something about it.  Today is Mammography day.  If you are 40 or over, and have not had a mammogram this year, take a few minutes today and schedule one before the year is over.  Check with your doctor or local hospital, you may even get a free or discounted mammogram.

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The third Friday in October each year is National Mammography Day, first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On this day, or throughout the month, women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment.

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Below is a quiz to take to test your knowledge about Breast Cancer and Mammograms.  There are only 8 True and False Questions...so take a few minutes to make the grade.

https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=4647

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National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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By Nurse Diane

The other day I got a text from a friend of mine asking for prayers.  She had been to see her doctor, and they found a suspicious area on one of her breasts.  She was to visit a surgeon the following day.   The next day I got an updated text saying that the results were fine, it was a benign cyst.

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Early detection is essential for diagnosing breast cancer, and starting early treatment for curing it. You can start by performing a self-breast exam at home.  This should be done every month, the same day.  The procedure is simple.  Following a shower, lay down on your bed.  Bend your arm behind your head.  With the other hand begin using your fingers in a circular motion and press down starting at the nipple and rotating around the breast until you cover the entire area.  Make sure to press under your arm as well.  Repeat on the opposite side.  Don't forget to squeeze the nipple to see if there is any discharge. If you discover any lumps, contact your doctor immediately and schedule a mammogram.

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Breast cancer is the second highest cancer illness for women.  Skin cancer being the highest.  According to breastcancer.org, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer sometime in her life.  Last year, there were 230,480 new cases.  A woman's risk of getting breast cancer is higher if there is a family member who has it; however, 85% of these people have no family history of breast cancer.

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Breast cancer also occurs in men as well.  While the rate is not as high as it is in women, self-examination is just as important. About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 — especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.

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October is breast cancer awareness month.  I'm sure you have noticed pink everywhere.  The pink ribbons are to remind you to take care of your breasts, and your health.  This month, if you have not had a recent mammogram, or physical exam, consider making an appointment to be checked.  If you have a problem, it can be taken care of faster, and if you don't have a problem, you will be relieved that you have been checked. It is recommended that a mammogram be performed every year at the age of 40.  However if there is a family history, you may desire to be examined early.  Check with your physician to be sure when you should be checked.

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For more information visit this site:  http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-nbcf/nbcf-events

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

By Diane Forrest, RN

Metastisis is the spreading of a disease from one organ to another non adjacent organ.  When tumor cells metastasize, the new tumor is called a secondary or metastatic tumor, and its cells are like those in the original tumor. This means, for example, that, if breast cancer metastasizes to the lungs, the secondary tumor is made up of abnormal breast cells, not of abnormal lung cells. The tumor in the lung is then called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.  Today is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

Metastisis is the cause of about 90% of deaths due to breast cancer and roughly 70% of all patients dying of breast cancer have evidence of metastatic bone disease.

13 Facts Everyone Should Know about Metastatic Breast Cancer

1. No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. The lump itself is not what kills. The metastasis of cancerous cells to a vital organ is what kills.
2. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.
3. An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
4. Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is lifelong and focuses on control and quality of life vs. curative intent. (“Treatable but unbeatable.”)
5. About 6% to 10% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.
6. Early detection is not a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur ANY time after a person’s original diagnosis, EVEN if the patient was initially Stage 0, I, II or III and DESPITE getting annual checkups and annual mammograms.
7. Between 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with regional stage disease WILL develop metastatic breast cancer.
8. Young people DO get metastatic breast cancer.
9. There are many different kinds of metastatic breast cancer.
10. Treatment choices for MBC are guided by hormone (ER/PR) and HER2 receptor status, location and extent of metastasis (visceral vs. nonvisceral), previous treatment and other factors.
11. Metastatic breast cancer isn’t an automatic death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some can live long and productive lives.
12. There are no hard and fast prognostic statistics for metastatic breast cancer. Everyone’s situation is unique, but according to the American Cancer Society, the 5 year survival rate for stage IV is around 20%.
13. October 13 is National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

For more information on how you can help click on this site:  http://mbcn.org/