1. Breast Cancer Awareness 1 Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop Sponsored by Y-ME

2. Breast Cancer Awareness 2 Workshop Goals  Reduce fear  Separate fact from fiction  Learn things you can do

3. Breast Cancer Awareness 3 Workshop Topics  What is Y-ME?  Some Statistics  What Causes Breast Cancer?  What is Early Detection?  Some Facts

4. 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

5. 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 40 -- 55

6. 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

7. Breast Cancer Awareness 7 Breast Cancer Risk Factors  Unavoidable  Age  Personal history  Family history  Hormonal history  Radiation  Possibly Avoidable  Alcohol  Obesity  Diet  Exercise

8. 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

9. Breast Cancer Awareness 9 What You Can (and should) Do  Mammography  Clinical exam by health professional  Breast self exam

10. Breast Cancer Awareness 10 Breast Self Exam  Video Tape  Practice makes perfect

11. Breast Cancer Awareness 11 Treatment Options  Surgery  Lumpectomy  Mastectomy  Reconstruction  Radiation Therapy  Systemic Treatment  Chemotherapy  Hormonal Therapy

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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: 800 221-2141  Great paperback resource:  Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book  Lots of Internet resources  www.Y-ME.org www.Y-ME.org

15. 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

16. 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