Women's Health

AWARENESS

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and can be a good time for women of all ages to become more well-informed and educated on the topic. Each year around 264,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those 264,000 women diagnosed, 42,000 die from the disease each year. It is essential that women and young girls become more educated on signs to look for in order to prevent a late diagnosis.

Signs of breast cancer can vary from person to person, but some common symptoms may include a lump in the breast or armpit, irritation or rash on the breast skin, flaking skin around the nipple and nipple discharge. Taking note of any change and reaching out to a health care professional with any concerns is an essential first step. Performing breast examinations on yourself may be as simple as feeling for new lumps or swelling. Also important to note is lumps may arise in women’s breasts for a number of reasons and do not automatically mean breast cancer is present.

A person with a history of breast cancer within the family is considered to be more at risk and should be more aware of signs to look for. The United States Preventive Task Force or USPTF recommends that women above the age of 50 receive a mammogram every two years. Women considered more at risk may begin receiving mammograms before the age of 50. Having regular mammograms can help lower the risk of dying from breast cancer, as it is one of the easiest ways to detect the early stages of breast cancer. Some additional ways to lower the risk of breast cancer can be as simple as insuring you are physically active and live a generally healthy lifestyle. Breast cancer does not affect only those over the age of 50, and women of all ages should regularly screen themselves. Talking to your doctor about any questions or concerns can help ease anxiety about the topic.

For me, the topic of breast cancer hits close to home, as my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer almost two years ago. The initial shock of the diagnosis was soon followed by fear of the unknown about what was to come. Treatment of breast cancer looks different for everyone, and for her it looked like surgery followed by intense chemotherapy and radiation. Her surgery was scheduled for just over a month after her diagnosis, and her treatments began soon after. I consider myself extremely lucky to have her with me today. To my Grandma Maureen: You are the strongest and bravest women I have ever come across, and you inspire me each and every day.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen helpline provides information about breast health along with local and national resources.

Tori Sarver is an intern for KC Parent. She is studying strategic communications with a business minor at CU Boulder.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

My dog is absolutely terrifi ed during Halloween night when the children come over to trick-or-treat and he will not let anyone pet him. He is usually very friendly to unfamiliar people. I think he might just be afraid of the costumes. Any tips on how to help him before Halloween? – Charlene Darlington

Many animals fear trick-or-treaters and children dressed in costumes. Normally, I talk about desensitization and socialization when animals are afraid of strangers, but if your dog is only afraid of people at Halloween, then I recommend putting him in another room for the couple of hours during the trick-or-treating since it’s only once a year. I personally put my dogs in my bedroom, use a white noisemaker, put on a TV show in the bedroom, and give them some peanut butter fi lled Kongs during that time. Hope you have a good and safe Halloween!

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I have a dog that was found stray three years ago and she doesn’t really like people. She is due for her rabies vaccination and needs some other boosters, but I am nervous to take her to the vet. I fear that she might bite the vet. What can I do to get her vaccinated and keep everyone safe? – Summer Jones

I highly recommend you muzzle train your dog. I am a big advocate for using more muzzles to keep people and pets safe. Check out the Muzzle Up Project online. They have muzzle games you can play to train her in a fun way and get her to not mind being muzzled. Vets love when people have their pets muzzled because that keeps them safe, too. Check out the website to learn more!

–Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

How long do cats live? – Makala (Age 6)

The average lifespan for an indoor cat is 12 – 18 years. If you keep them healthy by visiting a vet annually and updated on their vaccinations, then they can live much longer. Cats that live strictly outdoors have a shorter lifespan due to dangers they may face like illnesses, predators, and vehicles. Fun Fact: The Guinness Book of World Records reports a cat named Crème Puff who lived in Texas and ultimately passed away in 2005 at the age of 38 years and three days. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Noah is the ultimate nanny dog. He loves playing with children of all ages and would be thrilled if his future home had

kiddos for him to love and hang out with.

He loves other dogs so much, that we

recommend he goes home with another

dog to help him feel confi dent and secure. Noah is currently living in a Foster home and gets wonderful reports from his Foster family about how well-behaved he is. If you are interested in meeting this gentle and loving pup, email adoptions@ greatplainsspca.org for more information

today!

Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501(c)(3) no kill shelter, with a 98% live release rate, GPSPCA provides lifesaving services for approximately 4,000 animals annually in the greater Kansas City area. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities with which we are contracted, including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks Department and the Johnson County Sheriff ’s Department.

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in

KC Parent magazine. Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior and Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.