Sunday, February 14, 2016

Sad on Bernice Alterman's 46 th Yahrzeit Anniversary

Sunday evening and all though the house is quiet. Me and my 2 kitties are hanging out- been sleeping on and off since around 4 pm. Been feeling sick on and off too. Sleep is a wonderful thing. Which is another reason why breast cancer beats clinical depression. When I was depressed I was awake half the night especially the wee hours of the morning. I was so tense and in a state of alert that I could not let go and just sleep.

Let me update you on the Cherry HiIl Basketball team efforts for Breast Cancer. I know that they raised at least $500 to donate to Cancer Cure of New Jersey- I am so pleased to have found such a patient oriented program here in the Great State of New Jersey. I am so proud of the team for doing such a good job with their "Balling for a Cure" campaign. Thank you Zoe and Linda for thinking of me and inviting me to support your cause.

Went looking for my Mother's medical records that I had gotten from University of PA when I first returned to New Jersey back in the 1996. When I found the papers today, I did some deeper review of my own mother's Cancer diagnosis. - It seems she never had a chance back in 1968. A non-cancer breast condition was not discovered until the August before she died; which was the same condition as mine in my right breast. Mine was further back and bigger (multiple) Hers was found with a discharge from her right nipple and more local. She had a lumpectomy too. I had a lumpectomy on each of my breast- one for Cancer on my Left and one for the papilloma on my Right. ( I am matchy matchy) Her doctors were kind of on a wild goose chase with her. Looking into orthopedic pain, Gall bladder issues before discovering her CANCERS! She definitely had an aggressive form of cancer; whether it started in one of her GI organs and then metastasized to her lung and breast, the doctors were not certain. Her whole cavity was filled with tumors by the time she finally was diagnosed a little more than a month before her death. She actually was given a small dose of chemotherapy too which resulted in neutropenia ( low white cell count) and then discontinued. Her physicians were also non-chalant about her smoking. As if it was not too relevant.

I miss and love you Mom. Bernice Alterman; January 9, 1927 to February 23, 1969

Nancy's Cancer in her left breast is: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), sometimes called infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk-carrying ducts and spreads beyond it). According to the American Cancer Society, more than 180,000 women in the United States find out they have invasive breast cancer each year. About 10% of all invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinomas. (About 80% are invasive ductal carcinomas.)

Invasive means that the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Lobular means that the cancer began in the milk-producing lobules, which empty out into the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. Carcinomarefers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues that cover internal organs — such as breast tissue. All together, “invasive lobular carcinoma” refers to cancer that has broken through the wall of the lobule and begun to invade the tissues of the breast. Over time, invasive lobular carcinoma can spread to the lymph nodes and possibly to other areas of the body.

Although invasive lobular carcinoma can affect women at any age, it is more common as women grow older. According to the American Cancer Society, about two-thirds of women are 55 or older when they are diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer. ILC tends to occur later in life than invasive ductal carcinoma — the early 60s as opposed to the mid- to late 50s.

Some research has suggested that the use of hormone replacement therapy during and after menopause can increase the risk of ILC.

Benign non Cancer breast condition that was in my right breast which was present for my own mother:

Intraductal papillomas are benign (non-cancer) tumors that grow within the breast ducts. They are wart-like growths of gland tissue along with fibrous tissue and blood vessels (called fibrovascular tissue).

Solitary papillomas or solitary intraductal papillomas are single tumors that often grow in the large milk ducts near the nipple. They are a common cause of clear or bloody nipple discharge, especially when it comes from only one breast. They may be felt as a small lump behind or next to the nipple. They do not raise breast cancer risk unless there are other changes, such as atypical hyperplasia (see the “Hyperplasia” section).

Papillomas may also be found in small ducts in areas of the breast farther from the nipple. In this case there are often several growths (multiple papillomas). These tumors are less likely to cause nipple discharge.

Papillomatosis is a type of hyperplasia in which there are very small areas of cell growth within the ducts, but they are not as distinct as papillomas are. Diagnosis Ductograms are sometimes helpful in finding papillomas. If the papilloma is large enough to be felt, a biopsy can be done (where tissue is removed to look at under the microscope). Treatment The usual treatment is to remove the papilloma and the part of the duct it’s found in. Link to cancer risk Having multiple papillomas is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, but having a single papilloma is not. Papillomatosis is also linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Providing all women with cancer support and information to better cope

Face-to-Face Support Groups in New Jersey

For Patients

Breast Cancer Support Group
This face-to-face support group is for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer (in active treatment or post-treatment). Groups take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., at the University Medical Center at Princeton’s Breast Health Center, located at 300B Princeton Hightstown Road, East Windsor, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.

Please contact Lois Glasser at 1-201-301-6807 for more information or to register.
Empowering Our Health Through Conversation
Sharing concerns about health, both physical and emotional, can lead to healing. This Spanish-speaking group will empower members to share their concerns with others in a supportive safe environment.

This will be an eight-week patient support group that will take place on Thursday mornings.

To register, or for more information Sonia Pacheco, LSW at 201-301-6815 orspacheco@cancercare.org.
General Patient Support Group
This face-to-face support group is for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. The support group takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Monroe Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.

Please contact Lois Glasser at 201-301-6807 for more information or to register.
Meditative Mandalas
Have you heard that recent studies indicate that coloring mandalas or intricate patterns can induce a beneficial meditative state, thus reducing anxiety? Join us as we color beautiful mandalas over the course of four weeks with paints, pencils and markers. Your finished projects can be laminated, decoupaged, made into greeting cards or placemats, framed, hung as a reminder to relax—use your imagination!

This is a quieter support group for anyone treated for cancer within the past two years. Calming music will be played during the group, encouraging a peaceful environment that promotes quiet conversation and self reflection. Each week we will discuss one mindfulness technique that may be applied in your life.

The group will take place from 1:00-2:30 in Ridgewood, NJ and the exact location will be given at time of registration.

For more information, or to register, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.
Prostate Cancer Patient and Family Support Group
This face-to-face support group is for prostate cancer patients and their family members. This group takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the The University Medical Center at Plainsboro, located on Rt. 1 between Scudders Mill Road and Plainsboro R. Pre-registration is required for this group.

Please contact Lois Glasser at 201-301-6807 for more information or to register.

Bereavement/Grief

Spouse/Partner Bereavement Support Group
This 8-week face-to-face support group is for people who have lost a partner or spouse to cancer. The group will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at CancerCare’s New Jersey Office, 141 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Pre-registration is required for this group.

For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.
Spouse/Partner Bereavement Support Group for Those With Children High School Age or Younger
Come and share your story of love, loss, single parenting and hope with others experiencing a similar journey.

CancerCare will be facilitating an eight-week Bereavement Support Group for those raising children who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer. This support group takes place on Tuesday evenings.

To register, or for more information, please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW at 201-301-6811 or cgrainger@cancercare.org.

Community Programs in New Jersey

We’re Talking About It: Helping Children Cope When a Parent or Caregiver Has CancerTuesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
CancerCare is offering a free 2-hour workshop for parents or caregivers with cancer, their partners and their children ages 5-12. The workshop, led by CancerCare social workers, will help families learn to cope and communicate with each other more effectively. We will include discussion of your children’s needs for accurate information and emotional support as your family copes with cancer and its treatment.

Join us for pizza, fun activities for the kids and an evening of sharing and support!

Registration is required. Please contact Ariana Parmese at 800-813-4673, ext. 6808 oraparmese@cancercare.org.
Healing Hearts Bereavement CampFriday, June 10, 6:00 p.m. – Sunday, June 12, 3:00 p.m.
Our free Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp allows families who have experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer to come together for a weekend retreat. Each year, families spend three days at a working dude ranch in the beautiful Poconos. Fun activities like swimming, horseback riding, and fishing are combined with therapeutic grief activities led by CancerCareprofessional oncology social workers.

“The camp is a place where the families can come together and not feel different,” explains CancerCare’s Claire Grainger, LCSW. “The kids meet others who have experienced a similar loss and they don’t have to explain anything to one another…There are a lot of tears, but there is also so much laughter. They’ve all found new friends – people that understand.”

Listen to “Fly, Butterfly, Fly” – a song written by the campers:

Please contact Claire Grainger, LCSW, at 800-813-4673, ext. 6811 orcgrainger@cancercare.org. You may also contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809 or knugent@cancercare.org.

Patient/Family Resource Room

Located at our New Jersey office, patients and family members are invited to visit the resource room. Please call 201-444-6630 for more information.

Free Wigs

Free wigs are available at our New Jersey office. Please call 201-444-6630 for more information.

Magnolia Meals at Home

This is a meal delivery program that aims to help patients by providing nourishing meals to households affected by breast cancer and thyroid cancer. The program is currently being piloted in and around Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Andover, MA (as well as specific locations in New York, New Hampshire and Boston). Eligible participants will receive up to two months of home meal deliveries, each of which will include ten meals that are designed to help meet the nutritional needs of people living with breast cancer and thyroid cancer, and up to ten additional meals for their family members, if requested by the participant.

For more information please visit magnoliamealsathome.com or contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Not So Charming Affterall

I have not gotten so sick that I can hardly move but I do have sores in my mouth, my throat hurts and I have diarrhea again. I sweat quickly and feel flushed. Tonight, after I went and picked up the mouth solution, I had a long bath and ate some chicken; I fell asleep on the tiny couch while watching a marathon of "Say Yes To The Dress". It felt good- had taken some nausea medicine although I did not feel nausea; It calmed my cramping in my stomach. It felt good to rest. Ordinary things are sometimes a hardship- like folding clothes or emptying the car of bags from my day- had been to tax preparer today. Loosing money this year with Madison being older, no longer head of household and she no longer a college student, I actually owe Uncle Sam and Aunt New Jersey. Oh Well, I will change my deductions for next year now.

I am getting real tired of this crap. Went and saw RN at oncology. My white cell count was good enough not to get an antibiotic. The nurse kept saying to take anti-diarrhea medicine after each and every time I go to the bathroom. I feel like I am living on medication to manage side effects. I carry my little orange bag of RECUE medication with me wherever I go. My blood pressure was running low also. I get easily aggravated these days too. A perceived inconsideration can turn into a big deal for me. I get my feelings hurt. I want lots of consideration. I want love and caring more now than ever before. I want people to recognize how hard this is for me. Whether I push through or not, I am struggling each day to do ordinary things. Caren suggested I rest more- even take some time off from work to just hang at home. I will seriously consider it after last treatment. The immediate days after are not the awful ones; it is the following 5 or 6 days.

Actually my friends at the office have been wonderful to me. Not my colleagues, but the people who know and love me there, who work along my side. day in and day out, like all the office staff and medical assistants. They take care of me and would do anything for me. I feel so cared for by them. Kathy comes over and checks on me almost daily. Michelle is still making soup for me. Liz is adorable- she will go through her entire desk offering me stuff to comfort me and the truth is, her kindness is what makes a difference. They all know if when a patient cancels, to block out that time. I had to leave early this week and also refused to see a family when they were not ready to see me at their appointment time. I cannot handle BS as well as I used to before chemo- I just do not tolerate it anymore.

I did think of something I am pleased about since I love the Spring and Summer, I am glad that if I have to go through this crap, at least it is the Winter. One of things I disliked about my clinical depression, it was summer and I could not enjoy any of it. Just laid on top of my bed, running channels night after night, waiting for a miracle to suddenly feel like my old self. Never happened. So, I am not loosing a wonderful season to an awful treatment. I do not even feel bad about the Cancer in itself- It is the type of treatment I am getting that I cannot stand. I do not like anything about chemotherapy. I dislike having a PORT. I hate the room where I sit to get the treatment. Chemo makes me sick no matter how I look at it. My mornings are slow as I wake without energy. Sometimes, I need to remind myself of what the breast surgeon, Dr. Diane Gillum, did say to me- Sometimes I think for just a moment that there was a mistake and I do not need this type of awful treatment. It is almost like having the heart surgery back when I was 15- "Are you sure??? I feel fine. Did you get this right???" are my thoughts.

Being without hair is not an issue. Madison even thinks I am cute with all my little matching hats now. I hate feeling sick though. I hate being weak and drained and sore in the tummy and bottom. OKAY-- I complained enough for today. Tomorrow I will have lunch with some friends and then rest some more.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Three Simple Truths

Becoming Wiser Through Breast Cancer and Other Living Things

Three Simple Truths

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:15 PM PST

So tomorrow I will be stopping by Cherry Hill East to talk to the girls’ basketball team about my experiences with Cancer. I will likely just tell them something similar to what I said to someone I was working with tonight. Life is supposed to be hard and we are not in charge of how life goes. We cannot figure it all out in advance. The reasons for this are actually quite simple.

#1- Life is supposed to be hard. It is though our hardships that we are given opportunities to grow. If Life was easy all the time- we would stagnate and not develop to our full potential nor would we develop compassion for others.

#2- We are not in charge of how Life goes. Whether you believe in fate or the Lord, life is full of unexpected twists, turns and events. We are on this ride and do not get to choose much of it. Some of it, of course, but in comparison, not that much. However, we always do get to choose our response to each and everything that happens to us though. (after we become adults that is). That is the part that we are in charge of- We have the most control about our reaction to what life hands us and to the people in our world. Each and everyone one of us chose how we treat ourselves and others, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Knowing that is much better than being in charge anyway. Surrendering to the truth that we are not in charge of how life goes is a blessing and the path to freedom. The self-inflicted pain and weight is much less when you recognize you cannot control others, places or things. It takes the burden off one's back striving for the impossible. We can only be in charge of ourselves.

#3-We cannot figure it all out in advance. Life is just too unpredictable and our best needs to be good enough each and every time we try to do something. No matter what the outcome is, we need to be satisfied with our efforts. We are merely human beings doing our best and cannot know what we do not know and cannot do what we cannot do. We are all stuck being limited. Some of us are limited in one way and some of us are limited in another way but we are all stuck being only human, therefore, limited. There is no shame in being human. Being Wonderful is Good Enough. And so is taking each and every opportunity to improve what we can learn, what we can do and what we can give. Keeping an open mind and heart is part of the challenge before us every day. But is only through honesty and openness that we can learn and become our best. Which, I believe, is our greatest purpose in being human anyway; To Become Our Best While Living.

I accept that I am dealing with something hard so I can develop to my fuller potential.
My cancer is just one of many events that occurred in my life that was unexpected and unplanned. I chose to be kind to myself and to others through this process whenever possible so I can be proud of myself. No one will suffer especially me because I surrendered to the ride and am letting it unfold - one minute at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time....... like most things in my life. The Lord has given me everything I need to take this ride. With faith, there is nothing more to know.

So how do you think high school students will take to this type of information? Over their heads right????

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Hopefully The Third Time Will Be A Charm

Yesterday was my 3 rd chemotherapy treatment. Dr. Gor, my oncologist is very smart. She decided to decrease the strength of my toxic concoction by 10% to reduce my chances of getting Neutropenia again. She reassured me that since I had one dose of the preferred course of treatment (TC) and a full dose of AC last time and I am still doing Dose Dense treatment, so it is okay for me to have 10 % less poison this time without anticipating a consequence in the long run. I will go back this Friday also for a blood check to see how I am doing. I am to make sure the nurse does something which I now forget what that is. Maybe it will come to me and if not I will ask Dr. Gor. I learned that she will not be present for my last chemo- she will be away but I will see her March 4 for a full check up and to get my sailing papers so to speak. By then my port will have been removed. I still have medication to reduce my stomach upset to take for the next 3 days, I have rescue medication for nausea and I have already taken an Imodium to prevent diarrhea this time. The toy on my arm went off today while I was in the movie theatre and I can now removed it from my arm.

Neutropenia {(noo-troe-PEE-nee-uh) is an abnormally low level of neutrophils. Neutrophils are a common type of white blood cell important to fighting off infections — particularly those caused by bacteria.} Those underlined in what I had within 5 days after treatment- it says in the good book of chemo treatment- it usually shows up 10 to 14 days after treatment. I got hit with the infection bomb quickly.
What are the signs and symptoms of an infection? For patients with neutropenia, even a minor infection can quickly become serious. Call your doctor right away if you have: • Fever that is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher for more than one hour, or a one-time temperature of 101° F or higher. • Chills and sweats. • Change in cough or new cough. • Sore throat or new mouth sore. • Shortness of breath. • Nasal congestion. • Stiff neck. • Burning or pain with urination. • Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation. • Increased urination. • Redness, soreness, or swelling in any area, including surgical wounds and ports. • Diarrhea. • Vomiting. • Pain in the abdomen or rectum. • New onset of pain. • Changes in skin, urination, or mental status.

My mood was not the best - I was very impatient and even told at social worker at a medical day program that I was in a bad mood- she hung up on me. She basically did not want to hear what I was telling her because it was contrary to her goal and I made it clear as to what she needed to do instead, which I later learned that 3 people from my office had told her the same thing the previous day. It was her 4 th try to manipulate our offices. ( so maybe my mental status changed too. ) I am usually not that rude to people. But I still did great work for my patients and with my team.

So we will see how the next 4 or 5 days go. This week is an exciting week in many ways. My friend Linda Goldberg gave my name to her daughter's Zoe, basketball coach. Every year, Cherry Hill East does a PINK OUT game and makes a donation for Breast Cancer Awareness etc . They have wanted someone to come talk to the girls which I am doing after practice on Wednesday February 10 at 5:15 pm. Linda will met me there of course and I will talk about 20 minutes about my experience so far. AND yes- breast cancer is still better than my clinical depression. BUT that does not make it good by any stretch of the imagination. AND then, the next day, Thursday, I will go there about 4:45 pm and receive a donation made out to CancerCare which is an organization dedicated to service people with cancer and their loved ones, that need support, guidance and financial assistance during their cancer treatment.

I don't believe in donating to medical research I believe in education and clinical support of patients. There is enough pharmaceutical companies and grant funded research and people shooting for the nobel prize that I rather put my money elsewhere. I will let you know what I plan on saying to the team soon.

Founded in 1944, CancerCare® is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. Our comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts.

CancerCare programs and services help 180,000 people each year. We distribute 350,000 publications and welcome 2.2 million website visits annually. In the past year, CancerCare provided nearly $13 million in financial assistance. The size and scope of CancerCare has grown tremendously since 1944, but it has never wavered from its mission of providing help and hope to people affected by cancer.

To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).

CancerCare’s New Jersey office was opened in 1982 to ensure that New Jersey residents have full access to all CancerCare services.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

This chemotherapy treatment is a hardship. I am just sad.

It approaching 2 am and I just woke up after falling asleep on the living room sofa. I am not looking forward to getting more chemotherapy- This type of therapy sounds like it is poorly named. When I was in group therapy, I used to look forward to attending group. It was exciting and I was growing. This, not so much. I really like feeling well. I do not like feeling impaired. This makes me sick. How can something that makes me ill be called therapy? Whose idea was that? It does not feel like I am being made to feel "well". Nothing about it feels "well". I totally gets that somehow it works. But THERAPY?

Even when I went to 12 steps meetings back in the 80's, I knew I was unhealthy- working on getting "well" or "healthy". I was riding myself of dysfunctional behavior, giving myself a chance for new experiences that challenged old beliefs, and changing the way I felt about myself. I guess I was also very actively involved. This is more like submitting to really bad sex that I just need to get over with. Somehow I need to force myself to go through it. I won't enjoy it but it is necessary. Yep That is how I will approach it. Unfortunately, I have had too many incidents when I did not want to have sex but felt coerced into it. There was no way out other than to give in. Wow- it feels good to have a way to relate to this experience- Sorry if this is "TMI" for most of you. Friday at 2 pm, I will be forced to do something I do not want to do but it is the only way to achieve what I want in the bigger picture so I will put up with something very unpleasant. I will submit to treatment. Just let them do it to me. Like all of my other forced experiences, this too, one day, will be a distant memory, that will make me very sad when I think about it.

Yes, I am just sad. Not sorry for myself at all. No pity here. Just sad that I need to have this experience that is so unpleasant. I wanted to stop pain and suffering from being in my life.

OKAY-this really is not that. After all, my heart is not broken. I understand what is happening to me. This has a greater purpose. I am just so sad. There is a part of me wondering ...... I could use less wisdom in my life and be a little happier. I do not want to grow anymore through these type of experiences. I don't do this well anymore. My soul wants none of this. It is not what I wished for in my life. I only wished for PEACE.

In my surrender, there is sadness with peace. Maybe this is how Jesus felt when he was walking to to his death on the cross. Accepting that his destiny was beyond his control and that his path was chosen for him. Except I do bear some responsibility. I have chosen to remain obese these last few years. I did not know that meant that I would get breast cancer though. Isn't being fat punishment enough.

I am not a fighter. I am not brave. I am not being courageous. I am just willing to accept God's will for me. I am sad for all my hardships. For never having a life partner. For loosing my mother at the age of 12. For loosing my father soon afterwards. For being abandoned by Iris and later Nancy Jewell. For loosing Eleanor and the Abdellah family. For Phil's addiction and how it tormented us both and robbed us of a family life. For having to leave South Florida the way I did for Madison's safety and welfare. For breaking his heart as well as my own in doing so. So many hardships. So many looses. For falling inlove when he was not ready for me and to be rejected and left unseen. And the grand daddy of them all, for my major clinical depression, where existing became unbearable. And walking away was so brave. Fleeing Florida with my child was courageous. Taking 45 pills felt courageous. This chemotherapy treatment is a hardship and I am just sad.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

31 Truths About Breast Cancer

Compiled by the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester www.bccr.org

Nearly 3 million women in our country are now living in the aftermath of a breast cancer diagnosis.According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, in 2012 there were approximately 2,975,314 women alive who had a history of cancer of the breast in the United States.
Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. Breast cancer represents 14.0% of all new cancer cases in our country.
The biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and growing older. The median age of diagnosis is 61.
A woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. It is estimated that a woman age 30 has about a 1 in 227 risk of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years; for a woman age 40, it is about 1 in 68; for a woman age 50, it is about 1 in 42; and for a woman age 60, it is about 1 in 28.
Breast cancer awareness campaigns have helped move the disease from behind closed doors but have not had a significant impact on the incidence of Stage 4 disease or on mortality. The incidence of Stage 4 breast cancer disease has not changed since 1975. In 2015, an estimated 40,290 women in our country alone will die as a result of breast cancer.
True prevention means stopping breast cancer before it develops. As a result of early detection awareness campaigns, which do not prevent breast cancer, there has been an increase in over-diagnosis and over-treatment for many women, involving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to treat non-life threatening cancers.
It is estimated that 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer (cancer that has spread from where it started in the breast into surrounding, healthy tissue) will be diagnosed among women in the U.S. in 2015. In addition to invasive cancers, more than 60,000 cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer will be diagnosed.
Men do get breast cancer. While less than 1% of new breast cancer diagnoses occur among men, it is possible for men to develop the disease. It’s estimated that about 2,350 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2015. For males, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
The overwhelming majority (approximately 85%) of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no relatives with the disease. A family history is only one risk factor. Other risk factors include getting older, benign breast problems, early exposure to ionizing radiation, having children later in life or not at all, longer exposure to estrogen and progesterone, lack of exercise, and drinking alcohol.
An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer in the breast spreads to other parts of the body, most often the lungs, liver, bones, and brain. Approximately 20% to 30% of people first diagnosed with early stage disease will later develop advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Complementary therapies are often used in addition to medical treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. These may include nutrition and exercise, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathy, mindfulness meditation, yoga, massage, Feldenkrais, Reiki, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and support networking groups. Before using any complementary therapy, patients should talk with their care team to make sure all aspects of their cancer care work together.
White women are more likely to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, but African American women have a higher mortality rate. The mortality rate for breast cancer for African American women is about 31 per 100,000 women compared to 22 per 100,000 white women. Comparatively speaking, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women have lower mortality rates compared to white women.
All breast cancers are not the same, just as breast tumors do not all grow at the same rate or spread in the same way. It is not the size of a tumor that determines the aggressiveness of breast cancer but rather the tumor biology and microenvironment (the normal cells and molecules that surround cancer cells). Some breast cancers are small, found early, and yet are deadly. Some are fast growing. Some grow slowly, are found by mammograms and are treated, but would never have been life threatening.
We know that there are several types of breast cancer based on the biology of the tumors. These subtypes respond to different treatments and have different prognoses. Breast tumors are currently classified using three primary immunohistochemical (IHC) tumor markers: Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2/Neu). The term “Triple Negative” indicates none of these markers are prevalent.
There is a possibility that environmental estrogens play a role in diseases such as cancers of the breast, uterus, and ovaries. Environmental estrogens are a variety of synthetic chemicals and natural plant compounds thought to mimic estrogen in the body. They may behave like estrogen in the body or may block the natural hormone. These include pesticides such as the now-banned DDT; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Bisphenol-A (BPA), natural plant products in our diet, and a host of other chemicals.
When it comes to decreasing risk of breast cancer, become an informed consumer. Look around your environment. Read product labels and don’t purchase a product that may be harmful to you or your family.
When it comes to breast cancer, help lower your risk by making responsible health choices: Eat a healthy diet, learn how to cope with increasing stress, integrate exercise into your life, identify and eliminate your exposure to environmental risk factors as much as possible, and advocate for evidence-based change.
At least 900 synthetic compounds in industrial and commercial products have been identified as Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) – compounds that mimic or interfere with natural hormones. Many have been specifically shown to make estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cells grow in lab tests. EDCs that mimic estrogen cause concern because of their potential links to women’s health. These compounds are found in everyday products: some pesticides, detergents, and plastics.
Epigenetics studies the processes regulating how and when certain genes are turned on and turned off. Cancer affects these processes. Nutrigenomics looks at how foods and nutritional supplements influence gene expression. Different foods may interact with specific genes to increase or decrease risks of common diseases such as Type II Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers by modifying gene expression.
Breast cancer is ultimately a disease of malfunctioning genes. Lifestyle factors can generate growth-promoting signals to cells already primed to become cancerous because of changes in these genes. Most people are born with normal genes but during the course of a lifetime, genes can become damaged (mutated) in various cells and lead to cancer.
A growing body of evidence links synthetic chemicals to the rising incidence of breast cancer. Parabens, phthalates and other hormone disrupting chemicals are found in cosmetics, beauty products, and in women’s bodies. You have a right to know if the products you use contain compounds that may increase your risk of disease, including breast cancer.
To end breast cancer, we need more focus on preventing its development to begin with. We need a greater understanding of how to stop the aggressive cancers that are not detected with mammography, how to stop breast cancer from recurring, and how to prevent it from metastasizing to other parts of the body and becoming lethal.
Most women who find their own breast cancer do so as part of normal routines (showering, getting dressed, etc.) and not during systematic monthly breast self-exams. About 80% of breast cancers not discovered by mammography are discovered by women themselves. Knowing the landscape of your body and noticing slight changes is always wise. Becoming familiar with one’s breasts can help detect breast cancers that mammograms may miss.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, ask questions. Ask about all treatment options for your specific tumor type. Ask about costs and side effects of treatments. Ask how and why a particular treatment option has been recommended for YOU.
Women in their 20’s and 30’s should have a clinical breast exam by a health care provider every three years, especially if they are from a high risk family. After age 40, women should have a clinical breast exam every year, or more frequently if there is a strong family history of breast cancer.
Detection is not prevention. If you have a personal history of breast cancer, never rely on technology as your sole method of surveillance. Knowing what is normal for you is important. Have clinical breast exams. Early detection of a recurrence can almost double survival outcomes.
The current infrastructure and focus in breast cancer has not led to significant progress in ending the disease or in preventing deaths from the disease. This is true for research and health care and also advocacy: more of the same will not produce different results.
Five year breast cancer survival rates do not give an accurate picture of progress against breast cancer. Because breast cancer takes many years, sometimes even decades, to develop and spread throughout the body, breast cancer survival statistics, particularly five-year survival data, do not accurately portray the impact of breast cancer, or the progress or lack of progress over time.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may increase your risk of breast cancer. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials, launched in 1991, studied a group of 161,808 generally healthy postmenopausal women for the effects of HRT, diet modification and calcium and vitamin D supplement use on heart disease, fractures, and breast and colorectal cancer. Results from the trial on HRT, published in 2002, found that while the estrogen-only replacement therapy did not increase breast cancer risk, the risks far outweighed the benefits in the estrogen-plus-progestin arm. Overall, there was a 24% increase in the risk for breast cancer due to estrogen-plus-progestin.
In many cases, more treatment is not necessarily better treatment. Many of the advances in recent years have not been discoveries of new treatments, but rather discoveries that less invasive treatments are as effective as more invasive and/or more toxic standard of care. There is a growing recognition that more treatment is not necessarily better treatment. And, in fact, less is often better because of the reduction in long-term side effects, which are sometimes severe and occasionally fatal.
No one needs go through breast cancer alone. If you or a loved one receives a diagnosis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester is here to help. The Coalition offers education and support programs, as well as advocacy for those uninsured or underinsured. The Coalition is a full-scope, grass-roots breast cancer organization serving survivors and families throughout the Finger Lakes Region of Central and Western New York. We can help you find resources in your own community.
In New Jersey, Founded in 1944, CancerCare® is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. Our comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts.
Our Mission CancerCare® is the leading national organization dedicated to providing free, professional support services including counseling, support groups, educational workshops, publications and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts.
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