Breast Cancer Awareness 1 Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop Sponsored by Y-ME
Breast Cancer Awareness 2 Workshop Goals Reduce fear Separate fact from fiction Learn things you can do
Breast Cancer Awareness 3 Workshop Topics What is Y-ME? Some Statistics What Causes Breast Cancer? What is Early Detection? Some Facts
Breast Cancer Awareness 4 What is Y-ME? Provides support for persons concerned or diagnosed with breast cancer Educates the general public about breast cancer
Breast Cancer Awareness 5 Some Statistics: The Bad News 1 in 8 women who reach 85 will develop breast cancer 192,000 new cases in 2001 (1% in men) Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer; every 13 minutes a woman dies Second leading cancer killer of women Overall leading killer of women
Breast Cancer Awareness 6 Some Statistics: The Good News 80% of breast lumps are benign 90% of early stage breast cancers are curable, often with breast conserving treatments Less than 5% of breast cancer occurs in women <40 Over 2 million breast cancer survivors
Breast Cancer Awareness 7 Breast Cancer Risk Factors Unavoidable Age Personal history Family history Hormonal history Radiation Possibly Avoidable Alcohol Obesity Diet Exercise
Breast Cancer Awareness 8 Non-invasive (in situ) Early invasive (local) Node involvement (regional) Metatastic (systemic) How Breast Cancer Progresses Lobules Ducts Nipple. Can Be Picked Up By Mammogram
Breast Cancer Awareness 9 What You Can (and should) Do Mammography Clinical exam by health professional Breast self exam
Breast Cancer Awareness 10 Breast Self Exam Video Tape Practice makes perfect
Breast Cancer Awareness 11 Treatment Options Surgery Lumpectomy Mastectomy Reconstruction Radiation Therapy Systemic Treatment Chemotherapy Hormonal Therapy
Breast Cancer Awareness 12 Paradoxes Knowledge is power Confidence in your doctor is important Everyone’s experience is unique Guidelines should be followed Ignorance may be bliss in the short term Only if it’s based in sound information You should seek second opinions It helps to talk with some- one who’s been there They’re likely to change Not in the long term BUT
Breast Cancer Awareness 13 Dealing With The Medical Establishment Take responsibility for your own health Be assertive about what you need—e.g., Time & respect Balanced information Holistic approach—whole body & mind Bring someone with you Bring written questions
Breast Cancer Awareness 14 Information & Information Overload Only you know what you’re ready to absorb Lots of news in papers & magazines Great peer counseling resource National Y-ME Hotline: Great paperback resource: Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book Lots of Internet resources
Breast Cancer Awareness 15 Things to Remember Cancer is not a death sentence 80% of breast lumps are benign (non- cancerous) 90% of early stage breast cancer is curable, often with breast conserving treatments We do not know how to prevent breast cancer Our only weapon is early detection
Breast Cancer Awareness 16 Things to Remember There are three things you can do to detect breast cancer early and improve the prognosis Have regular mammograms Have regular clinical breast exams Practice breast self exams There is support and help when needed