Breast Cancer Awareness 10/17/19

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2 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

INDEX Breast cancer survival key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Local shop helps breast cancer survivors . . . . . 6

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells that may form a mass of extra tissue called a tumor.

Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The most common type of breast cancer begins in the lining of the ducts — the tube-like part of the breast that milk passes through to reach the nipple — called ductal carcinoma. When it spreads outside the ducts, it is called invasive breast cancer (most breast cancers are invasive). Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the site of the initial cancer to other parts of the body.

RISK FACTORS Certain factors can increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer, although 70 percent of women with breast cancer have no known risk fac-

tors, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. These risk factors include heredity, early puberty, late childbearing, obesity and lifestyle factors such as heavy alcohol consumption and smoking. Studies from the NCI have shown that alcohol consumption can cause a 40 to 70 percent increased risk of breast cancer with two drinks daily.

However, the biggest risk factor of all is age. Most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and women over 60 are at the highest risk, according to breastcancer.org, a nonprofit organization for breast cancer education. In addition, a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, daughter or two or more other close relatives, such as cousins, have a history of breast cancer, especially at a young age. Yet 85 percent of women who develop breast cancer have no known family history of the disease.

SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER The scariest part about breast cancer is that you can have it and not even know it. Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain and there may even be no symptoms at all. However, as the cancer grows, it can cause any of the following changes: a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area; a change in the size or shape of the breast; nipple discharge or tenderness; inverted nipples; ridges or pitting of the breast (skin looks similar to an orange peel); and the way the skin

exams, combined with an annual exam by a doctor, improve the chances of detecting cancer early, which is the key to more treatment options and a greater chance of survival.

One way women can take an active part in the early detection of breast cancer, according to thebreastcancersite.com, is by following an early detection plan which means having: — breast examinations by your doctor every three years from ages 20 to 39 and every year thereafter — monthly breast self-examinations beginning at age 20 to look for any changes in your breasts — a baseline mammogram (the first one) by the age of 40 — a mammogram every one to two years for women ages 40 to 49, depending on previous mammogram findings — and a mammogram every year for women over age 50 Keeping a record of your self-exams and mammograms and marking your calendar with reminders will help you follow your early detection plan.

Educating yourself about breast cancer and creating an early PROPER BREAST SELF-EXAM detection plan, which includes Get in the habit of doing a breast giving yourself a proper breast self-examination once a month to self-exam, can help save your life. familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel. of the breast, areola (area surrounding Examine yourself several days after the nipple) or nipple looks or feels (red, your period ends, when your breasts scaly, warm or swollen). are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periEARLY DETECTION ods, choose a day that’s easy to Studies show that regular breast self- remember, such as the first or last day

of the month.

Step 1 — In the shower with fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine your left breast, and left hand for right breast. Check for a lump, hard knot or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

Step 2 — In front of a mirror, put your arms at your sides and inspect your breasts. Raise your arms high overhead and look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of skin or changes in the nipple. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Note that few women’s left and right breasts match exactly.

Step 3 — Lying down, place a pillow under your right shoulder, with right arm behind your head. With fingers of the left hand flat, press right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern, covering the entire breast. Use light, medium and firm pressure.

Squeeze nipple and check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Don’t panic if you think you feel a lump. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time, and eight out of 10 breast lumps that are removed are benign.

However, if you notice any changes that last over a full month’s cycle or seem to get worse or more obvious over time, it’s best to bring them to the attention of your doctor.

Potential breast cancer treatments . . . . . . . . . . 11 Breast cancer screening guidelines . . . . . . . . . 12 Breast cancer risk and reproductive history . 13 Breast cancer signs and symptoms . . . . . . . . . 14 Making mammograms more comfortable . . . . 15

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(MS) — Breast cancer has been a widespread disease for years. Its cause is unknown, and it knows no race or age boundaries for attacking mostly women. The numbers are startling.

According to thebreastcancersite.com, a Web site that helps fund free mammograms for underprivileged women, 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (one every three minutes) and 43,300 women will die (one every 12 minutes) of breast cancer this year.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that about one in eight women in the United States (approximately 13.3 percent) will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.

Talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer,

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especially if a close family member of yours had breast or

ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get mammog rams.

463-8500 | www.altondoctors.com

ON THE COVER: Denise Shampine, 62, of East Alton, Illinois, stands in the meeting room of Sister Support, a cancer support group for women, at Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique, 603 W. Delmar, in Alton, Illinois, an independently owned retail store specializing in mastectomy bras and swimwear, wigs and mature bras.

The specialty destination is owned by Carol Logan, of Godfrey, Illinois, the founder of Sister Support, a cancer support group for women, which she co-leads with Shampine, a nine-year breast cancer survivor, from 2 to 4 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique. All women are welcome, meetings are free to attend and refreshments are served. (Jill Moon|Hearst Illinois Media Group)

Breast Cancer Awareness

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Sharing key to breast cancer survival, support

By Jill Moon

jill.moon@hearst.com

EAST ALTON — Early detection saved Denise Shampine’s life — and she tells anyone and everyone she knows, “harping,” as she described it, to her friends until they schedule and complete an annual mammogram.

Shampine, 62, of East Alton, learned she had early breast cancer through a yearly routine mammogram, a benefit that her maternal grandmother, Beatrice Stanley, didn’t have in 1965.

“Back then, they didn’t have the technology. It was basically exploratory surgery, they didn’t know what to do,” said Shampine, whose grandmother, at age 66, died from breast cancer in 1966, one week before

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See SUPPORT | Page 5

A meeting of faith, fate

Denise Shampine, of East Alton, met Carol Logan, of Godfrey, when she learned about Logan’s cancer support group for women, Sister Support, while attending church where Logan’s husband, Rev. Mike Logan, was a guest pastor. Shampine began attending Sister Support when she and Carol Logan were the only ones at the meetings. Two years and much prayer later, a core group of 10 attend each month. Logan, the founder and facilitator, named Shampine as a co-leader of the group.

• Sister Support: Cancer Support Group for Women Connect with other survivors @ Roberta’s Boutique, 603 W. Delmar, Alton, Illinois • 2-4 p.m., first Saturday of each month • Anyone is welcome, meetings are free to attend and refreshments are served.

The next meetings are Nov. 2 and Dec. 7 Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique is a specialty retailer that specializes in mastectomy bras and swimwear, wigs and mature bras and, under the same roof, includes an upscale resale shop, Carol’s Closet, a boutique of gently used, fashion apparel, accessories and more.

Visit Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique website at brasandwigs.com, email Carol Logan at carol@robertaslovelyladies.com or call the shop at 618-467-0640 for more information and directions. Roberta’s/ Carol’s Closet retail hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and, closed Sunday.

Jill Moon | Hearst Illinois Media Group

Roberta’s Boutique owner Carol Logan, left, of Godfrey, Illinois, founder of Sister Support, and Denise Shampine, of East Alton, Illinois, stand in the Sister Support ministry meeting room at Roberta’s Boutique, 603 W. Delmar, in Alton, Illinois. Sister Support is a cancer support group for women, co-led by Logan and Shampine, a nine-year breast cancer survivor, and meets from 2 to 4 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique specializes in mastectomy bras and swimwear, wigs and mature bras.

4 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique’s meeting room for Sister Support and Mike Logan Ministries, led by boutique owner Carol Logan’s husband, at 603 W. Delmar, in Alton, Illinois. The specialty destination also includes Carol’s Closet, a boutique of gently used, fashion apparel, accessories and more. Rev. Mike Logan leads praise and worship at 10 a.m. the first and second Sundays of each month in Roberta’s ministry room. (Jill Moon | Hearst Illinois Media Group)

Breast Cancer Awareness

Support

Support helps

From page 3

Shampine’s ninth birthday.

Years later, one month before Shampine’s 40th birthday, her mother, Rhoda Hileman, at age 60, received a similar breast cancer diagnosis in 1997. Hileman had one breast removed; now she’s a 22-year survivor, based on the day of diagnosis because that’s they day the battle begins, Shampine explained.

“When this happened to my mother, I thought I had twenty years or so before I would really have to be concerned,” she recalled. “Well, I was wrong.”

Earlier, in 1994, Shampine found a lump during a self-breast examination. But, as an accountant, it was tax time at work and she couldn’t possibly think of doing anything before April 15, she recounted, incredulous when thinking back. A few months later, she had a lumpectomy and the finding was benign.

After that, she began seeing her doctor regularly and undergoing annual mammograms. The lumpectomy left an inconspicuous one-inch scar, compared to a four-inch visible scar 16 years later, said Shampine, now a nine-year breast cancer survivor.

“I always knew it would be ‘when,’ not ‘if,’” Shampine said about being genetically predisposed to breast cancer.

Sixteen years after the lumpectomy, she went for her annual mammogram in July 2010. A couple days later, Shampine received a telephone call from the mammographer, saying she had to come back the next day for further testing on July 22, 2010.

She remembers all the minute details of her life-threatening, but ultimately triumphant, journey, like most survivors do, said Shampine, who is a co-leader of the Sister Support group. The cancer support group for women’s founder, Carol Logan, who owns Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique, an Alton retailer specializing in mastectomy bras and swimwear, wigs and mature bras, also is co-leader and holds the group meetings from 2 to 4 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Roberta’s, at 603 W. Delmar.

Waiting in a room for results of the second mammogram, Shampine, then 53, wasn’t too concerned because she’d had to return for further views before, due to having dense breast tissue.

“I went for the test and was told to wait there until the doctor looked at the X-rays,” she recalled. “The technician came back, but

came back with another ‘white coat’ accompanying her.

“The doctor circled a white spot as the ‘area of concern’ and asked if I had a surgeon,” she said. “I knew this was not going to be good news.”

Shampine went home and later that day her doctor’s office called and told her she was to see a Siteman Cancer Center surgeon on Aug. 3. She took the last five years’ of mammogram X-rays to the appointment, as instructed.

“Before he had done any testing, he told me what he thought I had,” she said. “Microcalcifications.”

Microcalcifications are small calcium deposits that look like white specks on a mammogram. These are usually not cancerous, but if they appear in certain patterns and clustered, they may be a sign of precancerous cells or early breast cancer, which turned out to be the case.

Shampine’s doctor told her that 80% of the time, microcalcifications are not cancer, but 20% of the time, it is cancer, the percentage in which he thought she fell, especially given her family history.

“So, I walked down the hall for a biopsy,” she recalled.

Six days later, Aug. 9, she heard the result.

“It’s easy for me to remember the date,” Shampine said. “Those six days seemed more like six weeks.

“The test clearly showed that I, too, had become a victim of breast cancer, just like my mother and my grandmother. That caught me by surprise, because they were sixty and sixty-five. Turns out, I didn’t have twenty or so years to be concerned about cancer.”

On Aug. 26, she had surgery to remove the cancer and was back at work four days later.

Six weeks later she began radiation treatments, every Monday through Friday for five weeks, all while continuing to work.

Denise Shampine, of East Alton, also attends OSF HealthCare Moeller Cancer Center’s support group, The Caring Circle Education and Support Group for Women with Cancer.

• The Caring Circle Education and Support Group for Women with Cancer is held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every third Saturday of each month at OSF HealthCare Moeller Cancer Center, 2200 Central Ave., Alton, Illinois. The next meeting is Oct. 19.

• The program offers a monthly theme and activity and is facilitated by registered nurse Karen Boyd, the oncology charge nurse, and registered medical assistant Heather Jones, a patient navigator.

• Caring Circle is led by experienced cancer-care professionals from OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Moeller Cancer Center and offers women with cancer a chance to connect with other women about their experiences. A light continental breakfast is provided.

For more information or to register, contact Boyd at 618-463-5629, or Jones at 618-474-6791.

“I was in denial,” Shampine said. “They had it wrong, it wasn’t really cancer.”

But, on Sept. 25, that changed.

“I was undergoing simulated radiation, when they were lining me up, adjusting me, marking me up,” recalled Shampine of the process by which radiation treatment fields are defined, filmed and marked out on patients’ skin. “I felt like a roadmap. That’s when it hit me, like a ton of bricks, and tears are just rolling, thinking, ‘This is serious. I could die.’”

On Nov. 10, she had her last radiation treatment, and thought the worst of the battle was over, but not yet, though the cancer treatment worked, according to test results.

Two days later, she became extremely ill.

First, she thought she had a flu, because of experiencing similar symptoms. By Monday morning, she wasn’t better, so she called her doctor. She saw him that afternoon and was told a burn she had from radiation had become infected.

He prescribed a strong antibiotic for five weeks and it seemed the infection was gone by that third week of December.

“I was glad this was over,” she said.

But three weeks later, the infection returned. It started on a Friday night. She called her doctor’s office Saturday morning, but being a weekend, was told to go to an emergency room, to which her youngest of two sons — Jonathan Boker, 32, and Chris-

• Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 5

topher Boker, 35 — drove his mother that afternoon. She stayed overnight in order to get intravenous antibiotics and was sent home the next day with oral antibiotics.

After four weeks of seeing another one of her doctors, and then seeing two more and having more tests, on her father James Shampine’s birthday, she was told she had to have two more biopsies — one on each breast.

“They were looking for cancer once again,” she said. “As I sat waiting for the nurse to schedule the biopsies, I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I’m where I was six months ago.’ Tears just started streaming down my face.”

Still, like she always had, she went to church that Wednesday night for bible study, on Feb. 9, 2011. Before the service, she told her pastor that she needed prayer, that she was going to have two biopsies Feb. 15. He prayed for her after bible study.

“I knew immediately that God had healed me completely of this infection that had been in my body for the past three months,” she said. “The next day I received a phone call, saying my biopsies were postponed.”

She saw two of her doctors on Feb. 15, when the biopsies were rescheduled for Feb. 22. Before the rescheduled appointment, she was told surgery was postponed again, but that she still had to see her trio of doctors that day, when her surgeon had her see a wound care specialist. She never had the biopsies and the specialist had her stop taking the antibiotic that she had taken for eight consecutive weeks. It was the day before her birthday.

“The infection was gone and never came back, because God healed me on February 9th, 2011,” Shampine said. “But, early detection for breast cancer is the key to survival.”

Reach Jill Moon at 618-208-6448 and Twitter @jill_moon.

6 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Roberta’s commitment strong for women after reconstruction surgery

Alton specialty shop offers compassionate services

By Jill Moon

jmoon@thetelegraph.com

ALTON — Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique caters to women with mastectomy needs, fitting and providing products such as bras and breast forms, as well as other needs for those who are undergoing radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Owner Carol Logan, of Godfrey, enhanced the services offered at the destination specialty retailer by founding a cancer support group for women named Sister Support, which Logan facilitates. Sister Support meets from 2 to 4 p.m., the first Saturday of each

month, in the ministry room at Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique, 603 W. Delmar, Alton.

Logan co-leads Sister Support with Denise Shampine, of East Alton, who learned of the support group while

attending church where Logan’s husband, Rev. Mike Logan, was a guest pastor from Mike Logan Ministries.

“When Mike mentioned the group, I really felt like I needed to help with it,” Shampine recalled.

All women are welcome at Sister Support, the meetings are free to attend and refreshments are served.

Shampine began attending Sister See SHOP | Page 10

Meetings of hope, faith

• Sister Support: Cancer Support Group for Women Connect with other survivors @ Roberta’s Boutique, 603 W. Delmar, Alton, Illinois • 2-4 p.m., first Saturday of each month • Anyone is welcome, meetings are free to attend and refreshments are served.

The next meetings for this year are Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

Professional Care from Professionals Who Care

“Funeral Directors Since 1901”

For Breast Cancer Awareness

Carol Logan, of Godfrey, Illinois, owner of Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique, 603 W. Delmar in Alton, Illinois, and founder of Sister Support, a cancer support group for women.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique.

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Courtesy photo by John Dunphy

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8 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness

• Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 9

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10 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Shop From page 6

Support when she and Carol Logan were the only ones at the meetings, but they didn’t give up and Logan named Shampine as her co-leader. Two years and much prayer later, a core group of 10 attend each month.

Mike Logan Ministries also uses Roberta’s ministry room, leading praise and worship at 10 a.m. the first and second Sundays of each month.

About three years ago, Carol Logan also added an upscale resale shop, Carol’s Closet, adjacent to Roberta’s at the same address, for women who would like to dress fashionable without breaking the bank. Carol’s Closet is a boutique of gently used fashion apparel, accessories and more.

Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique is one of the few retailers in the region offering mastectomy needs services. Surgeons and oncologists refer patients to Roberta’s.

“This place is booming, God has blessed us,” Logan said. “God couldn’t have

put me in a better place to work.”

Clients come from within 100 miles for Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique for personalized expert service, for certified specialization in fitting women after mastectomies, which is required for Medicare to help with related costs and insurance regulations.

Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique’s mastectomy specialty inventory includes breast forms; mastectomy bras; and, customized swimsuits. The shop also carries mature bras for larger-busted women.

And, the boutique carries a wide selection of wigs.

“It was more like a ministry or service than a store,” Logan noted.

Visit Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique website at brasandwigs.com, email Carol Logan at carol@robertaslovelyladies.com or call the shop at 618-467-0640 for more information and directions. Roberta’s/ Carol’s Closet retail hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and, closed Sunday.

Reach Jill Moon at 618-208-6448 and Twitter @jill_moon.

Roberta’s Lovely Ladies Boutique Facebook page

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Breast Cancer Awareness

• Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 11

Potential treatment options after a breast cancer diagnosis For Breast Cancer Awareness

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.

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12 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer screening guidelines For Breast Cancer Awareness

Cancer screenings are widely recognized as a vital component of personal healthcare.

Catching cancer in its earliest stages greatly improves patients’ survival rates, and screening is often the most effective way to find cancer before it grows and spreads to other parts of the body.

Women who recognize the importance of breast cancer screenings are also likely recognize just how conflicting advice about screening is. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists breast cancer screening recommendations from seven different organizations on their website. These organizations include the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Women who visit the site expecting consensus among these respected organizations might be surprised to learn that no such universal agreement exists.

Breast cancer is a complicated disease, so it’s understandable why there would be differences of opinion within the medical community regarding when women should and should not be screened. But recognizing that breast cancer screening is a complicated issue won’t help women learn when they should be screened.

Working with a physician they trust and being open and honest about their health and their family history of breast cancer can help women make the most informed decisions about when and how often to be screened.

In the meantime, women can consider these screening guidelines from Memorial

Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose cancer experts devised the guidelines based on their extensive experience treating breast cancer patients.

Women at average risk The MSKCC defines being at average risk as having: • no symptoms of breast cancer • no history of invasive breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread beyond the milk ducts) • no history of ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule) • no history of atypia (atypical hyperplasia, a form of benign breast disease)

• no family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) • no suggestion or evidence of a hereditary syndrome such as a BRCA mutation (evidence would be multiple first- and/ or second-degree relatives with breast cancer or ovarian cancer) • no history of mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and some other conditions) MSKCC recommends that women between the ages of 25 and 40 who are at average risk schedule an annual clinical breast examination. Women 40 and older should have an annual mammogram in addition to their annual clinical breast

exam. Women with dense breast tissue may be advised to have an ultrasound as well.

All women should consider performing monthly self breast exams beginning at age 20.

Doing so helps women become familiar with their breasts, and that familiarity may alert them to abnormalities down the road.

Women at above-average risk Women whose risk of developing breast cancer is above-average face more complicated screening decisions.

This includes women with a family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child); history

of atypical hyperplasia (a form of benign breast disease); history of lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule); history of mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and some other conditions) before the age of 32; genetic predisposition for breast cancer (for example, women with a BRCA mutation). For screening guidelines specific to each of those situations, visit the Memorial Sloan Ketting Cancer Center online at www.mskcc.org.

Breast cancer screenings are important, and women should speak with their physicians to determine the right guidelines for them.

Breast Cancer Awareness

How reproductive history can affect breast cancer risk For Breast Cancer Awareness

Various factors can contribute to the development of breast cancer. Many women may not be aware that their own reproductive history could be affecting their risk.

Data published by Frontiers Research: Oncology, which has culled information from the Metastasis Research Library, School of Cancer Medicine and Robinson Research Institute, among other medical groups in Australia, indicates there is a correlation between the amount of reproductive estrogen present in a woman’s body and her chances of developing breast cancer. There is evidence that women who either enter menarche at a young age or cease menstruation at a later age, have an increased risk for breast cancer. Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone during menstrual cycles can affect mammary epithelial cells, immune cells and the extracellular matrix, according to a 2011 study titled “The immune hallmarks of cancer,” that was published in the journal Immunotherapy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says women who had early menstrual periods (before age 12) or those who started menopause after age 55 are exposed to estrogen longer, increasing their risk of getting breast cancer. Susan G. Komen® advises that, according to a pooled analysis of data from

more than 400,000 women, for every year older a woman was at menopause, her breast cancer risk increased about 3 percent.

Prior to menopause, estrogen in the bloodstream is largely caused by the production of estrogen in the ovaries.

After menopause, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen naturally, estrogen can be produced by stores in body fat. Women who have a higher concentration of body fat or are largely sedentary may have higher levels of estrogen, which affects their cancer risk.

Conversely, although reproductive hormones are elevated during pregnancy, having children helps reduce breast cancer risk over time. Data published in the Lancet in 2002 reveals after a transient increase in risk for breast cancer, peaking at about five years after giving birth, having at least one child is associated with a decrease in the long-term risk of developing breast cancer compared with the risk among women who never had children. This protective effect increases with number of children had; each birth reduces the relative risk of breast cancer by about 7 percent.

Reproductive history is another consideration in breast cancer development.

Women can speak to their gynecologists if they suspect a high risk due to estrogen exposure.

• Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 13

14 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer signs and symptoms For Breast Cancer Awareness

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 in or near the breast or- underarm could indicate the presence of breast cancer.

Some women may notice changes in the skin texture or an enlargement of the pores in the skin of their breast. In many instances, skin texture has been described as being similar to the texture of an orange peel. Lumps in the

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of finding breast cancer early.

Make a difference!

Spread the word about mammograms, and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

breast also may indicate breast cancer, though not all lumps are cancerous.

• Change in appearance of the breast or nipple: Unexplained 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 clear or bloody discharge, could be a sign of breast cancer. The NBCF also advises women that a milky discharge when they are not breastfeeding is not linked to breast cancer but should be discussed with a physician.

Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer can increase the likelihood of early diagnosis, which greatly improves women’s chances of surviving this disease.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Learn to make mammograms more comfortable For Breast Cancer Awareness

Mammograms remain one of the best methods to detecting breast cancers, giving women the opportunity to start treatment early if cancer is detected. In countries with early access to quality screening and treatment, breast cancer survival rates are now greater than 80 percent.

The organization Mammography Saves Lives says that, since 1990, mammography has helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the United States by 40 percent.

Mammograms usually take around 20 minutes.

During a traditional mammogram, a woman’s breast is placed between two plates. One plate holds the breast in place, while

the other takes images, and the breasts must be compressed to get clear pictures of breast tissue.

Some women find the process to be uncomfortable.

Even though mammograms can be essential parts of preventive healthcare, many women avoid them because of pain and other discomfort. However, women should not put off mammograms because they are worried about discomfort. There are many ways to avoid pain during mammograms that can make the entire experience more comfortable.

• Schedule the mammogram for a week after a menstrual period when hormonal swings are less likely to increase breast sensitivity.

• Caffeine can make the breasts more tender.

Reducing caffeine consumption for two weeks before the mammogram can help.

• Keep your feet and trunk facing forward and simply turn your head at the mammogram machine.

• Reduce tension by breathing deeply a few times before the procedure.

• Try a pain reliever before the mammogram.

• Ask the mammography center if it has padding, as cushioning between the breasts and the plates of the mammogram machine can reduce pain.

By taking these steps, women may be more comfortable during mammograms, which can play a vital role in the detection and ultimate treatment of breast cancer.

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• Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 15

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16 • Thursday, October 17, 2019

• Breast Cancer Awareness

CANCER.

It’s personal.

Will I be able to work? How will I get to treatments? Will I lose my hair?

Will I see my children grow up? Where do I find hope?

Because no two cancers are alike, our team at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center will personalize a treatment plan to meet your needs. That is why we designed the new OSF Moeller Cancer Center as an all-in-one facility, so you can focus on what is important to you – getting back to your life.

We’re by your side from diagnosis through treatment.

Because for all of us – it’s personal.

To learn more, visit osfhealthcare.org/cancercare.