 |
 |
 |
 |
Every African American Woman Is at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer All women are at risk for breast cancer. The older you are, the greater your chance of getting it. Women who have a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer are at a higher risk, particularly if this occurred before menopause or in both breasts. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in African American women. Among women 30-54 and 55-69 years of age, African Americans have the highest age-adjusted mortality rates from breast cancer of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. African Americans with breast cancer face more than twice the risk of dying compared with white Americans, primarily because they are diagnosed at more advanced stages of disease.2 Until more is known about preventing breast cancer, early detection of breast cancer will give women more treatment options and the chance to recover. African American women's survival from breast cancer has increased in recent decades, from a 5-year survival rate of 46 percent of women diagnosed in 1960-1963 to 70 percent of women diagnosed in 1986-1993. However, this still lags behind whites, whose survival rate was 86 percent for cases diagnosed in 1986-1993. Early Detection is Your Best Protection The screening guidelines recommended by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are as follows: Annual screening mammography for women by age 40. Women under age 40 with either a family history of breast cancer or other concerns about their personal risk should consult a trained medical professional about when to begin mammography. Clinical breast examination at least every 3 years beginning at age 20 and annually after 40. Monthly breast self-examination beginning by age 20. Become familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts. If ANY change occurs, you should have a clinical breast examination by a trained medical professional. |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
| WEARING OF THE PINK RIBBON' A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about. The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?". With that the men all began to laugh out loud. The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your little ribbon looks against your blue jacket!" The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor." "Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?" "No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and her health." "Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah." "And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife," the middle aged man went on. "And she's okay, too?", the other guy asked. "Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and for her health." "Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?" "No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about." Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry mister". "So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, our mother and your friends. And here . . ." The middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can you help me put it on?" This is breast cancer awareness month. Do regular breast self-exams and have annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. And encourage those women you love to do the same. Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness. A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE, PLEASE KEEP THIS CANDLE GOING! In loving memory of Shelby Johnson, who left this world way too soon @ age 36, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do." Edward Everett Hale, American author and clergyman |
 |
| Breast cancer is probably the most feared disease among women because it's so common and its causes remain mostly unknown. But there are things we do know that can help you understand the disease � and protect yourself from it. Here are the top 10 facts: 1. Breast cancer is common, but not as common as heart disease. Although one in nine American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime (up from one in 14 in 1960), other life-threatening illnesses, including heart disease, are even more common. 2. Breast cancer kills. According to the American Cancer Society, 40,800 women in the United States will die from breast cancer in 2000. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer) for women in this country. It is the leading cause of cancer death for women aged 40 to 55. 3. Every woman is at risk. Some factors increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, such as entering menopause after age 50 or not having children. However, two-thirds of the women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors for the disease, says Elizabeth Woolfe, manager of education and special projects for National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO). 4. Early detection is the best method for successfully treating the disease. When breast cancer is found and treated in the early stages, the five-year survival rate is around 95 percent, according to NABCO. By its count, there are currently about 2 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Monthly breast self-exams and annual clinical breast exams for women 20 and older, combined with annual mammograms for women 40 and older, are the best methods for early detection of the disease. 5. Mammograms can help in the fight against breast cancer. The death rate from the disease could be reduced by one-third if every woman 50 and older who needed a mammogram had one, estimates the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Even so, mammograms miss at least 20 percent of breast cancers, according to Breast Cancer Action, a San Francisco-based organization for breast cancer survivors and their families. It's crucial to get your mammogram at a certified facility and follow up with your doctor. 6. You're never too old to practice early-detection strategies. The older you are, the higher your risk of developing breast cancer. Risk increases greatly after age 40, and about 80 percent of invasive breast cancers turn up in women over 50, NABCO reports. So it's a good idea for women to continue with mammograms, clinical exams and breast self-exams into their 70s and 80s. 7. Breast cancer can recur anytime. No matter how long ago a woman was treated for the disease, it may still return to the same area or to another organ, according to Breast Cancer Action. Although around 95 percent of breast cancer patients live at least five years past their diagnosis, the organization says, only half of them survive 20 years. However, the longer you go without a recurrence, the higher your chances get of staying cancer-free. 8. Eating right and exercising may reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. While a low-fat, high-fiber diet and regular exercise can't guarantee protection against the disease, they may reduce your risk of developing it. 9. Not smoking can improve your breast health. While most studies have not found smoking to be a cause of breast cancer, many have found a link between the two, according to NABCO. And some research shows that smoking can hinder a woman's chances of surviving the disease after being diagnosed. 10. Men can develop breast cancer too. In 2000, 1,400 male cases are projected to be diagnosed, according to NABCO. About 400 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer. |
| BREAST CANCER TIPS |
 |
|
 |
 |