Breast Cancer Awareness 2019 - Rocky Mount Telegram by Cooke NC

BREAST CANCER

KNOWING IT EXISTS IS NOT ENOUGH GET THE INFORMATION AND PASS IT ON

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019

Awareness Month

Susan New a decade of

Courage Story by Kesha Williams • Photos by Sarah Louya

In a few months, Susan D. New will observe a special 10-year mark of time. It was time she once took for granted but that is no longer the case. Time, she now celebrates — time with family, friends, church members. New celebrates time to witness all that is beautiful in a community, Nash County, she’s called home 30 years. In March 2010, she was diagnosed with cancer and wondered how much time she had to bypass her fears. Fear grips when a diagnosis you never anticipated arises and threatens your future. With three kids and a husband standing nearby, the future suddenly seemed foggy. They were accustomed to her active role in the family. A serious health problem such as cancer, she reasoned, could change so much that appeared normal one week prior to her diagnosis. “It takes a lot of courage to face it, but once I realized the seriousness of the situation, I thought let’s get this going. What are the next steps before any more time passes,’” New said. A routine mammogram at age 40 led to her diagnosis of breast cancer. Unfortunately, Susan’s mother also had been diagnosed with breast cancer one month prior to her mammogram. Her mother’s diagnosis reminded Susan that she had been lax about her own health care. She hadn’t completed a mammogram since 2004. The 2010 screening reminded her of the importance of preventative health care. Now, she reminds other women to simply schedule the appointment and keep it. “The self exams are important and the mammograms are important. Women find it easy to put them off because they are so busy caring for their families, busy working,” New said. “I think sometimes folks want to avoid something bad happening or potentially having bad test results. Maybe it’s the fear that something could be wrong. You should face a possible problem before time passes and the problem gets any worse,” New said. For much of the year, New endured the battle of her life. After a lumpectomy at Nash Day Hospital, she traveled to Duke University Hospital for rounds of chemotherapy, hormone therapy injections, doctor appointments. New recalls an unfortunate, fearful visit to the emergency room once because she wasn’t feeling well — her white blood cell count was low. She had bouts with nausea, weakness, loss of appetite. She lost her hair.

New decided to complete radiation with a local radiation oncologist so there was less time on the highway by that stage of the treatment plan. Her radiation appointments occurred five days a week for six weeks. New tried to work as much as possible to keep her mind occupied and to remain productive. Thinking about your illness day and night will take a toll on your mind as your body struggles to deal with the treatments. New had been with her employer, a bank, for 23 years and doing something that familiar made her feel productive. She needed a sense of productivity

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New gets emotional when she reflects on a journal she wrote during her illness. Prior to the diagnosis, she had not steadily written a journal. Journal writing was a useful means of coping. She also maintained a caringbridge.org website to keep her network of supporters informed. Eventually, New reported that treatments were over and she had returned to an active lifestyle. Her hair returned and she agreed to participate in a hair study at Duke University Hospital to help researchers determine how a patient’s hair changes after treatment. That’s one more way to

All she need do is flip the pages of her journal to recall the progress she made. “It helps you remember. The 10-year reflection is special — 10 years from the time I was diagnosed. The kids are now grown and we have our first grandbaby. I am so blessed with my family, my church family. I had no reservations about sharing my story in the newspaper when someone suggested it. I’m thankful I am able to share this story,” New said.

It takes a lot of courage to face it, but once I realized the seriousness of the situation, I thought let’s get this going. What are the next steps before any more time passes. - S u s an N e w because her health altered the family schedule. New recalls missing her kids’ sporting and school events. For 12 weeks, she was advised to limit her activities outside the home because cancer and cancer treatments can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection. It was difficult knowing her mother also was enduring many of the same challenges, but visitation was not an option. Her mother was homebound trying to prevent exposure to harmful germs that can be numerous in public settings. They communicated by phone. New said her support network was essential because there were days when those restrictions were overwhelming. It was a long, difficult journey toward better health. Her last radiation treatment occurred on her 41st birthday. “I had my faith to get me through it, my family, friends. You need a strong support group because you will have days that you want to give up. You have to have them to find the strength to keep going,” New said. “I got information from organizations like the American Cancer Society so I could learn about this. I reached out to people who had been through it. I’ve been able to answer questions when other women ask after their diagnosis. This is the first time I have ever spoken in public but I hope my story will lift someone else. The diagnosis doesn’t mean people should assume the worst or assume this is the end,” New said.

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contribute to the knowledge base of patients pondering their future. New said her mother also recovered and lived nine years before dying recently in a manner not related to her breast cancer. Over the past nine years, her calendar included new activities — a Susan G. Komen walk in Raleigh and she supports Relay for Life events. New boldly wears c a n c e r awareness ribbons or lapel buttons. She is sympathetic w h e n women ask how they will handle s u c h a lifechanging illness.

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Mary Grace Daughtridge moving forward through positivity Story by Jenny White • Photos by Alan Campbell Mary Grace Daughtridge remembers the Friday before Memorial Day, five years ago, very distinctly. It was the day she found out she had a malignant breast cancer tumor deep inside her breast. “I had not felt it — had absolutely no clue it was there, before my mammogram,” Daughtridge remembered during a recent interview. “I am a living example of how mammograms can save lives,” she said. Even with the tumor showing up in the mammogram, Daughtridge wasn’t overly concerned. “There’s no history of breast cancer in my family, and I didn’t think I had anything to worry about,” she said. When the number to her OB-GYN flashed on her phone that Friday morning, she said it didn’t occur to her that her doctor was calling her about the biopsy. “That’s how unconcerned I was before the call,” she said. “And how shocked I was to hear him say, ‘malignant tumor.’” Daughtridge said she immediately thought, “What if I die? What will happen to my family.” “The way you view your life — what was, what’s to come — changes in that instant. Hearing that you have cancer strikes a fear in you that you just don’t know until you’ve experienced it,” Daughtridge said. “But for anyone going through a cancer diagnosis, if you’re just hearing those words, I want to tell you that you can’t let the fear win. Eventually, you have to work through it, letting the fear get smaller and the hope and positive thoughts outweigh being scared,” Daughtridge said. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve done. I think, harder than the surgery and the radiation. Mentally, you have to get a hold of yourself and push your way out from underneath the fear.” Daughtridge credits her faith and a strong support system of friends, family and members of her church, Northside Community Church. “I would think it would be hard to get through a cancer diagnosis and treatments without a support system. I am so grateful I had my strong faith in God and my husband and son and family and friends to pull me through on the hard days,” she said. After her biopsy results, Daughtridge decided to seek treatment at Carolina Breast and Oncologic Surgery in Greenville. Dr. Nizar Habal did her surgery. Daughtridge said there was a lot of “hurry-up-and-wait” once she had her first appointment with Habal. “We had to have all kinds of tests and then they schedule the surgery. To me, this was a dire emergency,” she said with a laugh, “I wanted the tumor out yesterday. But they did all their tests and we had appointments to discuss things. I think I had my surgery about two months

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Eventually, you have to work through it, letting the fear get smaller and the hope and positive thoughts outweigh being scared. - M ary G r ac e D au g h tr idg e

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after the biopsy.” Habal then referred Daughtridge to an oncologist and radiologist. She underwent a regimen of 28 radiation treatments. Five years with no signs of cancer is a big deal in the cancer world and Daughtridge reached that pinnacle in April. Daughtridge thinks there might have been a purpose in her diagnosis and cancer journey. “Looking back, I see God’s hand on me the whole time,” she said. “Because of what I went through, I can help others going through it now. I see it as an opportunity I have now to reach out and support other women diagnosed with breast cancer.” Daughtridge has been a

longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event in Nash County, but it has special meaning to her now. “The research is so important. Cancer used to be a death sentence and that’s not the way it is now. And that’s because of the research,” Daughtridge said. She also has become a staunch supporter of the Bark for Life event, also a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The Bark for Life event honors canines that offer comfort to cancer patients. “When I didn’t feel well, my cockapoo Bogey would be right there by my side. He was an incredible source of comfort for me after surgery and through the radiation treatments.” The American Cancer Society’s Bark For Life is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. The next Bark for Life event is scheduled for Oct. 26 in Nashville. “I’ve been cochair of the event in the past and this year I’ll definitely be making a donation. It’s a great event. For me, the support I had from my canine friend meant the world and I participate to honor his part in my recovery,” Daughtridge added.

Modern-day Mammography.

SAME-DAY RESULTS.

When you’re referred to the Nash Breast Care Center to address a concern, we can often provide you with answers before you leave your appointment. Using state-of-the-art 3-D mammography, our team of breast specialists can spot even the tiniest abnormality and more accurately determine the presence or absence of cancer. Why wait to be screened for breast cancer? You don’t need a referral for a screening mammogram – only a desire for the best breast care possible.

Breast Cancer Awareness LUNCH & LEARN Friday, October 11 • 12:30-1:30pm Mayo Surgery Conference Center on the Nash UNC Health Care campus

NashUNCHealthCare.org/Events or call (252) 962-8766 ••••

Free lunch provided • • • •

Contact the region’s only Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.

FOR AN APPOINTMENT, call 252-962-6100. FOR INFORMATION visit NASHBREASTCARE.ORG

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Potential treatment options after a breast cancer diagnosis

A breast cancer diagnosis is something no one wants to receive. But the burden of breast cancer is substantial. In fact, the World Health Organization notes that breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide. Thankfully, breast cancer survival rates are high in many parts of the world, particularly in developed countries such as the United States, Canada and Japan. While survival rates are lower in developing countries, it is encouraging to know that the average five-year survival rates are as high as 90 percent in some nations. That suggests that the strategies used to successfully fight breast cancer in developed nations may one day prove as effective in developing nations, potentially leading to a sharp decline in global breast cancer deaths. Upon being diagnosed with breast cancer, patients will be educated about a host of potential treatment options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that breast cancer is treated in several ways, and the course of treatment a doctor recommends will depend on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. In addition, according to Breastcancer.org,

breast cancer is made up of many different kinds of cancer cells, which often necessitates the use of various types of treatments to get rid of the cancer. The following are some treatment options doctors may discuss with breast cancer patients. • Surgery: Breastcancer.org notes that surgery is typically the first line of attack against breast cancer. The CDC says the

goal of surgery is to cut out cancer tissue. Some common breast cancer surgeries include lumpectomy, in which the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue is removed, and mastectomy, in which all of the breast tissue is removed. • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is used to treat various types of cancer and involves the administration of special medicines to shrink or kill existing cancer

cells. Breastcancer.org notes that chemotherapy is sometimes administered prior to surgery in an attempt to shrink the cancer. • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy aims to kill cancer cells using high-energy rays that are similar to X-rays. Sometimes referred to as “radiotherapy,” radiation therapy is overseen by a radiation oncologist who specializes in this type of treatment. • Hormonal therapy: Estrogen makes hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers grow, and hormonal therapy, which may be referred to as “anti-estrogen” therapy, aims to reduce the amount of estrogen in the body and block its action on breast cancer cells. • Targeted therapies: These therapies, which Breastcancer.org notes are generally less likely than chemotherapy to harm normal, healthy cells, target specific characteristics of the cancer cells. Cancer cells can have many characteristics, so there are various types of targeted therapies. Breast cancer treatments can be highly effective in the fight against breast cancer, particularly when the disease is caught in its early stages.

Determining breast cancer stage When receiving treatment for breast cancer, women will learn about cancer staging. According to the nonprofit organization Breastcancer.org, determining the stage of the cancer helps patients and their doctors figure out the prognosis, develop a treatment plan and even decide if clinical trials are a valid option. Typically expressed as a number on a scale of 0 through IV, breast cancer stage is determined after careful consideration of a host of factors. The staging system, sometimes referred to as the TNM system, is overseen by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and ensures that all instances of breast cancer are described in a uniform way. This helps to compare treatment results and gives doctors and patients a better understanding of breast cancer and the ways to treat it. Breastcancer.org notes that the TNM system was updated in 2018, but before then was based on three clinical characteristics: • T: the size of the tumor and whether or not it has grown into nearby tissue • N: whether the cancer is present in the lymph nodes • M: whether the cancer has metastasized, or spread to others parts of the body beyond the breast While each of those factors is still considered when determining breast cancer stage, starting in

2018, the AJCC added additional characteristics to its staging guidelines, which make staging more complex but also more accurate. • Tumor grade: This is a measurement of how much the cancer cells look like normal cells. • Estrogen- and progesteronereceptor status: This indicates if the cancer cells have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone. If cancer cells are deemed estrogen-receptor-positive, then they may receive signals from estrogen that promote their growth. Similarly, those deemed progesterone-receptor-positive may receive signals from progesterone that could promote their growth. Testing for hormone receptors, which roughly two out of three breast cancers are positive for, helps doctors determine if the cancer will respond to hormonal therapy or other treatments. Hormone-receptor-positive cancers may be treatable with medications that reduce hormone production or block hormones from supporting the growth and function of cancer cells. • HER2 status: This helps doctors determine if the cancer cells are making too much of the HER2 protein. HER2 proteins are receptors on breast cells made by the HER2 gene. In about 25 percent of breast cancers, the HER2 gene

makes too many copies of itself, and these extra genes ultimately make breast cells grow and divide in ways that are uncontrollable. HER2-positive breast cancers are more likely to spread and return than those that are HER2-negative. • Oncotype DX score: The oncotype DX score helps doctors determine a woman’s risk of early-stage, estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer recurring and how likely she is to benefit from post-surgery chemotherapy. In addition, the score

helps doctors figure out if a woman is at risk of ductal carcinoma in situ recurring and/or at risk for a new invasive cancer developing in the same breast. The score also helps doctors figure out if such women will benefit from radiation therapy or DCIS surgery. Determining breast cancer stage is a complex process, but one that can help doctors develop the most effective course of treatment. More information is available at www. breastcancer.org.

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Breast cancer signs and symptoms Breast cancer is a formidable foe. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 627,000 women lost their lives to breast cancer in 2018. But women are not helpless in the fight against breast cancer, as the WHO notes early detection is critical and could potentially save thousands of lives each year. A proactive approach is a key component of protecting oneself against breast cancer. While the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® notes that many breast cancer symptoms are invisible and not noticeable without a professional cancer screening, women can keep an eye out for certain signs of breast cancer they might be able to detect on their own. Monthly self-exams can help women more easily identify changes in their breasts. During such self-exams, women can look for the following signs and symptoms and are advised to report any abnormalities they discover to their physicians immediately. • Changes in how the breast or nipple feels: The NBCF says nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening

Did you KNOW

changes in the size or shape of the breast; dimpling anywhere on the breast; unexplained swelling or shrinking of the breast, particularly when the shrinking or swelling is exclusive to one side only; and a nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted are some signs and symptoms of breast cancer that can affect the appearance of the breast or nipple. It is common for women’s breasts to be asymmetrical, but sudden asymmetry should be brought to the attention of a physician. • Discharge from the nipple: The NBCF notes that any discharge from the nipple, but particularly a in or near the breast or underarm clear or bloody discharge, could be could indicate the presence of a sign of breast cancer. The NBCF breast cancer. Some women may also advises women that a milky notice changes in the skin texture discharge when they are not breastor an enlargement of the pores in feeding is not linked to breast canthe skin of their breast. In many cer but should be discussed with a instances, skin texture has been physician. described as being similar to the Learning to recognize the signs texture of an orange peel. Lumps and symptoms of breast cancer in the breast also may indicate breast cancer, though not all lumps can increase the likelihood of early diagnosis, which greatly improves are cancerous. women’s chances of surviving this • Change in appearance of the breast or nipple: Unexplained disease.

Though women may notice various signs and symptoms that could be indicative of breast cancer, breast pain is generally not one of them. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® notes that there are various harmless causes of breast pain, such as puberty, menstruation and child birth, but that breast pain is not commonly a symptom of cancer. However, in rare instances breast pain may correlate with cancer. For example, breast tumors may cause pain, but cancerous tumors are not generally reported as painful. Though it may not be linked to breast cancer, breast pain should still be reported to a physician immediately, advises the NBCF.

Debunking common myths associated with breast cancer

While the vast majority of breast cancer diagnoses involve women, men are not immune to the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about one in 1,000 among men in the United States. By comparison, the risk for women in the United States is one in eight. While a man’s risk for breast cancer is considerably lower than a woman’s, the ACS still estimates that roughly 480 men will die from breast cancer in 2018, when more than 2,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men. In addition, the ACS notes that black men diagnosed with breast cancer tend to have a worse prognosis than white men. Though breast cancer may be a disease widely associated with women, men should not hesitate to report any discomfort to their physicians, as the National Cancer Institute notes that men are often diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage than women. The ACS suggests that men may be less likely to report symptoms, thereby leading to delays in diagnosis. The more advanced the cancer is at the time of diagnosis, the lower the patient’s survival rate. Men are urged to report any discomfort or abnormalities in their chests to their physicians immediately.

Did you KNOW

Cancer claims the lives of millions of people across the globe every year. But the fight against cancer is anything but hopeless, as the World Health Organization notes that between 30 and 50 percent of all cancer cases are preventable. Learning about cancer is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves from this deadly disease. Researchers continue to learn more about cancer everyday and routinely discover that information once thought to be accurate was actually off-base. Despite researchers’ best efforts, some myths about cancer still prevail. Some of these myths are about cancer in general, while others refer to specific cancers, including breast cancer. Myths about breast cancer can be as harmful as accurate information is helpful, so learning the truth and Cancer Institute touts the benefits of mammograms debunking those myths can be an important part of while the ACS recommends women between the women’s preventive approach to breast cancer. ages of 45 and 54 get mammograms every year. For • MYTH: Drinking milk increases your risk for breast additional breast cancer screening guidelines, visit cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that early the ACS at www.cancer.org. studies raised concerns that drinking milk from cows treated with hormones could increase a person’s • MYTH: Women with a family history of breast cancer risk for breast cancer. However, ensuing research are likely to develop breast cancer, too. This myth is failed to find a clear link between the two. In fact, dangerous because, if taken at face value, it can a 2002 study published in the International Journal give women with no family history of breast cancer a of Epidemiology found no significant association false sense of security. However, the NBCF notes that between dairy fluid intake and breast cancer risk. only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. • MYTH: Lumps indicate breast cancer. The National The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® says that only a note that a woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be if she has a first-degree relative, including a mother, cancer. However, abnormalities or changes in breast sister, daughter, or even a male family member, who tissue should always be brought to the attention of have had the disease. But breast cancer can affect a physician. anyone, regardless of their family history. • MYTH: Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread. This myth is rooted in the incorrect notion Information is a valuable asset in the fight against that breast compression while getting a mammogram breast cancer. Learning to decipher between causes the cancer to spread. However, the NBCF accurate and false information can be especially insists that cannot happen. In fact, the National valuable.

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The risk factors for breast cancer

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. Long-term 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 Breastcancer.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 treatment, 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 post-treatment infertility should speak with their physicians immediately about their prospects of getting pregnant after treatment, including fertility treatments and the potential safety risks of getting pregnant after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer treatments save lives every day. When discussing treatments with their physicians, breast cancer patients should ask questions about potential short- and long-term side effects.

Cancer is a formidable foe. Among women, no cancer poses a greater threat than breast cancer, which the World Health Organization reports is the most often diagnosed cancer both in the developed and developing worlds. Gaining a greater understanding of breast cancer may not prevent the onset of this disease that kills hundreds of thousands of women each year, but it might increase the chances of early detection, which can greatly improve women’s chances of survival. The following are the established risk factors for breast cancer. · Gender: Being female is the single biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer, but the risk for men is substantially smaller than it is for women. According to Breastcancer.org, roughly 190,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year in the United States alone. · Age: The American Cancer Society notes that about two out of every three invasive breast cancers are found in women ages 55 and older, whereas just one out of every eight invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45. The WHO notes that instances of breast cancer are growing in developing countries, citing longer life expectancies as one of the primary reasons for that increase. · Family history: According to the WHO, a family history of breast cancer increases a woman’s risk factor by two or three. Women who have had one

first-degree female relative, which includes sisters, mothers and daughters, diagnosed with breast cancer are at double the risk for breast cancer than women without such family histories. The risk of developing breast cancer is five times greater for women who have two first-degree relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. · Menstrual history: Women who began menstruating younger than age 12 have a higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life than women who began menstruating after their twelfth birthdays. The earlier a woman’s breasts form, the sooner they are ready to interact with hormones and chemicals in products that are hormone disruptors. Longer interaction with hormones and hormone disruptors increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. · Lifestyle choices: A 2005 comparative risk assessment of nine behaviors and environmental factors published in the U.K. medical journal The Lancet found that 21 percent of all breast cancer deaths across the globe are attributable to alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity and physical inactivity. Women can do nothing to control breast cancer risk factors like gender, age and family history, but making the right lifestyle choices, including limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and living an active lifestyle, can reduce the likelihood that they will develop breast cancer.

Take a break from your busy life, and make plans to join us to learn important ways to boost your health and well-being. Meet local health experts who will share tips to help you get healthy and stay healthy. Free clinical breast exams, cholesterol screenings, glucose screenings and blood pressure checks will be available, along with healthy snacks.

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Post-breast cancer exercise pointers

Surgery is often part of treating gery can affect how well women breast cancer. According to the move their shoulders and arms, as American Cancer Society, doctors pain and stiffness can weaken both may recommend women undergo areas. In addition, women’s ability to breast biopsies, lymph node biopsies or removals, lumpectomies, take deep breaths may be compromastectomies, or breast reconstruc- mised after surgery, and they may have difficulty performing normal tions as part of their treatments. Surgery is often an effective way everyday activities like dressing, to treat breast cancer, but it does bathing and brushing their hair. Exercise may seem impossible come with some side effects. The ACS notes that breast cancer sur- after breast cancer surgery, but the ACS recommends women exercise after surgery to get their arms and shoulders moving again. The ACS notes that exercise can be especially important to women who underwent radiation therapy after surgery, as radiation can affect movement in the arm and shoulder long after treatment has ended. Regular exercise after radiation treatment can help women maintain mobility in their arms and shoulders. Exercising after breast cancer surgery can restore movement,

but it’s important that women take into account the following pointers, courtesy of the ACS, before beginning a regimen. • Speak with your physician. Discuss exercise with your physician after undergoing surgery. Doctors may prescribe physical or occupational therapy, and some may even refer patients to cancer exercise specialists. Simply jumping back into your pre-surgery exercise routine can be dangerous, so bring up exercise immediately after surgery or during a followup visit. • Expect some tightness. Doctors may suggest women begin exercising a week or more after undergoing breast cancer surgery. It’s normal to feel some tightness in the chest and armpit after surgery, but the tightness will begin to subside as you exercise. Report any persistent tightness or pain to a physician immediately. • Some burning, tingling, numbness, or soreness may also occur.

These symptoms may be felt on the back of the arm and/or on the

chest wall and are often a result of the surgery irritating some of your nerves. The sensations of burning,

tingling, numbness, and soreness

may even increase a few weeks after surgery. But the ACS advises

women to keep exercising through

these symptoms unless they notice unusual swelling or tenderness, which should be reported to physicians right away.

• Exercise after a warm shower.

A warm shower may warm and re-

lax muscles, making exercise less painful.

• Dress appropriately. Com-

fortable, loose fitting clothing can

make it easier to do exercises, as such attire is not restrictive.

More information regarding ex-

ercise after breast cancer surgery, including specific exercise recom-

mendations, can be found at www. cancer.org.

Pregnancy possible after breast cancer More women are diagnosed with breast cancer than any cer treatment with regard to pregnancy.

Breastfeeding after cancer

other cancer. For many women, one of the more frightening

Infertility risks and preserving fertility

aspects of a breast cancer diagnosis is the potential impact

One of the main concerns women have after surviving receive, many women are still able to breastfeed. However,

Depending on the type of breast cancer treatment they

the disease can have on an area of the body often associated a breast cancer diagnosis is the risk of infertility. Susan G. if radiation or surgery has affected breast health, milk proKomen says both chemotherapy and hormone therapy can duction may be affected and the baby may have difficulty

with femininity and motherhood.

Cancer.net indicates the five-year survival rate for breast impact fertility and decrease the window of time a woman latching on. Using a breast pump to express milk may be an

cancer if the cancer is only in one breast is 95 percent. That has to have children. This is a particular concern for young option. However, commercially produced infant formulas rate dips to 85 percent if the cancer has spread to the lymph women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Che- also can provide the nutrition growing babies need. nodes. Even though this is great news, women may worry motherapy can damage the ovaries, while tamoxifen, a

Choosing to have children after breast cancer is a per-

about the long-term implications of post-cancer life, partic- commonly used hormone therapy, can cause irregular pe- sonal decision. Thanks to medical advancements, the possiriods or stop the menstrual cycle altogether. Both of these bility to conceive and raise a family is strong.

ularly how they relate to future pregnancy plans.

Early detection and improvements in treatment have treatments also may bring on natural menopause earlier markedly decreased the numbers of breast cancer-related than usual, according to the International Breast Cancer fatalities. However, the therapies used to treat breast cancer Study Group. can affect fertility and a woman’s ability to have a success-

Young women can opt to have their unfertilized eggs

ful pregnancy. While pregnancy after cancer treatment is or embryos frozen and stored prior to starting cancer treatoften safe for both the baby and mother, women should still ment. It’s important to meet with a fertility specialist early educate themselves about the potential effects of breast can- on to discuss options. Waiting game According to the American Cancer Society, some doctors advise breast cancer survivors to wait at least two years after finishing treatment before they try to get pregnant. No research yet indicates that getting pregnant will make

Stephanie Webb (252) 813-3109 stephaniewebbsemail@gmail.com

women more susceptible to the cancer coming back, nor will pregnancy increase the risks of birth defects or other long-term health concerns in children born to women who have had breast cancer.

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