Early Detection Saves Lives: Breast Cancer Awareness
Although 88% percent of American women will never have breast cancer, we worry about ourselves and our loved ones, hoping that they never have to come face to face with this disease. This Breast Cancer Awareness month, Lala's Bedtime Tales, encourages us to join the fight against breast cancer by taking a stance against fear through education. This article discusses breast cancer statistics, preventative care, and how to approach a breast cancer diagnosis.
The American Cancer Society states that breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women besides skin cancer. Seven out of eight women will NOT experience breast cancer in their lifetime. But for the 13% of women who do experience breast cancer, the risk of death from breast cancer is 2.6%. (www.cancer.org ) How do we best help the 3.8 million breast cancer survivors among the population of 166 million women? (US Census Bureau) We can listen to them tell their stories, be available for help and support, and grieve changes and celebrate life together. Love is energetically so much more powerful than fear.
Body Awareness
Most of us have wondered at some point in our lives about a breast mass. Is this a new lump? Is this normal? What should I do?
Knowledge and body awareness are powerful and reassuring. Know your own body so that you can detect any changes through breast self-exams. For example, becoming familiar with how your body feels and changes during different menstrual cycle phases is essential. A basic understanding of breast anatomy and the effect of hormones on breast proliferation allows you to think calmly through any new breast lump or sensation. A clinical breast exam performed by an experienced health care provider and screening mammograms at intervals mutually decided upon based on your risk factors and family history are recommendations for early detection of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Breast Cancer Risk Factors Include:
If you are of the female biological sex
Advancing age
Known genetic mutation
A previous breast biopsy with either atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ is a precancerous condition that affects cells in the breast. Atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma is an accumulation of abnormal cells in the milk ducts and lobules of the breasts.
Early menarche - starting your period before age 14
Late menopause - having your final period after age 52
Nulliparity - never having birthed a child
The prolonged interval between menarche and first completed pregnancy - meaning there are more years of estrogen development on the breast without the full maturation of the breast tissue that occurs during pregnancy.
Not breastfeeding - breastfeeding protects against cancer because a woman is not having hormonal cycling during the months and years of breastfeeding.
Menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin (lower risk from estrogen alone treatment)
Higher body mass index-because we store estrogen in our adipose or fat tissue
Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Dense breasts on mammography
Certain ethnicities (Ashkenazi Jewish women have an increased risk of BRCA gene mutation)
Prior exposure of the chest to radiation between the ages of 10-30 years old
Recommendations For Breast Cancer Screenings
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women with an average risk of breast cancer consider mammogram screening beginning at age 40 based on a shared decision-making model and discussing potential benefits and harm. If a woman has not elected mammogram screening in her 40’s, she should begin by 50 years of age. Screening may be repeated every 1-2 years, until the age of 75, when a discussion of discontinuation should be had, including her health status and expected longevity of life. (ACOG Practice Bulletin 179) Schedule mammograms as recommended by your medical team. If you are not confident in the advice you have received, seek a second opinion. If family members have or have had breast cancer, have open discussions to understand your risks. Early detection is key!
Thermography
What about thermograms? Can we trust them? Do we do that instead of, or in addition to mammograms?
Thermography uses infrared technology to make a heat map of the temperature of the surface of the skin. Areas of higher skin temperature may be caused by increased blood vessel growth and inflammation in the body tissue. These changes may indicate cancer many years before being detectable by other screening methods. Some other benefits to thermograms are that they don’t expose the body to radiation. Thermography is a non-invasive, no-contact method of breast screening. Hormonal changes, dense breast tissue, and breast implants do not affect thermography. Thermography doesn't detect cancer, it only alerts to an area of increased temperature or vascular changes in the body, but it doesn't show how the breast may have changed over time. Sensitivity and specificity are not high either. Currently, there is no recommendation for the public to have thermography for breast cancer screening. It is not covered by insurance either.
Genetic Screening
What about genetic screening? How do I get that done? What will it mean for me? What would I change about my life if I knew I had a higher genetic risk of developing breast cancer?
Genetic variations of the BRC1 or BRCA2 genes are described as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. These genes are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means that a person has a 50% chance of passing on this gene to their children, regardless of gender. Approximately 1 in 300-500 people in the general population and about 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews carry pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2. If someone in your family has had breast or ovarian cancer, ask if they had genetic screening. Discuss hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) risk assessment with your health care provider. If you knew you were at increased risk of this gene expressing itself in your body, you might make different life choices. (ACOG Practice Bulletin 634)
Thoughts and Fears
Upon diagnosis of the “Big C”, initial thoughts turn to mortality and fear that cancer will take your life.
Breast cancer is very treatable with good results, as are many other cancers. Gather information from your medical team and seek a second opinion for confidence in the prescribed procedure. Your primary care physician should not be threatened by you obtaining a second opinion. Limit your exposure and confidence of internet searches to credible sources.
Take an advocate with you to your appointments to help you sort through the information given. Your mind will be racing with your thoughts and miss some important information no matter how focused you feel.
Fear of cancer recurrence is common. Recurrence of most cancers is not common. Be informed by your medical team of indications and likelihood of recurrence. Be aware, but don’t let these thoughts immobilize you.
Impact On Body Image And Sexuality
Sex and intimacy with your partner may be strained due to numerous procedures and examinations in the process of diagnosis, biopsies, scans, surgeries, and follow-up care. For trained medical professionals, examinations are routine. Speak up if you feel outside of your comfort zone.
Breast cancer diagnosis, examinations, medical treatments, and surgery can profoundly affect how a woman views her body. A sense of "loss of self" or femininity is a common feeling, along with anxiety and depression and a change in feelings of sexual attractiveness. Surgical treatment and removing a breast with mastectomy produce scars and changes in body sensation, and permanent changes to the body's shape. Medical treatments can induce menopause rapidly, affecting fertility, sexual desire, and sexual function because of pain and vaginal dryness. Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, losing hair and changes to skin and nails, and pain from medical treatments use a lot of physical and emotional energy. These changes can be intense, but you are not alone. Talk to your healthcare provider if you feel outside of your comfort zone.
Breast cancer may change romantic relationships. A partner may not know how to express love physically or emotionally in the way the ill partner may need it. Additionally, individuals may experience social isolation to avoid catching colds or flu because of their weakened immune system. Despite these challenges, continue with open communication about needs and wants. Tell your partner and friends, and family what kind of support is most helpful to you.
Moving On With Life
Cancer loves sugar! The first step in preventing any cancer should be to reduce your intake of sugars and simple carbohydrates. Alcohol is loaded with sugar; limit yourself to the occasional use and don't smoke. Exercise, a healthy diet, and maintaining an appropriate weight for your age and height are critical factors in reducing risk.
Accept people's help! Use your time to recover physically, mentally, and spiritually. At times, it is easier to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and issues with a non-family member. Join a support group to share concerns and information. Journaling is also a therapeutic outlet that commits thoughts to paper for review in your own time. Receiving a cancer diagnosis might be a good time to refocus on what is important to you in this life and plan for those changes.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Lala’s Bedtime Tales stands with those who are breast cancer survivors & those that are breast cancer warriors battling the disease. Want more sexual health information? Subscribe to Lala’s Bedtime Tales Newsletter and follow @LalasBedtimeTales on social media to never miss out on any sexual education! Also, check out the Lala's Bedtime Tales Podcast and Lala's Oh So Exclusive Patreon for even more content! If you’re browsing for sexy pleasure products or cute giftable items, then check out Lala’s Pleasure Shop.
For More Information & Helpful Resources:
National Cancer Institute (NCI) The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN):
American Cancer Society (ACS):
Cancer.net:
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer
Triage Cancer:
Census Quick Facts:
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/SEX255219
Credible Blog Cited Sources:
ACOG. Practice Bulletin Number 179: Breast Cancer Risk and Screening in Average Risk Women. July 2017. Reaffirmed 2021. acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/ Practice-Bulletins/Committee-on-Practice-Bulletins-Gynecology/BreastCancer-Screening
ACOG Committee on Genetics. Committee Opinion Number 634: Hereditary Cancer Syndromes and Risk Assessment. June 2015. ACOG. org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-onGenetics/Hereditary-Cancer-Syndromes-and-Risk-Assessment
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