New CDC Numbers Underscore Urgent Need to Reach Minorities and Uninsured Women

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jan. 27, 2012 – Officials with Susan G. Komen for the Cure hailed new government figures that found the gap between white and minority women is narrowing when it comes to breast cancer screening rates, but expressed concern that the numbers still fall short of national goals.

“We’re heartened by word that breast cancer screening rates have been relatively stable in the past decade, but more than concerned that we’re not meeting national targets for breast screenings across all population groups,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Komen founder and CEO.  “These figures underscore the need for more women to get educated and get screened if we are to make progress against breast cancer, which is still the number one cancer killer of women worldwide.”

Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that overall, breast cancer screening rates in 2010 were 72.4 percent, well below the national target of 81 percent in CDC’s Healthy People 2020 goals.

Brinker said the positive news in the report is that screening rates for African American women – who are often diagnosed later or with more aggressive forms of breast cancer than Caucasians – is improving at 73.4 percent. Significant challenges remain to improve screening rates among Hispanic women (69.7 percent) and Asians (64.1 percent).

The most dismal numbers came for women without insurance (38.2 percent) or women without a usual source of health care (36.2 percent).

“This gap in care for uninsured and low-income women is particularly troubling and one we have been working very hard to fill at Susan G. Komen,” Brinker said. “It’s clear that we have far more work to do for women who have no resources, no insurance, and no steady source of healthcare.  They need our help the most.”

Brinker said Komen for the Cure provided funds for more than 700,000 breast screenings for low-resource women in 2011, through programs with 2,000 community partners providing breast cancer education, health care, social support and financial aid. Since Komen’s founding in 1982, the organization has raised and funded more than $1.3 billion to community health programs across the U.S. through its network of 120-plus Affiliates.

Komen also provides special outreach to African American women through its Circle of Promise program, and to Hispanics through a new initiative, Lazos que Perduran, launched this year.

Komen’s Advocacy Alliance and Komen Affiliates have also been staunch advocates to continue or restore funding for low-income women through state programs and through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

“We know that when women are reached early, educated about their risks and helped into screening, we can save a lot of lives,” Brinker said.  “Death rates from breast cancer have dropped 31 percent in 20 years – largely the result of early detection coupled with better treatments.  Five-year survival rates are now 99 percent from early stage breast cancers.  We can save many, many women if we can get them educated, screened, and helped through treatment.”

More than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year, with almost 40,000 deaths expected. Worldwide, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women, with almost half a million women expected to die of the disease this year.

LESLIE HAYWOOD JOINS THE BREAST CHEK KIT, INC. AS  BRAND MODEL FOR LAUNCH OF LA BUBÉ ATHLETICA  ACTIVE WEAR TARGETING POST MASTECTOMY WOMEN

Atlanta, GA – The Breast Chek Kit, Inc., inventors of the patented Breast Chek Kit Shirt for teaching breast self-examination, recently announced the launch of an innovative, new active wear line targeting women who have had mastectomies.

The La Bubé Athletica line incorporates special technical features and fabrics specifically to address the post-surgical needs of women as they move toward exercise and the rehabilitation process. The stylish workout and lifestyle wear is for all women and shows support for those who are battling breast cancer as well as those who have survived.

While other mastectomy manufacturers have produced functional intimate wear such as bras, camisoles and swimsuits, with built-in pockets, La Bubé Athletica is the first to offer active wear with hidden pockets for prosthetics or breast enhancers.

The line includes functional classic tanks, racer back tops, camisoles, and jackets, with matching hoodies, pants, vests and accessories to complement the collection.

According to Linda Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Breast Chek Kit, Inc., “the workout wear will fill a void in the market. La Bubé Athletica is a unique lifestyle line that will appeal to women who were active and stylish before their surgery and who fully intend to remain active afterwards. The line is so stylish that every woman, who enjoys wearing beautiful active wear as they run errands, travel, and shop, will want to wear La Bubé Athletica for its amazing function, style and unparalleled comfort.  When choosing an ambassador and model for the collection, we wanted a person that represented the true embodiment of the brand, a woman with fierce tenacity, strength, an audacity to endure the journey but yet remain humble. Leslie Wombwell Haywood, a  friend and fellow breast cancer survivor who had endured a bilateral mastectomy and 2 reconstructive procedures in 2006 fit perfectly.  As a wife, mother, and the inventor of Grill Charms,  Keychains for a Cure,  a competitor on ABC’s  Shark Tank, exercise enthusiast and so much more, Leslie was simply a natural.  Her zeal for living life in the moment with her contagious laugh and constant smile shows her strength of purpose to Trust The Journey in all she does”.

A portion of all proceeds of The Beast Chek Kit,  La Bubé Athletica,  Grill Charms Pink Collection, and Keychains for a Cure go toward breast cancer education and research.

For more information about La Bubé Athletica, go to: www.wearlabube.com. Media inquiries may contact Stanley Yorker, syorker@wearlabube.com. Retailers and Buyer inquiries or to schedule an appointment may be addressed to: sales@wearlabube.com.

- 30 -

For many of us, the holidays were magical in childhood, carefree times to be savored. But then we grew into hordes of harried adults, falling victim to the season’s high expectations. Holiday stress has become as much a tradition as the Christmas ham.

“People are overcommitted,” says Marc D. Skelton, PhD, PsyD, a psychologist in Laguna Niguel, Calif. “Christmas and other holidays around this time are always supposed to be fun, and you’re supposed to do a good job in terms of entertaining friends and family.”

In an attempt to live up to the season’s tall orders, “people will just run from pillar to post,” he says. It’s not even “Christmas” anymore, some of his clients lament. It’s “Stressmas.”

We also overload ourselves with inherited traditions, even when they no longer fit into our busy lives, says Elaine Rodino, PhD, a psychologist in Santa Monica, Calif. If one’s mother “baked a thousand cookies and gave them to everyone she knew,” Rodino says, “people feel obligated to follow the same kinds of things.”

But there is a secret to cutting holiday stress: Just say no.

You don’t have to bake all those cookies, Rodino says. “You can start your own traditions.”

And you can learn to say no to lots of other demands, too, including party invitations that don’t entice or a whopping gift list that could clean out a mall.

Holiday Stress-Reduction Tip: Decide What Matters Most

“The spirit of the holidays is gratitude and giving,” says Patti Breitman, co-author of the book How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty.

Only a Scrooge would dispute that generosity is admirable. “It’s very satisfying to offer support to the people we love, help out a neighbor, or do something positive for the community,” Breitman writes. But “the conflict arises when we continually agree to things that please everyone but ourselves or when we commit to tasks for which we have no time or desire.”

By saying “yes” to every holiday invitation and demand that comes your way, you could wind up exhausted and possibly broke. Instead, reflect on what you cherish most about the holidays, experts say, whether it’s sending greeting cards to maintain relationships, tree trimming, baking, religious observances, seeing family and friends, supporting a charitable cause, or just relaxing.

When you know your priorities, you can turn down the less important things, Breitman says. “It’s easier to say ‘no’ if you know what you’re saying ‘yes’ to.”

How to Say No to Holiday Stress

1. Say No to Parties That You Don’t Want to Attend

First, “Lavishly thank the person for inviting you,” Breitman says.

Then apply the “less is more” rule, she says. Skip the long-winded explanation in favor of something short, sweet, and general: “I’m sorry, but I already have plans for that day.”

1. Say No to Parties That You Don’t Want to Attend continued…

“Your plan may be to take a bubble bath because you’re stressed out. Or you’re renting a movie and having hot cocoa with your family,” Breitman says. “No one has to know what your commitment is.”

If the other person insists on knowing why you can’t come, the burden of prying will be on him, Breitman writes in her book. Don’t fall into the trap of coming up with new and creative excuses, she says. Instead, paraphrase yourself: “I won’t be able to come” or “I already have something on my calendar.”

If you receive an invitation from someone you genuinely want to see — just not during the hectic holiday season — suggest an alternative, Breitman says. For example, you can say, “I can’t make it to your party, but let’s have lunch after the holidays.”

2. Say No to Out-of-Control Gift-Giving

“Nothing saps the holiday spirit like having to run around and buy gifts you don’t have time to shop for, can’t afford, and that nobody really needs anyway,” Breitman says.

If you’re fed up, you can opt out of family gift-giving traditions “if you don’t mind looking like ‘the Grinch who said no to Christmas,’” she says.

Or you take a more tactful approach. Consider drawing names for a gift exchange or buying one gift for a household instead of individual presents. Or experiment with novel alternatives:

• Pool your money and invest in a professionally done family portrait, with prints for everyone.
• Replace material things with a memorable holiday experience. Rent a house in a vacation spot or national park, or gather everyone to attend a special holiday play or performance.

Gift cards to family and friends can be a godsend. But Breitman offers another twist — especially for those on your list who don’t need another cheese gift basket or motorized tie rack.

Tell them, “I’m starting a new tradition. Instead of giving gifts, I’m going to make a contribution to an organization in your honor.”

3. Say No to Unwanted Houseguests

Your cousin — the one who recalls at every family gathering how you got stuck in the dog door trying to sneak out of the house in high school — wants to move his brood into your home for a week, but you know that you’ll end up getting on each other’s nerves.

“Keeping houseguests away is a lot easier than getting rid of them,” Breitman warns. “Once they’re under your roof, it’s almost impossible to evict someone in a graceful, guilt-free manner.”

Some preventive tactics:

• “You’re coming to town? Fantastic! A great new hotel just opened — you’ll love it!”
• “Sorry, the house is in no condition for guests right now.”
• “I can’t wait to see you. Do you need recommendations on a good place to stay?”

4. Say No to Taking On the Work for a Big Holiday Celebration

Are you the family’s Martha Stewart? The one who knocks herself out every Christmas to prepare an elaborate feast for the extended clan?

If festive entertaining leaves you frazzled, Breitman suggests a change of scenery. For example, say, “Everyone has been coming here for Christmas for years, but I need a break. Either someone else can do it or we’ll all go out to a restaurant.”

Because others are busy, too, “Make sure that they understand that no one has to make it from scratch,” Breitman says.

It’s fine if Grandma’s soup came from the deli or your nephew shows up with store-bought dinner rolls. As Martha likes to say, it’s a good thing.

Women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer are at risk for the cancer coming back (recurrence) and also have a higher-than-average risk of being diagnosed with a new, second breast cancer. So regular breast cancer screening is very important for survivors.

To find out if doctors were recommending breast cancer screening to survivors, researchers surveyed British physicians who care for women diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers also reviewed the results of eight studies on the benefits of ongoing breast cancer screening for survivors.

The results:

• Doctors didn’t consistently recommend ongoing, long-term breast cancer screening for survivors.
• Ongoing, long-term screening for survivors is lifesaving: women who were screened consistently for 10 years or more were 72% less likely to die from recurrent or new breast cancer compared to women who didn’t get consistent, long-term screening.
• The risk of a recurrence or a new, second breast cancer was about the same during each of the 10 years after diagnosis. Most people think that if breast cancer is going to come back or a new cancer to develop, it will be in the first 2 or 3 years after diagnosis — this study found that isn’t the case.

The results were published in the September 2011 issue of Health Technology Assessment.

These results underscore the importance of long-term, regular screening mammograms for survivors. Still, other research has shown that mammograms alone can be less effective at detecting breast cancer in women with a personal history of breast cancer. Survivors may benefit from other screening tests — such as breast MRI or breast ultrasound — in addition to screening mammograms. Some experts think that screening with 3-D mammograms also may be especially useful for survivors. The FDA has approved a 3-D mammogram system, but the technology may not be widely available.

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you and your doctor should develop a screening plan tailored to your unique situation. If the plan includes only regular mammograms, you may want to ask your doctor if breast MRI or ultrasound along with mammograms might make sense for you. No matter what your screening plan includes, be sure to stick with it over the long term, not just in the first few years after you’ve finished treatment.

Second cancers in the same or opposite breast occurred at a fairly constant rate over the first 10 years instead of being largely in the first two or three years as often thought, Clare Robertson, MSc, of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and colleagues found.

Mammographic follow-up to detect these tumors was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and breast cancer-specific mortality in the studies reviewed.

Because the analysis also presented favorable data regarding cost-effectiveness, the group argued online in Health Technology Assessment for routine surveillance mammography out to at least 10 years.

• Yearly surveillance mammography after breast cancer boosts survival and should be continued for at least a decade.
• Note that surveillance mammography for breast cancer survivors appeared to be cost-effective.

Annual surveillance after breast cancer surgery is recommended in guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and is common practice in both Britain and the United States.

The researchers surveyed 183 surgeons and radiologists at 105 British centers and found that most stopped following women with surveillance mammography (74%). Slightly over half said they stop at 10 years, though discontinuation at five years was also common at 35%.

Though surveillance schedules varied widely, follow-up mammography usually started at 12 months (87%), repeated annually (72%), and was coordinated using a symptomatic breast service (96%).

Most clinicians surveyed also reported discharging women from clinical follow-up (82%), typically at five years after breast cancer surgery (65%).

The researchers cautioned that their response rate was low (17% of 1,048 surveys sent out) but noted that the responses correlated fairly well with prior surveys on the topic and were likely representative.

The review also looked at the eight cohort studies that have reported on the mortality impact of surveillance mammography among breast cancer survivors.

All suggested a benefit of routine follow-up, though methods differed sufficiently to preclude pooled analysis.

All-cause mortality was 34% lower with yearly surveillance mammography than without it (age-adjusted odds ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.86) in one study.

Breast cancer-specific mortality was 72% lower with surveillance mammography (multivariate adjusted hazard ratio 0.28, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.37) in another study.

The smaller tumors that could only be found with imaging were associated with better survival odds than larger tumors among these women as well, the group reported.

Tumors larger than 20 mm in diameter — which represent about 80% of those detected with mammography done every three years — independently raised the relative risk of death 2.26-fold compared to those under 10 mm in diameter (95% CI 1.58 to 3.24).

Tumors with missing size data, which likely were those of women who did not have surgery, were associated with 3.19-fold higher risk of death (95% CI 2.24 to 4.53).

“While we have no information as to how these events were detected in clinical practice, the implication is that surveillance mammography may be of value,” Robertson’s group wrote, since it suggests, “that surveillance mammography could be used to reduce the size at which ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence or [second contralateral] cancers are detected.”

Yearly mammography alone, without additional clinical examination, appeared to be the regimen with the biggest net benefit and most likely to be considered cost-effective in the group’s economic analysis.

The incremental cost of yearly surveillance mammography was $7,364 (£4,727) per quality-adjusted life-year compared with no surveillance, falling well below the traditional British regulatory threshold of £30,000 for cost-effectiveness.

But for lower risk women, such as the 70-year-old in the scenario modelled, “it may be more cost-effective for surveillance to be performed less often (every two or three years) with mammography alone or another similarly less intensive and less costly test or combination of tests,” the group wrote.

They acknowledged the paucity of data available to go into the economic models, making it an exploratory analysis that should be interpreted cautiously.

By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: October 02, 2011
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and
Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner

March 1, 2011 — Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle appear to increase the risk for an uncommon but aggressive breast cancer that is not fueled by the hormone estrogen, a surprising new study shows.

The analysis of data from a health study involving postmenopausal women revealed that the heaviest women were 35% more likely to develop so-called triple-negative breast cancers than the thinnest women.

Triple-negative breast cancers make up 10% to 20% of all cancers of the breast. They have a poorer prognosis than other tumors, in part because there are no targeted hormonal therapies to treat them.

They are referred to as triple-negative tumors because they do not express the hormones estrogen and progesterone or HER2 protein.

Fat tissue is a significant source of estrogen production in women and obesity is a known risk factor for estrogen-sensitive tumors.

The finding that obesity also appears to raise the risk for triple-negative tumors, which are not fueled by estrogen, was unexpected, study researcher Amanda I. Phipps, PhD, tells WebMD.

Phipps is a postdoctoral fellow at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“Hormones are one pathway by which obesity can impact cancer growth, but there are others,” Phipps says. “The fact that we see this association with triple-negative tumors suggests that these other pathways are important.”

Exercise, Body Mass Index, and Cancer Risk

The analysis included 155,723 participants enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which followed postmenopausal women for 15 years starting in the early 1990s to assess their risk for cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

During about eight years of follow-up, 307 of the study participants were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancers and 2,610 were found to have estrogen-sensitive breast cancers.

The women in the study were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI).

Compared to women with the lowest BMIs, those with the highest were 39% more likely to be diagnosed with estrogen-sensitive tumors and 35% more likely to have triple-negative tumors.

Compared to women who exercised the least, those who exercised the most were 15% less likely to develop estrogen-sensitive tumors.

The study appears in the March 1 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

African-Americans, Younger Women Have Higher Risk

Triple-negative breast cancers are common among women who have a genetic predisposition known as BRCA1, and they also occur more often in African-American women and tend to occur in younger women.

While none of these risk factors is modifiable, Phipps says the new study suggests two potential interventions that may lower a woman’s risk for developing the disease.

“There are already hundreds of reasons for women to maintain a healthy weight and remain physically active,” she says. “This may be one more.”

University of Wisconsin associate professor Amy Trentham-Dietz, PhD, agrees.

“These findings suggest that avoiding obesity and staying active could lower a woman’s risk for all types of breast cancer, not just those that are estrogen-receptor positive,” she tells WebMD. “That is a very positive message.”

Number of Childbirths and Cancer Risk

Triple-negative breast cancers were first identified less than a decade ago, and Phipps says they are still something of a mystery to researchers and doctors.

Findings from a separate analysis of the WHI data, reported last week by Phipps and colleagues, also surprised the researchers. That study was published Feb. 24 online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The analysis suggested that the more children a woman has delivered, the higher her risk for the cancer. Women in the study who had never given birth had a 40% lower risk for triple-negative cancers than women who had.

Childbirth is known to be protective against estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers.

Most people don’t know that the Affordable Care Act is the strongest women’s health law since Medicare. If you look around the country you can see millions of American women getting more freedom in their health care choices.

It’s about time.

Despite all the progress women have made in the workplace, when President Obama took office less than half of us had the option of getting health insurance through our employer. That meant that many of us had to look for coverage in the individual market where the insurance companies had most of the power. If you had a breast cancer diagnosis, they could deny your application. Sometimes, they could even deny you coverage if you had been a victim of domestic violence. If your child had diabetes, they could deny him or her coverage, too.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, that’s changing. As of last fall, insurers can no longer deny coverage to children because of their pre-existing health conditions. And in 2014, this protection will extend to all Americans.

That’s not just important for women who are currently locked out of the health insurance market. It also makes an enormous difference for women with insurance who will have the freedom to make important choices, like changing jobs, without worrying about health coverage.

The law is also bringing greater fairness to women and families. Before the law was enacted, a 22-year-old woman could pay 150 percent more than a 22-year-old man for the exact same health insurance. Yet her coverage often failed to meet her needs. Thanks to the law, in 2014 it will be illegal to charge women extra for health insurance.

And starting in 2014, new, competitive health insurance marketplaces will be established where plans will be required to cover newborn and maternity care.

The health law is also protecting women from many of the worst abuses of the insurance industry. The Patient’s Bill of Rights has banned harmful policies like lifetime dollar limits, which often meant your benefits disappeared when you needed them most.

And we’ve removed the obstacles between families and their doctors, so you won’t have to ask permission from your insurance company to see a pediatrician or OB-GYN in your network.

The law also ensures that women have access to the care they need to lead healthy lives. In the past too many women went without care or screenings due to expensive co-pays. But under the law, every American who buys a new plan can access free preventive care like Pap smears and mammograms. That means women are no longer going to have to put off breast cancer screenings, taking the risk that their cancer could be caught late – when chances of survival can be as low as 23 percent – instead of early – when the survival rate is 98 percent.

These new rights and benefits are just the beginning. In the coming months and years the Affordable Care Act will continue to improve women’s health.

To learn more about how the law is helping women and families, check out this new web resource dedicated to the new rights and benefits available to women.

Categories: News

Why don’t most women perform monthly breast exams? I confess, I have done three self-breast exams in my entire life! Considering I have spent a lifetime on birth control pills to manage endometriosis and ovarian cysts, and now on post menopause hormone therapy, I should be doing monthly breast exams, but I don’t – why?

Maybe it was my Catholic upbringing – “Don’t touch yourself” was the message from my Sunday catechism teacher. Maybe it was the social messages I got from the media – boobs are for babies and hubbies.

Feeling embarrassed that I don’t do monthly breast self-exams, I decided to talk with other women. I interviewed 100 women, ages 25 to 75. My first question, “Do you perform monthly breast self-exams?” I was shocked that 92 percent of these women said, “No.” I was not alone.

Curious, I asked, “Why not?” The majority of women admitted that they, too, did not feel comfortable touching their breasts. The second reason was the fear of finding something scary, a lump – breast cancer.

Breasts have many connotations: sexuality, femininity, and motherhood. We do lots of things to our breasts: strap them into brassieres, augment their size, pierce them, and use them to get attention. I actually hide mine. I don’t like people looking at them. I would rather have them look at my face. Perhaps residual Catholic fear that showing my cleavage would conjure up some form of trouble, I dress around my 34DDs with higher necklines.

I am not the only one with a story about my breasts. I have many friends who have had “boob jobs.” Most of them had breast augmentation in their 20s and 30s. They claimed it was for their self-esteem, but most finally admitted they loved the attention. Many altered their breasts after nursing. The remainder decided to have their boobs lifted after menopause in an effort to hold onto their youth. That’s a lot of attention and money spent on an area of the body most of us don’t personally touch!

My husband loves my breasts. I know it is time for me to love them too. I looked at them in the mirror just this morning. At 52 my boobs have shifted four inches south of their origins. I cupped them and held them up – unfortunately they did not look like they did in the beginning. I bent over and looked at the effects of gravity – unfortunately they did not look like they did in the beginning. Then I jumped up and down, and fortunately I felt better at the humor of actually looking at my breast move naturally after being strapped in most of the day. It was an interesting moment. Funny, curious, and insightful, and then it happened. I just stared at them without judgment and realized how beautiful they are, and how lucky I am that they are healthy.

Over ten years ago, my dear friend Leslie died of breast cancer. She decided to bypass her yearly check-up for financial reasons, and it cost Leslie her life. Leslie’s husband and two children lost the center of their universe to breast cancer, and I lost a friend. I remember weeks before her death, she grabbed my hand that was nervously knitting to avoid the inevitable truth that she was dying, and drew me near. She whispered, with the little energy she had, “Never miss your yearly check-up, I am dying an angry woman because I did.” I still weep over Leslie’s death. She was only in her 40s.

I have seven other friends who had breast lumps that were discovered during their annual check-ups. Two of those seven friends had stage 2 and 3 cancer but they caught it early enough and were able to manage it. I am happy to report they are now cancer free. The others did not have cancer. Leslie was right, early detection can save lives.

According to the American Cancer Society, “Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer.” About 1 out of every 7 women will get breast cancer over a 90-year life span. All women are at risk for breast cancer.

This year about 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. About 40,000 moms, daughters, sisters, granddaughters and best friends that will die from breast cancer this year.

The American Cancer Society states, “Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.”

The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 35 (about 3%). At this time there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.

About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

There are ways to reduce your risk.

What can you do to lower your risk of getting breast cancer?

1. Maintain an ideal weight: The chance of developing breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight or obese.
2. Exercise: The American Cancer Society recommends engaging in 45-60 minutes of physical exercise 5 or more days a week.
3. Alcohol consumption: Alcohol can limit your liver’s ability to control blood levels of the hormone estrogen, which in turn can increase risk. The Harvard Nurses’ Health study, along with several others, has shown that consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day can increase breast cancer risk by as much as 20-25 percent.
4. Exposure to estrogen: The female hormone estrogen stimulates breast cell growth, so exposure to estrogen over long periods of time, without breaks, can increase the risk of breast cancer.
5. Oral contraceptive use: Recent use may slightly increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
6. Fruits and vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, berries and cherries are all breast cancer fighters.
7. High glycemic carbohydrates: Eat low to medium glycemic foods and avoid white rice, white potatoes, and sugar products, because these foods may trigger hormonal changes that promote cellular growth in breast tissue. Eat whole grains and legumes.
8. Smoking: Smoking is associated with an increase in breast cancer risk, and in the risk of other cancers.
9. Stress and anxiety: There is no clear proof that stress and anxiety can increase breast cancer risk, but some research suggests that practicing yoga, prayer, and meditation to manage stress can strengthen the immune system.
10. Perform monthly breast self-exams, get routine screenings and work closely with your healthcare provider.

We cannot control our gender, age, race, or family history of breast cancer, but early detection can save lives. Performing a monthly breast self-exam is something you can control.

Nearly 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams, and with early detection the 5-year survival rate is 98%.

Dr. Wendy Klein, leading women’s health expert and co-author of The Menopause Makeover says, “Discuss your breast self-exam technique with your healthcare provider, and report any asymmetrical changes in your breast right away. Regular breast self-exams in conjunction with other screening methods, working closely with your doctor, are simple common sense for good breast health.”

Today I celebrate my health by lowering my breast cancer risk factors. Today I honor my breast health empowered. Today I do a breast self-exam.

How to do a breast self-exam:

What is your risk of getting breast cancer?

Click here for the National Cancer Institutes Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool:

http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/

References:

Jonekos, S. and W. Klein.  The Menopause Makeover.  Ontario, Canada: Harlequin Enterprises; 2009.

Cancer.org. American Cancer Society: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms,“Breast awareness and self exam.” 02 October  2010 <http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/BreastCancerEarlyDetection/breast-cancer-early-detection-a-c-s-recs-b-s-e