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ife after breast cancer
The moment a person receives a breast cancer diagnosis, his or her life changes immeasurably. The roller coaster of emotions begins, and suddenly this person is thrust into a schedule of doctor’s appointments, treatments and visits from friends and family. The World Cancer Research Fund International says breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and men and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 140 of 184 countries worldwide. Despite that prevalence, the
five-year relative survival rate for women diagnosed with localized breast cancer (cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes or outside the breast) is 98.5 percent, says the Ameri-
can Cancer Society. Survival odds increase as more is learned about breast cancer and more people take preventative measures, including routine screenings. Today, there are nearly three million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Breast cancer treatments may last any-
where from six months to a year. Adjusting after treatment may not come so easily at first. But adjustments are easier with time, and many cancer survivors continue to live life to the fullest in much the same way they did prior to their diagnosis. When treatment ends, patients often still have fears about the cancer, wondering if all of the cancerous cells have been destroyed and worrying about recurrence. But focusing on the present and all of the things you now can do with health on your side is a great way to put your fears behind you. Many cancer survivors must still visit their doctors after
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treatments end. Doctors still want to monitor patients closely, so be sure to go to all follow-up appointments and discuss any symptoms or feelings you may be having. Side effects may continue long after radiation or chemotherapy has ended. Your doctor may have suggestions for coping with certain side effects or will be able to prescribe medications to offset these effects. Follow-up appointments should gradually decrease the longer you have been cancer-free. It’s not uncommon to feel differently after cancer treatment, as your body has been through quite a lot. Many women still experience fatigue, and sleep or normal rest doesn’t seem to make
it abate. Realize this is normal, and how long it will last differs from person to person. It can take months or years for you to experience your “new normal.” Things do not happen overnight. While your hair may grow back quickly, it may take some time for you to feel like yourself again. Exercise routines or other lifestyle changes may help you overcome fatigue or make it more manageable. Speaking with others who have survived breast cancer can help. Join a support group or reach out to others through social media. Getting a firsthand account of what can be expected the first year after treatment can assuage anxiety.
linemen wear pink hard hats in support Utility of breast cancer awareness Fundraising proceeds support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and one local utility company is hoping to bring attention to the disease that causes an estimated 42,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Across the region AEP Ohio line workers and administrators are once wearing pink hard hats to show their support for the women and men who are battling breast cancer. The hats are part of AEP Ohio’s third annual “Hearts on the Line” campaign whick seeks to raise awareness and funds to support finding a cure. The pink hats are worn by AEP employees who typically wear white safety hard hats on a daily basis, according to Jeff Frazier, Supervisor at the company's Seaman and Hillsboro service centers. “It's just one way to
stand out and make others aware,” he said, “Wearing the hats allows us to keep the focus on what we can do and what role we can play to help raise awareness and find a cure for cancer.” But, it's not just about wearing hats of a different color. AEP Ohio employees are also raising funds for breast cancer research, as well as participating in awareness walks and events throughout Ohio during the month of October. The company is matching all fund raising dollars up to $5,000 through the AEP Ohio Foundation. The matching funds will be donated to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The goal of the Ohio “Hearts on the Line Campaign” is to foster a
community for those who have been most effected by the disease. “We love being a part of this program which is so important to our community,” said Frazier. “Cancer effects all our lives – it effects our coworkers, it effects our friends, it effects our family members, and we want every person who is touched by this disease to know that we support them.” Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in
the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. About one in eight women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about one in 1,000. The number of breast cancer cases in men relative to the population has been fairly stable over the last 30 years.
“This disease is smart, it does not discriminate and is often silent and tireless. If we want to win this battle, we have to adopt similar attributes in our efforts and do everything we can to offer easy, universal access to early detection,” said Julie Sloat, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer. “The difference is, we can’t be silent. The time is now and the responsibility to raise awareness belongs to all of us.” To prevent breast
cancer, it is recommended that women have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 for those who are at an average risk. Women should also have a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how you can help, visit cancer.org
Did you know? Being a woman is the leading risk factor for breast cancer. Only skin cancers exceed breast cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United
States. Although roughly one in 1,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, the disease most often affects women. The American Breast Cancer Society
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the disease, following recommended screening guidelines and taking notice of any changes that occur in the breasts.
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got a battle You've to fight By Wayne Gates In July of 2017, 40 year old Danielle Thompson found a small lump in her breast. She had already lost an aunt and a grandmother to breast cancer, so the discovery put her on high alert. Her first step was to go to her family doctor, who thought that it was some sort of infection and prescribed antibiotics. “When it didn’t go away, I had a mammogram. The mammogram came back negative and I was informed to follow up with my family doctor for antibiotics to continue to treat for a possible infection,” Thompson said. After a second round of antibiotics with no change, she was referred to a cancer surgeon. That doctor also thought that the lump was not a big deal. But Thompson insisted that something was wrong and the doctor ordered an ultrasound just to be cautious. It was good thing he did. “They confirmed that there was an area of concern. The following week it was biopsied and on August 22, I got the results that it was cancer,” she said. When asked how it felt to hear the word “cancer” coming from a doctor, Thompson said “It just feels like a ton of bricks. There is no other description for it.” She knew that she had some work to do, both inside herself and for her family. “I waited about ten days to tell my immediate family just because I needed time to process it,” Thompson said. “Once I verbalized it and my immediate family now knew, that was the point where I was ready to battle this. I’ve got my head in the right place because now my immediate family, the people that are the most critical, are on board.” She said one of the
hardest things was telling her children, five year old Joseph and eight year old Meghan. “I wanted them to understand the scope of what was going on. I told them that mommy had to go through some treatments and I finally used the word ‘cancer’. Joseph didn’t really process what was happening, but Meghan was fully aware. “She broke down because she knew my aunt that had passed away, so she knew the scope of what that meant,” Thompson said. And so a seven month journey began. The first step was surgery. On October 3 of 2017, Thompson underwent a conservative lumpectomy surgery with reconstruction. The small tumor that was removed was tested and determined to be at stage two. That meant that no cancer cells had spread to nearby lymph nodes. “After testing the tumor, they determined that I didn’t have to have chemotherapy, but they also felt that it might benefit me. My attitude was there was no reason to take a risk by not treating it with chemotherapy,” Thompson said. So she set off on the next step on the path to recovery. Her hair began to fall out after a couple of weeks. She knew that her hair falling out was something that the kids wouldn’t miss, so she approached it with them as a positive. “I said, hey, guess what...my medicine is working. I asked them if they remembered how we would know that it was working. They sat there for a while and then Meghan said ‘Your hair is falling out!’ And I said ‘Yes, isn’t that awesome, now we know the medicine is working.” Thompson then told
the kids that she needed their help with her hair. They ended up giving her a mohawk. She ended up going through chemotherapy from the end of November through February of 2018. Then it was time for the next step. “Once chemotherapy was done, I took about a month off to rest and then I had four weeks of radiation five days a week,” Thompson said. She finished radiation therapy in early April of this year. After some followup appointments, Thompson is considered cancer-free. Dealing with cancer is an extremely personal journey, but Thompson said that she wanted others to benefit from what she went through. “I said at the beginning that I want my battle to be a blessing. I want people to take something away from what I’m going through. I don’t mind talking about it, because the more information that’s out there the better, because more people will survive.” When asked about advice she had for cancer patients and their families, Thompson started at the center of the circle...the patients themselves. If they feel a lump or other concerning signs or symptoms, she said they should not stop until they get the answers they need. “If you aren’t certain and feel like you don’t have an answer, keep looking for one. You can go and talk to someone else and get more information. I encourage people to trust their gut if they think something is wrong,” Thompson said. And what about telling family and friends about a disturbing diagnosis? “You have to include your kids. Don’t hide it. Look for some way to
Danielle allowed her children Joseph and Meghan to shave her head once her hair began falling out from chemotherapy.
include them. That was the hardest battle I had to fight. The idea of not being there for my kids. But you fall back on your beliefs and I know they are in better hands than mine. So you power through and do what you have to do.” Thomson had this advice for concerned family members. “Just be present. You don’t have to buy anything, you don’t have to say anything, you don’t have to do anything in that moment. Just be there and be with them. A person going through that initial diagnosis may not know what they need. Having friends, family, a church congregation or co-workers who care will envelop you when you get that diagnosis. Just let them.” She also had words of encouragement for the next woman that would be following in her footsteps. “There is always hope. Even on days when you can’t see it, there is always a light. There will be bad times. You need to take a moment to cry and to have that moment and let that emotion out. Then you collect yourself and realize that you still have a battle to fight.”
Danielle Thompson completely lost her hair during chemotherapy
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Did you know? Many abnormalities found on a mammogram are not necessarily cancer, but rather are benign conditions like calcium deposits or dense areas in the breast. If the radiologist or a doctor notes areas of concern on a mammogram, The Mayo Clinic says further testing may be needed. This can include additional mammograms known as compression or magnification views, as well as ultrasound imaging. If further imaging is not effective, a biopsy, wherein a sample of breast tissue is taken, will be sent to a laboratory for testing.
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NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
T he making of a ‘pink girl’ By Brett Milam
Stitch by stitch, the tapestry of life has a way of weaving a pattern that doesn't quite make sense until its fluffed out and seen from afar. Such was the case with local breast cancer survivor, Jacqui Roell. Jacqui's life seemed to be back on track: Six months after her divorce in 2006, she happened to reconnect with her high school sweetheart, Ken, in Cincinnati after nearly 20 years apart. Ken never married or had children. He moved back to Ohio and married Jacqui. Ken took to her three kids, Lynzie, her 2-year-old daughter, Nick, her 8-year-old son with autism and Matt, her 10-year-old son. And they took to him, too. "My ex had always been completely un-involved with my children, so our new little family of five felt very complete; my children just fell in love with him, and now, they feel like he is their own father," she said. "It has been a perfect little life." For several years at that point, Jacqui had also been eating organically, doing yoga and Pilates and had found the right church in 2014, which was "filled with many strong women" around her age. "I've always been very interested in holistic and alternative medicine, and in 2016, I started participating in holistic workshops at my yoga studio, and I began to implement many of the things I was learning into my daily life," she said. "Everything was just falling right into place." Jacqui didn't realize
Pictured is Jacqui Roell, a breast cancer survivor. This picture was taken shortly after another round of chemotherapy, when Jacqui said she “felt crappy.”
it at the time, but she was preparing the groundwork, or at least the best she could hope for, of a support structure to make it through breast cancer: a renewed relationship with an old flame, spiritual connection to strong women and treating her body right. Before Christmas in 2016, Jacqui was looking in the mirror while putting on deodorant when she said she felt something weird going on with her left breast; she felt it and there was a huge lump she hadn't noticed before. "It was like the top half of a golf ball sitting under my skin," she said. Despite her mother, Marilyn Seilkop, having breast cancer in 2009, Jacqui didn't think it was a big deal. After all, she was "super healthy" and had just had a completely normal mammogram. Even so, she took the step of calling her OBGYN and informed them of the lump. The doctor didn't like what she saw.
But Jacqui was still incredulous. It must be a fatty tumor ... or something; certainly not a "something" to be worried about, she thought. When she eventually did get the news a month shy of her 48th birthday that, yes, this is cancer, Jacqui hadn't cried in six years and even at that moment of crushing realization, didn't want to relent, but she said her eyes "immediately started leaking tears." It was almost as if her body was revolting against her stubbornness in the face of the news. With an almost perfunctory text that belied the emotional tug-a-war going on at the base of her leaky eyes, Jacqui relayed the news to her husband and mother, "Well, it's cancer." The resistant leaky eyes soon morphed into a weekend of crying with Ken, which then turned into six weeks of crying. Jacqui had invasive lobular carcinoma, a more uncommon form of breast cancer than the ductal
From left to right: Ken Roell, Jacqui's husband, her 14-year-old daughter Lynzie Fielder, her son 20-year-old Nick Fielder, herself and her other son 22year-old Matt Fielder.
carcinoma her mother had. This was one of the reasons it didn't show up in her prior mammogram, her doctors told her. And quite frankly, Jacqui was depressed: she didn't want to be part of the "pink people," the ladies running around with pink scarves and pink ribbons, telling their stories of survival. "Yuck! No way am I ever being part of that. This is absolutely the worst thing that has ever happened in my entire life and I will never be okay with it. I don't WANT to fight. I just want my normal life back," Jacqui said. On Valentine's Day, when the surgery was next available, Jacqui opted to have a double mastectomy. "My mother also had the option of a lumpectomy, but opted for double mastectomy and they found cancer throughout both breasts. I was going to get ahead of the storm,
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nosis and the family issues, her year of treatment, which ended January of 2018, was the most she has ever felt at peace. In fact, after her treatment, Jacqui's oncologist asked her to be the subject of a symposium about individualized care at the University of Cincinnati Barrett Cancer Center. Her oncologist wanted her to do it because Jacquie exemplified "being the boss" of her treatment. Jacqui's fusing of holistic treatment and other methods tailored toward her, along with the traditional treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, was what worked best for her. "That is one thing I've tried to pass on to anyone who is dealing with any illness," she said. "Be your own advocate. Question your doctor. If they don't like it, then find another one who is humble
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and have them both taken off," she said. As it happens, Jacqui did end up fighting, but it was on her terms and in her way, thanks to a voice in her head assuring her this would end up being a blessing and as she called it, Dr. Google, which led to her implementing an even more holistic and natural diet and lifestyle, like eating organic fruits and vegetables. The perfect little life was becoming upended by cancer's onslaught, however: Jacqui and her mom's shared cancer experience actually created a rift because they approached it differently; her son with autism shaved his head in support, but also fear that she would die; and Ken had become a full-fledged alcoholic, spending all of his time in the garage. Like a captain used to the punishing waves of a stormy ocean, Jacqui actually said despite the cancer diag-
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NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The making of a ‘pink girl’ Continued from page 4
enough to listen to you." And as the pattern at the macrolevel began to take shape, it would so happen that Jacqui became one of those "pink people" with the Pink Ribbon Girls of Cincinnati. The organization provided free meals and housekeeping to Jacqui during her treatment and now she volunteers and participates at their functions. In May of 2018, Jacqui was awarded the Unsung Hero Award from Cancer Family Care, a Cincinnati non-profit that helps children and adults cope with the ef-
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fects of cancer diagnosis in the family. Jacqui is taking things one step at a time nowadays, which at that slower pace, allows her to take time for herself and stay focused. "I have started my own company called Holistic Soul Wellness, and I am in school for my holistic consultant certification," she said. Breast cancer taught her that health can sometimes be superficial, if stress is involved. As for the relationship with her mother, Jacqui said it's better than ever because her mother came to see how big a difference a
Pictured is Jacqui Roell, a breast cancer survivor and (once reluctant) volunteer with Pink Ribbon Girls of Cincinnati.
Jacqui on right with her mother, Marilyn Seilkop at Pink Ribbon Girls event. Her mother also had breast cancer in 2009.
holistic focus has had. Her mother has actually started incorporating some of it into her life, too, like aromatherapy and medita-
"doing what it takes to stay sober," she said. "I now understand that true health means paying attention to our body, mind, and spirit,"
tion. Ken has been in and out of several detox programs throughout Jacqui's treatment, but is currently sober and
she said. "If one part is being ignored, we are not living our best life, and our body will make us pay attention to it by causing illness."
potential side effects of breast cancer treatments
Cancer is a painful, potentially life-threatening disease. Though discomfort might be the first warning sign that compels people to visit their physicians on the road to receiving a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatments can produce a host of side effects, including pain, as well. According to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, breast cancer treatments can create both long-term side effects and late side effects. Longterm side effects are those that begin during treatment and continue after all treatments have stopped, while late side effects refers to symptoms that can appear weeks, months or even years after treatments have ended. The list of potential side effects of breast cancer treatments is lengthy, but may include the following conditions or issues. 1. Fatigue The nonprofit organization Breast-
cancer.org notes that fatigue is the most common side effect of breast cancer treatments, with some estimates suggesting it affects as many as 90 percent of all patients. Some breast cancer patients may experience fatigue after treatment and find it’s worsening because they are eating less and not getting enough nutrients. In such instances, the initial fatigue may make people too tired to cook, ultimately contributing to more fatigue when they are not eating or eating convenient yet potentially unhealthy foods. Cooking healthy foods in bulk when fatigue is not overwhelming and accepting others’ offers to cook is a great way for cancer patients to ensure their diets are helping them combat fatigue and not making fatigue worse. 2. Lymphedema Johns Hopkins School of Medicine notes that, following breast cancer treat-
ment, some patients may suffer from lymphedema, a condition characterized by the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the tissues. Lymphedema most often occurs in the arms, but can contribute to swelling in other parts of the body as well. Why some people suffer from lymphedema after treatment and others don’t is a mystery, though surgeons at Johns Hopkins Breast Center have noticed a low occurrence of lymphedema in patients who have undergone sentinel node biopsies or axillary node dissection. Breast cancer patients are at risk of lymphedema for the rest of their lives after treatment, and while there’s no way to prevent it, patients should avoid getting needle sticks or blood pressure tests in arms where lymph nodes were removed. In addition, any injuries or cuts in arms where lymph nodes were removed should be treated with vigilance.
3. Infertility Many women will stop menstruating while undergoing chemotherapy or after chemo treatments, and that cessation is often temporary. These irregularities may be traced to hormonal therapies that make the ovaries stop producing eggs. However, in some instances, even premenopausal women may have trouble getting pregnant after hormonal therapy. Breastcancer.org notes that women whose periods do not return after treatment may still be fertile, but also notes that women who are close to menopause when beginning chemo may become permanently infertile. Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer who are concerned about posttreatment infertility should speak with their physicians immediately about their prospects of getting pregnant after treatment, including fertility treatments and the
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According to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, breast cancer treatments can create both long-term side effects and late side effects.
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treatments with their physicians, breast cancer patients should ask questions about potential short- and long-term side effects.
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NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
W
hat do dense breasts mean for cancer risk?
Breast cancer risk is influenced by many things, including heredity, age and gender. Breast density is another factor that may affect cancer risk and the ability to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, say some experts. According to the report, “Mammographic density and the risk and detection of breast cancer,” published by The New England Journal of Medicine, as well as data from the National Cancer Institute, women with high breast density are four to five times more likely to get breast cancer. Only age and BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations increase risk more. However, at this time, health care providers do not routinely use a
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woman’s breast density to assess her breast cancer risk, according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Density does not refer to the size or shape of the breast, and it may not be apparent by just looking at the breasts. Usually women do not
learn they have dense breasts until their first mammograms. Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue. Density may be hereditary, meaning mothers and daughters can share similar breast characteristics. Dense breasts can-
not easily be seen through on a mammogram, which can make detecting lumps and other abnormalities more difficult. This can lead to missed cancers or cancers that are discovered at later stages. Women with dense breasts may require addi-
tional screening methods, such as a breast ultrasound or an MRI, in addition to yearly mammogram screenings. Education about breast density is gaining traction in some areas, thanks to informed women and advocacy groups like A r e Yo u D e n s e . o r g . Some states in the United States are part of “inform” lists, in which radiologists include information about breast density on mammogram reports so women and doctors can make decisions about extra testing. Even if a woman does not live in a state where density is shared, she can request the information from the radiologist or doctor. Dense breasts show up with more
pockets of white on mammograms than gray fatty tissue in less dense breasts. Cancer also appears white, and, therefore, tumors can be hidden. In addition to more in-depth screenings, women with dense breasts can lower cancer risk by following these guidelines: • Maintain a healthy weight. • Eat nutritious food. • Exercise regularly. • Never smoke or quit immediately. • Limit alcohol consumption. • Ask for digital mammography. Women can consider breast density with other risk factors in the fight against breast cancer.
esser-known symptoms of breast cancer
Public perception that breast cancer is only identified by lumps detected through self-examination or routine mammography may prevent thousands of women from receiving an early diagnosis and the care they need. Although lumps are the most common symptom associated with the disease, women should recognize that breast cancer can produce additional symptoms. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, one of the premier organizations for breast cancer research, advocacy and treatment, advises that the warning signs for breast cancer are not the same for all women (or men). Various changes in the breast and body can occur, including the following condi-
tions. • Breast-size changes: Many left and right breasts are not completely symmetrical, and women familiar with their bodies know that one breast is often slightly larger than the other. However, breast-size changes that occur out of the blue may be indicative of a medical problem. • Skin rash or redness: Women who are breastfeeding can experience a rash on the breasts from an infection of breast tissue. But those who are not breastfeeding should be evaluated by a doctor if redness, irritation or rash appears. • Nipple changes: Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and is not associated with breastfeeding can be indicative of cancer. Other changes to the
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nipples, such as pulling in of the nipple (inversion) or itchy, scaling skin on the nipple, should be brought to the attention of a doctor. • Changes to the skin: Dimpling of the skin, peeling, flaking, or scaling skin can be a cause for concern as well. • Lumps elsewhere: Cancerous tumors may not only be felt in the breasts. Breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes around the breasts, and lumps may be felt under the arms. • Unexplained pain: The Mayo Clinic advises that less than 10 percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer report pain as a symptom. But unexplained pain in an area of the breast should not be ignored. Breast pain that does
not go away and seems to involve one area of the breast should be checked. • Fatigue: General cancer symptoms can include unusual fatigue and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms should not be left unchecked. One of the best things women and men can do is to familiarize themselves with their bodies so they will be more capable of pinpointing any irregularities that may develop. Individuals can routinely look at their breasts and inspect for subtle changes. But remember that hormonal breast changes occur during the menstrual cycle, so it’s best to be familiar with how breasts look and feel both during and after menstruation.
Lumps in the breast are not the only potential indicators of breast cancer.
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NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
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verlap in breast cancer, heart disease demands new approach
By Brett Milam
Year after year, the "awareness" months may seem rote -this is just the thing we do with passing remembrances and ribbons but what's lost is the progress happening and new ways of thinking about these issues. October, as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is no different in this regard. One area, in fact, where the awareness campaigns have failed to fully launch is in linking heart disease with breast cancer. The American Heart Association (AMA), the nearly 100-year-old organization founded to fight heart disease and stroke, may seem like an odd ally in the fight against breast cancer, but not so fast, said Laxmi Mehta, director of the Women's Cardiovascular Health Program at The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center, in a press release. Heart disease and breast cancer are the
two most prevalent diseases among women in the United States heart disease is responsible for one in three deaths of women and one in eight women develop breast cancer in their lifetimes -but not many people realize the threats they pose to women are connected, Mehta said. The AMA in February released the first scientific statement about the two diseases, authored primarily by Mehta, calling for more research and collaboration between the fields of oncology and cardiology to treat and prevent both diseases. Released in the medical journal Circulation, the paper argued that multidisciplinary care is "critical in the management of cancer patients." “Some treatments that a woman may undergo for breast cancer such as chemotherapy and radiation can result in heart disease. Additionally, if a woman has underlying heart disease when
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she’s diagnosed with breast cancer, that can limit her treatment options,” Mehta said. “That’s why these two disease entities have to be merged together to explore new treatments and preventative measures.” Common risk factors among the heart disease and breast cancer are obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Other overlapping risk factors include diet, age, family history, alcohol intake, hormone replacement and tobacco use. "Things like staying active, eating a heart healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking are all important to preventing both diseases from developing," Mehta said. Mehta said a more collaborative approach in the medical community would mean closer screenings of cancer patients for heart disease and in general, more protection of the heart during and after treatment. This collaborative approach or subspeciality would be cardio-oncology, where the goal would be to gather baseline cardiac function and information to monitor the patient through cancer treatment to "ensure the heart is not permanently damaged," a press release said. In fact, older breast cancer patients more often die of heart disease than from the cancer itself. Tonda Gonce was one such breast cancer survivor who had to have chemotherapy withheld because her heart functioning was low, Mehta said. Gonce, who also had heart disease, had a main artery with 99 percent blockage. She would need a stent to open the blocked artery, which was likely caused by the cancer treatment. Gonce began bowling after the stent was placed to stay active and begin a healthier lifestyle. “These potential side effects impact each patient differently. Let me be clear, we are not suggesting that breast cancer patients should worry about or refuse their recommended breast cancer treatment. Modern treatment is essential for fighting breast cancer and improving survival. The potential cardiovascular effects are an important part of the conversation that patients should have with their oncologist,” Mehta said. Readers can find the full study at: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.116 1/CIR.00000000000005 56 Mammography and discomfort Part of the roteness of awareness months,
including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is reminding people of things they've heard a million times, but that are worth saying more; in this case, that'd be the mammogram. A mammogram screenings is one of the tool used to reduce breast cancer through early detection -the American Cancer Society recommends women have a mammogram every year starting at the age of 40 —, but pain is one of the top reasons women cite for not doing them. In a 2013 study, for example, nearly 50 percent of women cited pain as a reason for not re-attending a mammogram. Judy Capadagli, a registered technologist in radiology and mammography at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at OSU, said technological improvements ought to help with mitigating pain and discomfort. In any event, however, Capadagli offered these five tips to make
women more comfortable during a mammogram: 1. Your Trunk and Feet Should Face Forward - Turn only your head while the rest of your body faces forward. Turning your hips and feet can lead to pain in your breasts and lower back. 2. Make Your Appointment for When Your Breasts are Least Tender - Avoid scheduling your mammogram just before or during your period when your breasts may be tender. 3. Relax - Take slow, deep breaths to reduce tension in your body which should lessen any pain you may experience. 4. Speak Up - Let your tech know if something hurts or doesn’t feel right. Chances are they’ll be accommodating in order to get the best results for everyone. 5. Be Patient if You Have Breast Implants - Women who have implants need double the number of images. This takes
time, but newer machines make the process more comfortable. Mercy Health Cincinnati has a mobile mammography van that offers a 15-minute screening at various locations in the area, including at the Union Township branch of the Clermont County Public Library. For best coverage, people are encouraged to verify that Mercy Health Cincinnati and The Jewish Hospital are in-network providers with their insurance carrier. If an individual is uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles), Mercy Health has financial need-based assistance programs available to help. Call 513-686-3300 for more information. People can make an appointment by calling 513-686-3300 or 1-855PINK123 (1-855-7465123) and walk-ins are always welcome, Mercy Health said in a press release.cancer.org
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NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH