October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

[Green Gaia]

2005 marks more than 20 years that National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has educated women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. This year, NBCAM is again reaching out to women with several key messages, most notably, the importance of early detection through annual mammography screening for women over 40. Mammography screenings are a woman's best chance for detecting breast cancer early. When coupled with new treatment options, mammography screenings can significantly improve a woman's chances of survival.

http://www.nbcam.org/

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In honor of National Readability Improvement Week ...

2005 marks more than 20 years that National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has educated women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. This year, NBCAM is again reaching out to women with several key messages, most notably, the importance of early detection through annual mammography screening for women over 40. Mammography screenings are a woman's best chance for detecting breast cancer early. When coupled with new treatment options, mammography screenings can significantly improve a woman's chances of survival.

 

[Green Gaia]

Well, I guess that nixes my idea of typing in pink for the rest of the month.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Well, I guess that nixes my idea of typing in pink for the rest of the month.

It was a nice thought, though!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Well, I guess that nixes my idea of typing in pink for the rest of the month.

It's the message that's important! Also, some pinks are better than others.

 

[michel]

A worthy cause; thank you for sharing that, Maize. My own wife can vouch for the necessity of awareness.

 

[Green Gaia]

October 21st is National Mammography Day. Make your appointments now, ladies!

 

[michel]

October 21st is National Mammography Day. Make your appointments now, ladies!

I understand that can be rather painful.....I feel sorry for you girls, you seem to get the rough end of it in many ways.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I understand that can be rather painful.....I feel sorry for you girls, you seem to get the rough end of it in many ways.

Thanks for the commiseration, Michel!

(I don't mind it, but I thought it only fair to give you a heads-up: a lot of individuals of the female persuasion prefer to be called 'women'. )

 

[Valjean]

Had a patient last night, only 38 years old, Native American, primary diagnoses breast cancer, post mastectomy, now with metastases to bone and brain, prognosis grave. Inexplicably, she still maintains a positive outlook and remains engaged in the world.

Her husband was a Uranium miner, now dead of cancer. I can't help wonder weather his exposure to radiation, in pursuit of the American nuclear arsenal, contributed to her cancer.

 

[Draka]

Ironically, my awareness comes this month in the form of having to have a mammogram at the age of 29. My appointment for it will be set up probably in a day or so. At least it is later than my aunt and cousin...both in mid twenties, and my aunt had breat cancer and my cousin a benign growth removed. Ladies, this is a warning to you. You are never too young to have a mammogram and to be checked regularly. Cancer strikes at every age...don't think you have to be 40 before you need to worry about it.

 

[Green Gaia]

Men can get it too.

Breast cancer in men
By MayoClinic.com

Q: What can you tell me about male breast cancer? I am in my 60s and just had a cancerous tumor removed from my breast.

John/New York

A: You raise an important issue. Most information about breast cancer is appropriately directed at women — because 99 percent of breast cancers occur in women. But the 1 percent of breast cancers that occur in men are important as well. Unfortunately, cancer of the male breast is usually in a more advanced stage when detected. This is likely due to the lack of routine self-examination and screening in men.

In men, breast cancer is rare before age 60. Men with a family history of breast cancer are at greater risk of the disease. Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer are similar to those in women and may include:

* A lump in the tissue beneath the nipple area
* Discharge from the nipple

Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer at the time of detection but may include:

* Surgical removal of the tumor (mastectomy)
* Radiation
* Chemotherapy
* Hormone therapy, such as tamoxifen

Treatment seems to be as effective in men as in women. Survival rates in men are similar to those in women for breast cancer of the same stage. However, breast cancer in men is more likely to be hormone sensitive. For this reason, hormone therapy is often used as part of treatment.

Because male breast cancer is rare, routine mammograms aren't recommended for men. But if you find a lump in your breast, tell your doctor about it promptly.

 

[michel]

Thanks for the commiseration, Michel!

(I don't mind it, but I thought it only fair to give you a heads-up: a lot of individuals of the female persuasion prefer to be called 'women'. )

ooops - and there I was, trying to make out you are all so young and vivatious.

 

[Bastet]

ooops - and there I was, trying to make out you are all so young and vivatious.

So, to be a 'woman' is to be neither of those things? You're just digging yourself into a deeper hole here, michel.