Breast Cancer: You Are Not Alone

The high incident rate of breast cancer makes it one of the most widespread forms of the disease, with more than two million breast cancer survivors in the United States, and the medical community speculating that an excess of more than 200,000 new cases will develop in 2010.

Statistics show that approximately one in seven women who lives to be 85 years old will suffer from breast cancer, and women, age 50 or older, are at the highest risk of developing the disease, especially if a sibling, child, or parent was a previous breast cancer patient.

The number of breast cancer cases has risen over the last 30 years, and nearly 40,000 women die annually from the disease, however, the five year survival rate for breast cancer detected in its earliest stages remains about 90 percent.

Risk Factor Indicators:

Breast cancer risk factor indicators may include heavy alcohol consumption, maturity, family and personal history of inherited genes associated with cancer, obesity, radiation exposure, periods that begin at a young age, menopause or child bearing that starts at an older age, and postmenopausal hormone therapies.

Breast Lumps:

Eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, however, they should still be examined by a trained medical doctor, especially if the lump is hard or thick. Inverted nipples, swollen or bloody nipple discharge, peeling of the skin on the nipple, breast size changes, swelling, redness, or puckering of the nipple or skin, nipple rashes, and consistent pain in the breast are ailments that an Oncologist should examine.

Breast Cancer Examinations:

Complete blood count tests, breast x-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and mammograms of the undiagnosed breast will help the doctor stage the state of the patient's breast cancer that can be diagnosed through the use of biopsies to determine if the cells in the breast are cancerous, ultrasounds of the affected breast to show images of the deep structures in the body, MRIs to illustrate the interior of the breast, and mammograms that screen for suspected breast cancers.

Questions, Questions, Questions:

Patients need to ask lots and lots of questions, questions, questions to the doctor treating them for breast cancer, and provide key personal information, family cancer history, a list of all medications, supplements, and vitamins the patient is currently taking, cancer diagnosis treatment records, a family member for moral support, and a written list of any and all questions that may need to be asked of the attending Physician, anything that will help provide the information necessary to cope with the daily issues faced by breast cancer patients. Questions like what type of breast cancer do I have and what stage is the disease currently in are important things the patient should know up front. What additional tests should I undergo and what treatment options are available to me are others. Have the doctor explain all known side effects of the treatment options and pathological reports ensuring the patient receives a copy for their own records. How each treatment possibility can affect the patient's daily life is another question the doctor should be asked, as are options the doctor recommends and benefits derived from each one of them. Additionally, anything the patient wants to know about the breast cancer, are the costs of treatments received, available second opinions, and are these treatments covered by insurance will be information breast cancer patients need to know. Get the picture yet? Asking questions is the only way breast cancer patients will know what they are really dealing with so ask lots and lots of questions, questions, questions about everything.

Coping With Breast Cancer:

It is by becoming as knowledgable as they possibly can about their breast cancer, surrounding themselves with breast cancer survivors and support groups, keeping family members close to them, getting plenty of rest, eating a healthy diet high in vegetables and fruits, exercising on the "good" days, and taking time for the little things in life they enjoy doing, that breast cancer patients can more easily adapt to their diagnosis.

Supporting Breast Cancer Patients:

Doctors who may become involved as part of the breast cancer patient's medical team may include Plastic Surgeons, Oncologists, Breast Surgeons, Radiation Oncologists, Family Doctors, and Genetic Counselors. Friends, family members, and spouses can provide the best support for breast cancer patients through doing the little things for them that need to be done like going with them to doctor appointments, cooking meals, providing child and pet care, being a good listener, showing true feelings openly, performing housekeeping chores, and above all else, respecting privacy.

Win The War:

Catching the disease early, staying positive, believing they will survive, finding inner peace, strength, and courage, and living each day to the fullest are key elements in helping patients win the war against breast cancer.

Finding Information:

Websites such as ama-assn.org, abms.org, cancer.net, canceradvocacy.org, and acor.org provide a vast assortment of information and assistence to breast cancer patients.