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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
B
reast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. It’s a month for educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health. Although many strides have been made in awareness and treatment, much remains to be accomplished. This month is a collaboration of national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease and provide greater access to services.
Living legacy
Pink Ribbon Run marks 8 years celebrating courage, filling needs
ALISA HRUSTIC newsroom@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — Every October, hundreds of people gather to fight the crisp air as they walk or run through downtown Cedar Falls. Rosy faces and pink attire form a sea of support during the community’s collective battle against breast cancer during the annual Pink Ribbon Run. E i g h t years ago, Community Main Michelle Street deFriedley c i d e d to organize a 5K that would stand for a purpose. At the time, Pam Dowie was in the infancy of her involvement with breast cancer issues, a cause that corresponded with the committee’s vision of what the run should represent. And so the Pink Ribbon Run was born. Dowie’s desire to find solutions to those issues formed after her daughter, Michelle Friedley, who was a mother of two young boys, lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 32. After her daughter’s death, Dowie joined the Beyond Pink Team. The Beyond Pink Team is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization whose mission is “to provide breast cancer prevention, education, support, and advocacy for comprehensive quality care for all in the Cedar Valley and surrounding communities,” according to their website. They provide a plethora of services for women living with breast cancer including: support groups, a quarterly newsletter, free and low-cost mammograms, advocacy efforts to
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
The 2013 Pink Ribbon Run drew more than 600 participants to downtown Cedar Falls.
Pink Ribbon Run MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
Pink running shoes and laces, pink Tshirts and other pink gear will be the order of the day Saturday as runners line up for the annual Pink Ribbon Run. The race begins at 8 a.m., leaving and returning in front of the Cedar Falls Community Center. Participants can also choose to walk the route. There will be special recognition for breast cancer survivors before the race end breast cancer and special events. Friedley was diagnosed at the age of 29 in 2001. At that time, there were many other young mothers who
begins, and during a program following the run. Panera Pink Ribbon bagels, awards and door prizes provided by downtown Cedar Falls merchants, follow the eighthannual event. Late registration is $35. To register online, visit www.beyondpinkteam.org and click “Special Events.” The event is organized by the Cedar Falls Community Main Street. To become a sponsor or to have a registration form
See Run, page H2
were fighting the disease, Dowie said. “Michelle really wanted to do something about all the needs that she saw,” Dowie said.
During her treatment period, Friedley had insurance that covered most of her medical bills and an understanding employer that gave her time off for her
chemotherapy sessions. “Plus, she had family,” Dowie said. “She had all of us around; she had an immense support system.” But Friedley noticed that a lot of other young breast cancer patients were not as fortunate to have the resources she had. She witnessed patients who immediately had to return to work after treatment and women who didn’t have insurance who expressed concerns about paying for things like gas or a babysitter. “Also, she didn’t have anyone to talk to about her issues,” Dowie said. When her daughter arrived to a support group in Cedar Rapids, she found that most of the women
were at least 40 years old, Dowie said. The Beyond Pink Team listened to all the concerns Dowie shared with them and have produced solutions with the money raised by the Pink Ribbon Run. Now, part of the proceeds goes toward a support group for younger survivors, education of new research discoveries and financial assistance for those who have the need. Last year, the run raised $51,726.77 with the combined effort of more than 600 participants, a stark difference compared to the run’s first year of 150 participants and approximate
See Legacy, page H2
From Finding To Treating Your Breast Cancer We Keep You Close to Home. Close To Hope. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Covenant Comprehensive Breast Center
Covenant Cancer Treatment Center
WheatonIowa.org/cancer
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Boston Marathon
Runner crosses finish line after marathon journey META HEMENWAY-FORBES meta.hemenway-forbes@wcfcourier.com
DIKE — It took four and half years of grit, sweat and tears. This year, Jacque Bakker finally chased down her dream. On April 21, Bakker crossed the finish line of the distance runner’s holy grail — the Boston Marathon. “It was an amazing day,” she said. “My family and friends were all around me. My co-workers back at home, there was so much support. It all kept me in the right place.” The right place surely had been hard to find. An avid athlete, Bakker had finally run a qualifying time in 2009 for the following year’s Boston Marathon. On Nov. 25, 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Boston was five months away. “I was thinking I could still do it,” she said. Her oncologist disagreed. She underwent chemotherapy from
January to June in 2010, with an additional targeted therapy until March that year. “The type of chemo and targeted therapy I had can cause heart troubles, so my oncologist said no distance training,” Bakker said. A nurse with Partners in OBGYN, Bakker admits that until her diagnosis her knowledge of breast cancer was limited. She is one of three women in her office, “three too many,” she said, who have been diagnosed with it. After 14 months of treatment, Bakker was declared cancer-free. She was elated. She would, however, have to re-qualify for the Boston Marathon. With her eye on the prize, she did just that and registered for the 2013 Boston Marathon. She toed the start line with a friend, whose goal was “to get me across the finish line,” Bakker said. They were stopped in their tracks when tragedy struck. Two bombs went off near the finish
line, killing three spectators and injuring more than 250 others. “I was a half mile from the finish with maybe four more minutes to run,” Bakker said. Bakker was among the 5,700 runners who didn’t get to finish the race and who were given automatic entry in the 2014 Boston Marathon. She finished in four hours, 24 minutes and 31 seconds. That feat now crossed off her bucket list, she has her eye on another milestone. In November, she’ll celebrate five years cancerfree, the standard benchmark to be considered a cancer survivor. Now Bakker is working toward a mountain of a goal — ending breast cancer altogether. She’s a member of the local Beyond Pink Team, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide breast cancer prevention, education, support and advocacy for comprehensive, quality care in the Cedar Valley and
surrounding communities. Beyond Pink offers support to women with breast cancer, free and low-cost mammograms and advocacy efforts to end breast cancer. She also has attended the National Breast Cancer Coalition Advocacy Conference to learn how to talk to legislators about what’s needed to end breast cancer. “The number of people who die from it hasn’t changed since 1970,” she said. “The efforts on ending breast cancer need to change. We keep asking for additional funding (for research).” Bakker also is a participant in a clinical trial for a breast cancer vaccine for her specific type of cancer. “I’m committed to helping end this disease. Through my work COURTESY PHOTO (with breast cancer awareness) I’ve met so many women of all Jacque Bakker celebrates as she ages who’ve had breast cancer crosses the finish line at the 2014 Boston Marathon. and that’s far too many.”
Upbeat attitude, support Splash of Color set for Oct. 11 team help mother cope WATERLOO — The Splash of Color Breast Cancer Support Group will have their fourth Annual 3K Fundraiser Walk on Oct. 11. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the walk at 8:30 a.m. at Sullivan Park on East Fourth Street. When participants return to the park, there will be a brief program, entertainment and light refreshments provided by Panera
HOLLY HUDSON holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com
SUMNER — As 2013 came to a close, Stacy Kuker was in a good place. She and her husband of two months were starting a new life with their children, and she was training for a new job that she loved. Then, the bottom fell out. Kuker found a lump in her breast. “It was horrifying,” she said. “I remember talking with my daughter, because cancer runs on her dad’s side of the family. She told me she didn’t think it was cancer. She said she would be the one to get it, not me.” On Jan. 8, Kuker, of Sumner, went in for a biopsy and was told she would get a phone call with her results the next day. “I couldn’t stand sitting at home,” she said. “I went to my sister’s house and kept checking my phone. It was about 3 o’clock when I got the call. They had gotten the test results back. She said, ‘I’m so sorry, Stacy,’ and I just lost it. “But they got the ball rolling right away. Dr. (Douglas) Duven said I didn’t need a mastectomy.” On Jan. 28, Kuker had her lumpectomy. They took out three lymph nodes and one tested positive. “They told me to start wrapping my head around chemotherapy.” Initially, Kuker went through four rounds of “pretty wicked” chemo while also on antibiotics for an infection she contracted during her lumpectomy. Then came 12 weeks on another drug, which caused numbness in her feet. But a positive attitude couldn’t prepare Stacy for the cost of cancer. Due to the physical nature of her job — working with people with disabilities — Stacy was not able to work during her cancer treatment. In the midst of her treatment,
Run
Funds raised provide grants to those in need From page H1 mailed, call Community Main Street office at 2770213. Runners will notice new trail markers on the course, which have been purchased by some registrants. The markers, says Stephanie Bardal, PRR race director, “is a way to remind us of why we are really here. There are so many in our community who are living with breast cancer, and those who have lost their
Stacy Kuker and her family
COURTESY PHOTO
Kuker had to quit her job, leaving the family with just one income. That’s when the Beyond Pink TEAM was able to help. “Cancer is so expensive. You just are really never prepared for the hardship of being off work, having extra bills and trying to make ends meet,” said Gabbi DeWitt, Beyond Pink TEAM member and Pink Ribbon Run committee member. The Beyond Pink Fund has awarded 349 grants since it began in 2008. They have provided over $184,000 in assistance. Grants of up to $1,000 are given to women or men facing a breast cancer diagnosis who are in need of assistance in Black Hawk County and surrounding counties. The assistance can be used for groceries, gas money, utility expenses, medical costs, etc. “The Beyond Pink TEAM is so fortunate to have the support of our community,” said DeWitt. “It is amazing to hear the stories of how the financial assistance has helped others when they’ve needed it. Isn’t that what community support is all about?” Kuker completed her chemotherapy on her 41st birthday and recently ended her radiation treatments. “Through all of it, no matter how sick I got, I was trying to be positive. I have kids, and I wasn’t going to throw in the towel on them.
“I’ve always been a very positive person,” Kuker said. “Life is a learning lesson. Each hurdle I come across has taught me a lot about myself. I didn’t realize how strong of a person I am. It’s been an eye-opener. If I can overcome this, I can overcome anything. “And I have a great support team. My husband, my kids, my sisters, in-laws and friends,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be all about me. I told my family, ‘Let’s do this together, as a family. Let’s take these steps and see where we come. “If you let yourself get depressed, it’s got you. That was not an option. I am going to beat this, and I’m going to be a better person because of it.” Kuker also found a new job at the CBE Group. “I am so blessed they gave me the opportunity,” she said. “They have been a wonderful extended family.” Kuker is philosophical about her experience with cancer, and offers simple advice for others who find themselves in the same situation. “All things happen for a reason,” she said. “I hate saying that, but it is so true. Because of the cancer, I’ve met so many amazing people. I am blessed. “Just try to have the best positive attitude you can,” she said. “That’s what gets you through.”
lives to this disease. It puts a focus on why the work of the Beyond Pink TEAM is so important.” Money raised from the Pink Ribbon Run is put into a fund at the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation. The Beyond Pink Fund has awarded 349 grants since it began in 2008, providing over $184,000 in assistance. Grants of up to $1,000 are given to women or men facing a breast cancer diagnosis who are in need of assistance in Black Hawk County and surrounding counties. The assistance can be used for groceries, gas money, utility expenses, medical
costs, etc. Last year, more than 600 runners and walkers participated in the event. The Pink Ribbon committee donated more than $26,000 to the Beyond Pink TEAM. It was the largest donation to the Beyond Pink TEAM in the eight-year history of the group, said Gabbi DeWitt, a PRR and Beyond Pink TEAM committee member. The committee has donated over $143,000 to the Beyond Pink TEAM since the race’s inception. In 2013, the Beyond Pink TEAM put that money to work by awarding grants that totaled over $51,000.
Bakery-Cafe. There will also be a $1 raffle, baked goods and items for purchase at the walk. All registered participants will receive an event t-shirt. Cost to participate is $18 for adults and $10 for children, ages 12 and under. Funds raised will go toward furthering the activities of the Splash of Color group, which provides support for women of color in the
community who are surviving breast cancer. SoC is a program of the Beyond Pink TEAM focused specifically on the needs of women of color, and funds raised specifically support their activities. For more information about SoC, call Cathy Ketton at (319) 493-8857; or go to the Beyond Pink TEAM website at www. cedarvalleybreastcancer. org.
Annual Trek ride ready to roll CEDAR FALLS — Ride for your mother, daughter, sisters, aunts and best friends in 2014 Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride. Europa Cycle is participating for the sixth time in the Oct. 11 event. Festivities and registration begin at 9 a.m., with the ride beginning at 10 a.m. Participants will start and end at Europa Cycle,
4302 University Ave. There are two options for the ride: a 12-mile trail ride or 26-mile road ride. Both are described as fun family rides for all ages and abilities. Helmets are required. Routes are marked, and there will be on-route support. A free t-shirt will be given to breast cancer survivors if pre-registered by
Wednesday. Participants are encouraged to wear their best pink costume, with a winner chosen. Prizes will be awarded, including a sweepstakes to win a Trek bicycle, and goodie bags for the first 150 pre-registered riders. To register, visit Europa Cycle or at www.europacycle.com.
Legacy
and door prizes. Sponsorship has grown along with the participants. Something Dowie is excited about for the years to come. The run also serves as a place for people to share their struggles. During the 2012 event, Dowie spoke with a young woman who at the time was diagnosed with breast cancer. The woman lived in Friedley’s neighborhood in Cedar Falls and was inspired by her story. Dowie explained that a special bench was put up in Friedley’s memory within the community’s trail system, and what the girl told her next is something that she will never forget. “This girl said that every
time she walks past that bench it gives her courage,” Dowie said. The 8th annual Pink Ribbon Run is scheduled for Oct. 4. As this year marks the 10th anniversary of Friedley’s death, Dowie couldn’t help but tear up in remembrance of her daughter, who she described as a loyal friend to those who were just as loyal, and stood by her throughout life. “Well, just like a lot of breast cancer sufferers, she was courageous and positive,” Dowie said, in tears. “And she’s known for her smile. She had big dimples and she always smiled, and she never felt sorry for herself ever. She was strong.”
Daughter’s memory recalls courage, strength From page H1 $12,000 of total funds raised in 2007. The run has grown steadily over the years as the public has become more familiar with its mission. “It just fell into place beautifully. It’s just been an amazing effort,” Dowie said. “Our first year, we didn’t even know if we’d have 100 people.” The run always offers a special recognition of breast cancer survivors, Panera Pink Ribbon Bagels, awards
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SUPP RT
THE FIGHT
THE COURIER IS GOING PINK FOR BREAST CANCER AW A R E N E S S M O N T H The businesses below have come forward To bring awareness and pay TribuTe To Those who have baTTled or are presenTly in The baTTle againsT breasT cancer.
3013 Greyhound Dr. Waterloo, IA 50701 319-233-8476 www.fdg.net
In Raymond and now in Jesup at 851 Douglas Street 319-827-3333 319-493-0134 ddtireiowa.com
702 Ansborough Ave 422 Washington St. Hudson, Iowa 50643 319-988-3587
Waterloo, IA 50701 Factorydirectmattressstores.com
Douglas Duven, M.D. United Medical Park 319-833-6100 www.breastcarecenteronline.com
2615 Rainbow Dr. Cedar Falls, IA 319-268-1272 www.loyaccounting.com
Shear Bliss Pet Salon “Your pet’s happiness is our Business!” 824 Ansborough Ave. Waterloo, lA 319-235-9851
2515 Falls Ave., Waterloo, IA 50701 319-235-6085
400 E Tower Park Dr Waterloo,IA 50701 319-226-8270 lowes.com
Auto Glass Register for the Oct. 11 Breast Cancer Awareness Bicycle Ride www.europacycle.com Cedar Falls
955 West Airline Hwy. Waterloo, IA 50703 Phone: 319-233-2286 Toll-free: 888-322-2286
510 State St. Behind Cedar Falls Library
Cedar Falls 319-268-9850
St. Clair Plumbing
500 N Cedar 527 Park Lane Waterloo, IA 50702 319-233-8911 www.clarkpo.com
3205 Hudson Rd. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-1117
La Porte City, IA 50651 319-342-3292
3015 Greyhound Dr. Waterloo, IA 50701 319-232-4242
312 Ninth St. SW Waverly, IA 50677 (319) 352-4120 www.WaverlyHealthCenter.org
Thank you To The business and reader participants in the support the Fight eFForts!
a donaTion of $400 is being made To The
american cancer socieTy
toFundresearch.
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e h T W on e L T B AT
kim neUendorF
Overcoming insurmountable odds everyday as an 18 year cancer survivor.
Brenda Hempen
Ask, BELIEVE, Receive! 5 1/2 Year Survivor! We Love You! Neil, Traci, John, Jack, and Justin.
Carol miller
diane CHandler
Cancer started the fight but you finished it! You strength and courage inspires us daily! You’re a survivor and an amazing mother, daughter, sister, and wife! Love, Your Family
Jaqie Yarrington
Survivor of ovarian cancer and two breast cancers. Fought all 3 and am grateful for every day God gives me.
Early detection has given us 9 more years of memories with many more to come. My mom is always there for me. I don’t know what i would do without her! Love, Stefani
marlene StriCker
miCHelle CHriStenSen
You taught us the true meaning of fighting the fight and never give up! Love you! Ted & Kim, Dave, Moe, & Shelby
Shelly has always been there for me and her family! I admire her strength and thank GOD she won her battle! XOXO Moe
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g n i t h g i F y l t n e Pres
Corinne rausCh
JoyCe Borglum
Cancer brings people together to Fight the Fight! Family and friends pray, hug, love in different ways after the battle is won! God’s blessings! Your bravery has been an inspiration to all who know and LOVE YOU!
HOPE ALWAYS! “The Girls” Traci, Karolyn, Brenda, Megan, and Shelley. :-)
Cynthia neessen
Breast CanCer awareness BiCyCle ride
My daughter who has been fighting cancer for 9 years.
We are dedicated to raising money for Breast Cancer research. Join us on Oct. 11 for our family friendly event. Details @ www.europacycle.com.
g n i v i n lo
y r o M Me
denean Bauer
Five years since we have seen your smiling face. You are thought of everyday. You were a shining example of God’s love. Miss You Denean!
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Breast cancer facts & figures Here are some surprising statistics from the National Breast Cancer Coalition, a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through action and advocacy.
Incidence
On January 1, 2010, in the U.S., there were approximately 2,829,041 women alive who had a history of breast cancer. In 2013, there was a 12.5 percent chance that a woman in the U.S. develops invasive breast cancer during her lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. In 1975, it was 9.09 percent. The incidence of breast cancer declined from 1999 to 2005, with the greatest decline among white women. Incidence rates have remained relatively stable since 2005. However, an incidence of in situ breast cancer increased from 2.8 percent from 2005-2008. (Stage O cancers are called “carcinoma in situ,” meaning “cancer in the original place,” according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.) In 2014, it is estimated that 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among U.S. women and approximately 2,360 new cases among U.S. men.
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In addition to invasive cancers, 62,570 new cases of in situ breast cancer will be diagnosed among U.S. women in 2014, approximately 51,933 of which will be ductal carcinoma in situ.
Mortality
American Cancer Society.
Racial disparity
Combining all age groups, white (non-Hispanic) women are more likely to develop breast cancer than black women. However black women are more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 90.3 percent of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer were still living five years after getting the disease, from 2003 to 2009. Among black women, approximately 79.1 percent were still living after getting the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the U.S., after lung cancer. About 40,000 women and 430 men in the U.S. will die from the disease in 2014. Mortality from breast cancer has declined faster for women under age 50 (by 3.1 annually from 19902010), regardless of race or ethnicity, according to the American Cancer Society Between 1990 and 2010, the cancer mortality rate for women of all races com- Risk factors bined declined by 1.9 percent Older women are much annually, according to the more likely to get breast
cancer than younger women. From 2006 to 2010, the median age for a breast cancer diagnosis was 61. According to results of the 4-Corners Breast Cancer Study, Hispanic women with breast cancer were more likely than white women with breast cancer to have characteristics associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, such as younger age at first birth, having more children, less hormone use and less alcohol consumption. Factors that increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer include: Use of combined postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, postmenopausal obesity, ionizing radiation, older than 30 at first full-term pregnancy, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, older age, breast density, long menstrual history, alcohol consumption, having no children, genetic factors. Factors than decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer include: physical activity, breastfeeding All women are at risk for breast cancer. Only 5 to 10 percent of those with breast cancer have a inherited mutation in the known breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) and 90 to 95 percent of breast cancer cases do not involve these inherited mutations.
7 things to know about getting a mammogram 1
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that’s used to find breast changes. X-rays were first used to examine breast tissue nearly a century ago. Today, the x-ray machines used for mammograms produce lower energy x-rays and expose the breast to much less radiation compared with those in the past.
2
Find a center that specializes in mammograms. The Food and Drug Administration certifies mammogram facilities that meet high professional standards of quality and safety. Ask to see the FDA certificate if one isn’t posted near the receptionist’s desk. When you find a facility you like, stick with it. Having all your mammograms at the same facility will make it easier for doctors to compare images from one year to the next. If you’ve had mammograms done at a different facility, have those images sent to your new facility.
3
When to schedule
4
What to wear
5
What to expect
The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. The breast is compressed between two plastic plates for a few seconds while an x-ray is taken. It is repositioned and compressed again to take another view. This is then done on the
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer W i d e s p re a d u s e o f screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms. Still, some breast cancers are not found by mammogram, either because the test was not done or because, even under ideal conditions, mammograms do not find every breast cancer. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful. For this reason, it is important to have any new breast mass or lump or breast change checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases. Other possible signs of breast cancer include: Swelling of all or part of
a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt) Skin irritation or dimpling Breast or nipple pain Nipple retraction (turning inward) Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin Nipple discharge (other than breast milk) Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast tissue is large enough to be felt. Swollen lymph nodes should also be reported to your doctor. Although any of these symptoms can be caused by things other than breast cancer, if you have them, they should be reported to your doctor so that he or she can find the cause. Source: American Cancer Society
Breast cancer treatment options The main types of treatment for breast cancer are: Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Hormone therapy Targeted therapy Bone-directed therapy Treatments can be classified into broad groups, based on how they work and when they are used.
It’s best to schedule your mammogram about a week after your menstrual period. Your breasts won’t be as tender or swollen, which means less discomfort during the x-ray. Wear a two-piece outfit because you will need to remove your top and bra. Do not apply deo d o ra n t , antiperspirant, powder, lotion or ointment on or around your chest on the day of your mammogram. These products can appear as white spots on the x-ray.
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Local versus systemic therapy
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other breast. Flattening the breast can be uncomfortable, but it is needed to provide a clearer view.
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Getting the results
You should get your results within 30 days. If you don’t, call to ask about them. If doctors find something suspicious, you’ll likely be contacted within a week to take new pictures or get other tests. But that doesn’t mean you have cancer. A suspicious finding may be just dense breast tissue or a cyst. Other times, the image isn’t clear and needs to be retaken. If this is your first mammogram, your doctor may want to look at an area
more closely simply because there is no previous mammogram for comparison.
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What you pay
Medicare and almost all private insurance plans now cover yearly mammograms, with no co-pay or other outof-pocket costs. Medicaid also covers mammograms. For information about free or lowcost programs in your area, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. The
Hilton Garden Inn of the Cedar Valley supports those who have
FOUGHT the FIGHT, AND those who are continuing to be
fighters.
7213 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls Iowa 50613
(319) 266-6611
www.hiltongardeninn.com
Local therapy is intended to treat a tumor at the site without affecting the rest of the body. Surgery and radiation therapy are examples of local therapies. Systemic therapy refers to drugs which can be given by mouth or directly into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells anywhere in the body. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy are systemic therapies.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy
Patients who have no detectable cancer after surgery are often given additional treatment to help keep the cancer from coming back. This is known as adjuvant therapy. Doctors believe that even in the early stages of breast cancer, cancer cells may break away from the primary breast tumor and begin to spread. These cells can’t be felt on a physical exam or seen
on x-rays or other imaging tests, and they cause no symptoms. But they can go on to become new tumors in nearby tissues, other organs, and bones. The goal of adjuvant therapy is to kill these hidden cells. Both systemic therapy (like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy) and radiation can be used as adjuvant therapy. Most, but not all, patients benefit from adjuvant therapy. How much you might benefit depends on the stage and characteristics of the cancer and what type of surgery you had. Generally speaking, if the tumor is larger or the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, it is more likely to have spread through the bloodstream, and you are more likely to see a benefit. But there are other features, some of which have been previously discussed, that may determine if a patient should get adjuvant therapy. Recommendations about adjuvant therapy are discussed in the sections on these treatments and in the section on treatment by stage. Some patients are given treatment, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy, before surgery. The goal of this treatment is to shrink the tumor in the hope it will allow a less extensive operation to be done. This is called neoadjuvant therapy. Many patients who get neoadjuvant therapy will not need adjuvant therapy, or will not need as much. Source: American Cancer Society
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What scientists say about myth that bras cause breast cancer The Washington Post
It seems almost preposterous that a study like this one had to be conducted. But apparently the belief that wearing a bra for long periods of time can cause breast cancer persists, and it turns out the issue hadn’t really been studied in scientific fashion. Until now, there has been just one academic look at this myth, back in 1991, and it was quite limited. But a new and rigorous examination of the issue concludes that “no aspect of bra wearing, including bra cup size, recency, average number of hours [per] day worn, wearing a bra with an underwire, or age first began regularly wearing a bra, was associated with risks of either [invasive ductal carcinoma] or [invasive lobular carcinoma] breast cancer.” The study by researchers
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at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle was conducted because “we saw those rumors on the Internet and we had the data to examine
this in a scientific way,” said Lu Chen, a researcher at the facility and a doctoral student at the University of Washington School of Public Health, who led
the team. It compared 454 post-menopausal women with invasive ductal carcinoma and 590 women with invasive lobular carcinoma diagnosed between 2000
and 2004 with 469 women who did not have cancer. The women, who were 55 to 74 years old, were asked about their brawearing habits as part of a much larger examination of breast cancer risk factors funded by the National Cancer Institute. The reasoning behind the cancer myth is that a bra, particularly one with underwire, somehow blocks the flow of lymph to an area beneath the armpit where bacteria and other waste products would normally be cleared from around the breast. It’s not clear how it began, but many note a 1995 book, “Dressed to Kill,” which pointed out an association between lower breast cancer rates in societies where women don’t wear bras and higher rates in cultures where they do. The book did not examine other possible explanations.
“This is a common confusion,” Chen said. “They see two things happening at the same time and they think one causes the other.” The 1991 study found that women who go braless had fewer breast cancers than others, but the difference wasn’t statistically significant. And the researchers suggested that the weak correlation might be due to the braless women being leaner; obesity is a known risk factor for breast cancer. Chen suggested that the reason for the lack of research since then is probably because the idea of bras causing cancer “seemed so implausible, so people didn’t look at it.” When she finally did, her research was able to establish that there is no connection. “It was one of the myths going around on the Internet,” she said. “But this notion has no scientific basis.”
What’s your breast cancer IQ? When it comes to your breast health, don’t be fooled by rumors and misinformation. Get the facts. Test your knowledge of 6 common beliefs about breast cancer from the American Cancer Society.
True or False? 1. You can get breast cancer even if it doesn’t run in your family. 2. If breast cancer runs in your family, you’re sure to get it. 3. You still need mammograms after menopause. 4. Men can get breast cancer. 5. Surgery and needle biopsies can cause breast cancer to spread. 6. There’s nothing you can do to lower your breast cancer risk.
Answers: 1. True. Most women diagnosed with 4. True. More than 2,000 men are SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
5 things to know: Telling your child you have breast cancer again and again, that your having cancer isn’t anyone’s fault, and that nothing they said or did made your cancer happen. 3. Explain that cancer is not contagious. Children, especially preschoolers, may think that cancer is like a cold, and that touching, hugging, or sharing space with a person with cancer might mean they will get cancer, too. Take the time to explain that cancer works differently from many other diseases, and that nobody can “catch” cancer from you. 4. Reassure them that the family will work together to handle the future. One of the most important things you can do is to explain to kids that even though changes will happen because of your diagnosis, you will work
together to make sure everyone’s needs are handled. This is especially important because many children fear they may be forgotten while the focus is on your health. Remind them that their needs will always be taken care of, and talk as a family about the specific ways you will make sure that responsibilities, both new and old, will be met. 5. Remind them that they are loved. During a stressful time or when a conversation isn’t going the way you hoped, the most powerful words you can say to your child may simply be “I love you.” Make a point to let them know they are loved and reassure them that those feelings won’t change, no matter what. Source: American Cancer Society
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Hearing the words, “You have breast cancer,” is an overwhelming experience. Telling your children about your diagnosis? That can feel just as overwhelming. That’s why having an idea of what to say — and how to say it — can be extremely helpful when it comes to discussing your breast cancer diagnosis with your kids. There is no one “right way” to tell your kids you have cancer, but there are some things you can say to help relieve their fears and communicate what this diagnosis means for everyone. Keep the following points in mind as you talk with your children, no matter their age: 1. Give them the facts. Some people may not want to “burden” their children with the details of their diagnosis, but it’s important for kids of all ages to get good information about what’s happening. Kids are often very aware that something has changed, and what they imagine to be true can often be much more frightening than reality. Give your kids honest and age-appropriate descriptions of what cancer is, how the disease or treatment might affect you physically, and how you may feel emotionally. Allow them to ask questions, and give them an opportunity to talk about their fears and feelings, too. 2. Let them know it’s not their fault. Children are the centers of their own world, and when something like a cancer diagnosis happens, they may feel as if they caused it to happen or that it is somehow their fault. It’s important to reassure them,
No one FIGHTS alone!
breast cancer — more than 85 percent — have no family history of the disease. Having a relative with breast cancer does increase your risk. But other factors such as age, being overweight, alcohol use, and hormone therapy after menopause can also increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
2. False. Having breast cancer in
your family doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it. Knowing your family history empowers you to tackle the risk factors you can control. It should also motivate you to get screened regularly so that breast cancer is caught early — when it’s small, hasn’t spread, and is easier to treat. Talk to your doctor about what your risk is, when you need to start screening, and whether you need extra tests beyond mammograms and breast exams.
diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Men should not ignore breast lumps and should get any breast changes checked. Still, breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than men, with more than 230,000 women diagnosed in each year.
5. False. Needle biopsies to diag-
nose breast cancer do not cause cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body. Nor does exposure to air during breast cancer surgery cause the disease to spread. Sometimes a surgeon does find more cancer than the imaging scans or X-rays showed, but in those cases the cancer was already there. It just hadn’t shown up on tests that were done.
6. False. While you can’t change certain risk factors — like being female and having a family history of 3. True. Getting older is not a reason breast cancer, you can do a lot to help reduce your breast cancer risk to skip regular breast health checks. In fact, your risk of developing breast as much as possible. In a word: lifecancer goes up as you get older. About style. Exercise more and eat healthier, especially if you’re overweight 2 out of 3 invasive breast cancers are or obese. Limit or eliminate alcohol found in women age 55 or older. As and quit smoking. Cancer prevenlong as you’re in good health and tion isn’t fool-proof, but being rewould be a candidate for treatment, you should continue getting mammo- sponsible about your health can go a long way. grams.
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Sunday, September 28, 2014
www.wcfcourier.com
• The Courier
Rise in double mastectomies fails to boost cancer survival rate BLOOMBERG NEWS
The number of women who have both breasts removed following a cancer diagnosis has risen to more than 1 in 10, even as a new study shows the surgery doesn’t improve survival over less drastic treatment. About 12 percent of women opted for a double mastectomy in 2011, up from 2 percent in 1998, according to a study released Tuesday by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Among those younger than 40, one-third underwent the procedure. The surgery, which gained added impetus last year when actress Angelina Jolie underwent the operation, carried a survival rate of 81 percent over 10 years in about 200,000 women studied. That compares with 83 percent for patients who underwent a lumpectomy, in which
only a section of a breast is removed, followed by radiation, according to the report. “We need to make sure women are informed of all the pros and cons,” said Scarlett Gomez, a research scientist at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California and Stanford University School of Medicine. The growth in mastectomies “begs the question of what the thought process is that women are going through, and what kind of information are they offered to enable them to make the best decision possible,” Gomez, a senior author of the report, said in a telephone interview. The findings suggest doctors should encourage breastconserving surgery when possible, wrote Lisa Newman, director of the Breast Care Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, in an accompanying editorial. The
SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
risk of developing cancer in the opposite breast is low, at 1 percent or less per year, she said, and most are found at early, highly curable stages of disease. Surgery removing both breasts may be tied to a fear the cancer could return or to cosmetic reasons, since women may have better results when both breasts are reconstructed
at the same time, the researchers said. The data was taken from the California Cancer Registry and covered almost every woman diagnosed with breast cancer in the state during the study period. The database didn’t include factors like a family history or a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, which could identify
women who were more likely to benefit from double mastectomy, according to Gomez. Jolie raised the profile of the double mastectomy last year when she underwent the operation after finding out she carried a gene that gave her a 60 percent chance of developing breast cancer. Jolie’s surgery was pure prevention, since she hadn’t been diagnosed with cancer. Most women getting the surgery see it as treatment for cancer in one breast and prevention of the disease in the other. Breast cancer will be diagnosed in more than 230,000 women this year, making it the most common tumor in women, according to the American Cancer Society. It trails only lung cancer in mortality, killing 40,000 every year. “When faced with a new breast cancer diagnosis, many
patients assume that they will achieve a survival advantage by pursing the most aggressive surgical strategy,” Newman said. The California study refutes those assumptions, she said. Still, some women may benefit from more extensive surgery and they should be informed of all their options, according to Newman. Patients should focus on learning about the different approaches in the first few weeks after diagnosis, rather than rushing into an irreversible surgery, she said. The researchers found other factors among the women that may account for some treatment differences. Minorities, those who had no insurance or government-funded care and poorer women were more likely to have just one breast removed than their white, wealthier counterparts with private insurance.
Deadline 2020: Moving forward with national mission to end breast cancer MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
Imagine setting a deadline when breast cancer would simply end. Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 has done just that. The mission is simple: To know how to end breast cancer by Jan. 1, 2020. Sponsored by the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the mission is to move beyond awareness. Breast cancer exists. Every woman is at risk. But awareness masks the hard truths that cannot be made better with a little pink ribbon, NBCC points out. The Beyond Pink TEAM thinks it is time to move forward with a new approach. Local BPT members have become actively involved with the NBCC’s Breast Cancer Deadline 2020. Locally, the
Beyond Pink TEAM has taken up this cause with the goal of seeing an end to breast cancer. Working to prevent breast cancer from ever occurring is key. NBCC is currently working with researchers and patient advocates on the Artemis Project for a preventive breast cancer vaccine. “No one gets breast cancer. No one dies of breast cancer,” said Christine Carpenter, a 21-year breast cancer survivor, Beyond Pink TEAM member and NBCC field coordinator. “A vaccine would do the one thing awareness cannot —save the lives of the women and men we love.” As a local group, the Beyond Pink TEAM is making sure this national message is reaching Iowa and the Cedar Valley. Advocacy Council Chair Carpenter and other
BPT members are working to inform citizens, policy makers, businesses, educators, healthcare and community organizations about the deadline and prevention of breast cancer. “It is time to move from awareness to prevention. If much of the resources that are currently directed at breast cancer awareness were redistributed to prevention, imagine how much faster we could start saving lives,” Carpenter said. “Until then, complacency will be the status quo in breast cancer. It’s time to stop advocating for the disease and instead advocate for a deadline to know how to end breast cancer.” In the Cedar Valley, Beyond Pink members are urging others to join the “Iowa Breast Cancer Deadline 2020” Facebook group. Anyone interested
can also sign up for NBCC”s National Action Network and receive Action Alerts with specific actions that you can take to advance the cause of knowing how to end breast cancer by Jan. 1, 2020. The Beyond Pink TEAM is part of the Cedar Valley Cancer Committee, and is a nonprofit organization made possible by the collaborative efforts of many health organizations, businesses and dedicated individuals’ throughout the Cedar Valley. The Beyond Pink TEAM focuses on breast cancer in the Cedar Valley, going beyond pink ribbons and trinkets, and focusing on taking action, educating, advocating and making a difference (or TEAM). For more Beyond Pink Team information, visit beyondpinkteam.org.
Pink events Pink Ribbon Run, Oct. 4. The race begins at 8 a.m., leaving and returning in front of the Cedar Falls Community Center. Participants can also choose to walk the route. To register online, visit www.beyondpinkteam. org and click “Special Events.” The event is organized by the Cedar Falls Community Main Street. To become a sponsor or to have a registration form mailed, call Community Main Street office at 277-0213. University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls is doing a Pink Out in nearly every sport (volleyball, football and soccer). The Black Hawks Hockey Team is doing Pink Outs on three consecutive Fridays in October. Splash of Color Annual Walk, Sullivan Park, Waterloo, Oct. 11. The fourth Annual 3K Fundraiser Walk begins with registration at 7:30 a.m., followed by the walk at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $18 for adults and $10 for children, ages 12 and under. Funds raised will go toward furthering the activities of the Splash of Color group, which provides support for women of color in the community who are surviving breast cancer. 2014 Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride, Europa Cycle, Oct. 11. Festivities and registration begin at 9 a.m., with the ride beginning at 10 a.m. Participants will start and end at Europa Cycle, 4302 University Ave. For registration information and fee, visit www.europacycle.com
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