October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
The month of October is designated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although Breast Cancer generally strikes women, it also affects men. Healthcare providers recommend to all women over the age of 40 years old to get annual Mammograms. Approximately 39,510 women die annually from breast cancer in the United States. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than any other type of cancer except lung cancer. Early detection is critical to surviving breast cancer.
According to national statistics, 1 out of every 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Currently, there are more than 3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.
A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it. About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%).
Experts state what is alarming is the rate of breast cancer diagnosis is steadily growing. Experts describe the figures as a ‘wake-up call’ and say thousands could avoid the disease if they drank alcohol less, maintained a healthy weight and added more exercise to their daily routine. The rise has also been blamed on the fact that increasing numbers of women are delaying motherhood and consequently having fewer children.
Scientists believe some forms of breast cancer are triggered by the sex hormone estrogen, which is linked to obesity, alcohol consumption, having fewer children and not breastfeeding. They also blame hormone replacement therapy taken by millions every year to combat the symptoms of the menopause. Women are most at risk once they reach menopause and 22,900 new cases – almost half – occur among those aged 50 to 69. Doctors believe many tumors are caused by unhealthy lifestyles and are urging women to change their eating and drinking habits, particularly during the menopause stage of their life.
Experts have underlined contributing factors through studies of health risk that can be tied into a spike of breast cancer risk among women. Research has found that obesity increases the risk of breast cancer after menopause by up to 30 per cent. The overweight are also more likely to develop tumors. Fat cells produce estrogen and levels of this cancer-triggering hormone can be twice as high in obese women as those of a healthy weight. Alcohol is also thought to raise the levels of estrogen. Previous studies have shown that drinking even only one glass of wine a day can raise the risk of breast cancer by a fifth (20%).
More women are developing breast cancer and, although survival is improving thanks to breakthroughs in breast awareness, screening and treatment, we clearly have much further to go. A two-pronged attack is needed – commitment to research into the causes of breast cancer, supported by women arming themselves with knowledge of the risks that may contribute to the disease. Some risk factors, such as getting older, cannot be changed but the good news is that others can. By drinking less alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and getting physically active, women can reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
The importance of checking oneself and changing one’s lifestyle to minimize the risk is an important aspect of breast cancer detection and awareness. For further information, you can set up an appointment with your medical doctor or visit www.nbcam.org or any other source of health awareness organization that can help inform and educate you on Brest Cancer Awareness.
While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages.
Maverick County Hospital District offers a Breast and Cervical Cancer Service Program for local women. The Maverick County Hospital District encourages the importance of screenings for early detection and reminds the community that these services are available at the Maverick County Hospital District located at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program may be contacted at (830) 757-4907 or (830 773-1460.
The Maverick County Hospital District provides health care services not only to the indigent but also for every Maverick County resident needing health care services through its Physician Specialty Group Clinic, which may be contacted at (830) 757-4900.
The Maverick County Hospital District also offers an Oncology Chemotherapy Clinic to assist Maverick County residents stricken with breast cancer or any form of cancer to obtain their chemotherapy treatments at home in Eagle Pass instead of traveling to San Antonio, Laredo, Houston, Austin, or Dallas. For more information about the MCHD’s Oncology Chemotherapy Clinic, please call (830 757-4900.
MCHD Chief Executive Officer Terri Contreras-Patlan emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and detection and invites Maverick County residents to contact the MCHD Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program at (830) 773-1460.
In 2015 in the U.S., there have been 231,840 new cases of breast cancer reported. There has been an estimated 16,510 new cases of breast cancer detected in the State of Texas in 2015. There have been 2,710 deaths of breast cancer reported in 2015 in Texas.
Nearly 14.5 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2014. Some of these individuals were diagnosed recently and are actively undergoing treatment, while others were diagnosed many years ago with no current evidence of cancer.
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, covers free breast cancer screenings for all women and are now available throughout the country. The Affordable Care Act covers Preventive services such as Breast Cancer Mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women and Breast Cancer Chemo-prevention counseling for women at higher risk. If you have any questions regarding Breast Cancer awareness, early detection or on the preventive services covered through the Affordable Care Act contact your Medical Doctor or your health Insurance company and ask about this very important preventive measure to ensure better health to you and your family.
