The Pulse - OCTOBER  2005

Welcome! The Pulse is an online health and wellness journal created to bring readers a comprehensive view into today's most important topics. We hope you enjoy The Pulse and that the informaton you find here will lead to a healthier life for you, your friends and family.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. Worldwide, it is the most common form of cancer in females, affecting approximately 10% of all women at some stage of their life in the Western world. Although significant efforts are made to achieve early detection and effective treatment, about 20% of all women with breast cancer will die from the disease, and it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women.

Screening

Screening is the looking for cancer before its symptoms become noticible. The two primary screening methods are breast self-examination and mammography. Breast self-examination involves trying to feel breasts for possible distortions or swelling. For a very short outline of how to do a breast self-examination click here.

Mammography is still the method of choice for screening of early breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to detect cancers that are not visible on mammograms, but it has several disadvantages. For example, although it is more sensitive, it is less specific than mammography. It is also a relatively expensive procedure, and one which requires the injection of a chemical agent to be effective. It may be valuable for younger women, whose breasts contain less fat and more connective tissue, making it harder to spot cancers on mammograms.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute recommends screening mammography with a baseline mammogram at age 35, mammograms every two years beginning at age 40, and then annual mammograms beginning at age 50. Women with a family history of breast cancer should start screening mammography at an earlier age, and it is usually suggested to start screening at an age that is 10 years less than the age at which a relative was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is the process of determining the size, location, type, stage, and more about the tumors you might have. The actual process of diagnosis can take weeks and involve many different kinds of tests. Waiting for results can feel like a lifetime. The uncertainty stinks. But once you understand your own unique "big picture," you can make better decisions. You and your doctors can formulate a treatment plan tailored just for you.

Treatment

The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery, with possible adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Depending on the staging and type of the tumour, just a lumpectomy (removal of the lump only) may be all that is necessary or removal of larger amounts of breast tissue may be necessary. Surgical removal of the entire breast is called mastectomy.

Standard practice requires that the surgeon must establish that the tissue removed in the operation has margins clear of cancer, indicating that the cancer has been completely excised. If the tissue removed does not have clear margins, then further operations to remove more tissue may be necessary. This may sometimes require removal of part of the pectoralis major muscle which is the main muscle of the anterior chest wall.

Prognosis

The good news is the prognosis for surviving breast cancer when it is caught early are very good and getting better. The key is screening early and often and catching it as soon as possible.

Necessity as the Mother of Invention

Catherine E. McGrath, a friend of ours who has fought breast cancer herself, founded her own company, An Easier Recovery^TM, through her own personal challenges of fighting breast cancer as she endured surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and much more. She researched and created three products that helped make her battle a little easier and will make future breast cancer patients more comfortable.

The Jacki^TM is a jacket with special features that makes the wearer more comfortable through any phase of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery. It is very warm, comfortable and has pockets for holding the drains. It also has Velcro for radiation and exams and no metal fasteners for testing. The JackiTM should allow you to dress at home and stay warm all day without having to change at the doctor's office for tests, exams, (except X-rays).

Some of the special comfort features include:

• Soft materials
• Available in different colors and fabrics
• Easy opening Velcro buttons
• Cozy and warm
• Stylish
• Provides step in entrance when pulling over the head is not an option
• Allows you to dress yourself one-handed
• Sleeves provide both opening & closure over intravenous lines
• Velcro fasteners allow easy arm access for blood pressure or taking blood samples
• Helps your sense of well-being
• Enhances morale and self confidence

If you or someone you know has breast cancer, check out these products created by someone who has been there:
An Easier Recovery^TM