Protecting those lovely lady lumps....

 

The company I work for is a corporate sponsor for "Run for the Cure" which takes place each year in late Sept or early Oct. Already we have started planning the runs, collecting donations, and selling merchandise. All proceeds going toward breast cancer research.

Breast cancer is a cause dear to my heart (having been affected in my own life by this horrible disease). I've lost a dear friend, a neighbour, a maternal aunt, and a cousin (in her early thirties), while watching another friend fight and (fortunately) win her battle.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women. In 2007, an estimated 22,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it. 1 in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One in 27 will die of it. But women are not alone, an estimated 170 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer and 50 will die from it.

The good news is: breast cancer mortality rates have declined by 25% since 1986. Incidence rates have stabilized since 1999. The 5 year relative survival rate is 86%.  With ongoing research, early detection, and preventive measures breast cancer does not have to be death sentence.

As women, we all need to do our part. Be preventive! Get familiar with our breasts. There is no need to follow a fancy routine for examining your breasts, just be familiar with how they look and feel so that you notice changes.

TOUCH

your breasts and feel for anything unusual. LOOK for changes and be aware of shape and texture. CHECK anything unusual with your doctor.

You can do this by looking and feeling in any way that makes you feel comfortable - in the bath or shower, when dressing, standing or lying down. If you find anything unusual or are worried, you should talk to your doctor.

Changes to look out for include:

Mammogram training

Size or shape

- e.g. one breast might become larger or lower than the other.

Skin texture

- such as puckering or dimpling of the skin.

Appearance or direction of nipple

- e.g. one nipple might become inverted (turned-in).

Discharge

- one or both nipples might discharge a blood-stained liquid

Rash or crusting

of the nipple or surrounding area.

Lump

in the breast or armpit.

Lumpy area

or unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesn't go away after a woman's period.

Pain

in part of the breast or armpit that is unrelated to periods.

** Remember that nine out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous **

Breast Cancer Commercial

Top ten preventions

1. Move it! Compared to no physical activity, exercising four hours a week has been
reported to decrease risk by over 40 percent.

2. Avoid having more than one drink of alcohol per day.

3. Be aware that taking birth control pills for five years or longer can slightly increase
your risk for breast cancer.

4. Eat right—a low fat, high fiber diet with lots of fruits and veggies may decrease risk by
15 to 20 percent. Also, be careful how your food is prepared.

Don't use plastic containers in your microwave or put plastic wrap over your food before microwaving it. Also don't place plastic water bottles in your freezer. A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers...This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body...

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

5. Weigh your risks and benefits before taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—

recent use of combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to
increase breast cancer risk, with higher risk associated with longer use.

6. If you do not smoke cigarettes, do not start. If you do smoke, ask your doctor for
help in quitting.

7. All women should become familiar with both the appearance and feel of their
breasts so that they notice any changes and have a physician-performed clinical
breast exam at least every three years.

8. Women 50 years of age and older should have yearly screening mammograms in
addition to yearly clinical breast exams.

9. Family history? Consult your doctor about receiving annual screening mammograms
starting at an early age.

10. Keep a healthy attitude and maintain your emotional health.