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Get in the Know
What is Breast Cancer? | |
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both of the breasts. Breast cancer usually develops in the ducts or lobules, also known as the milk-producing areas of the breast. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). Breast cancer is much less common in males; by comparison, the disease is about 100 times more common among women.
Learn more in both our featured articles!
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| Pumpkin Nut Bread! | 
| "Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The weather starts to cool down and we can enjoy breakfast outside. One of my favorite breakfasts is a cup of coffee and a slice of pumpkin bread. This recipe has been in my family for years and I still enjoy it today." - Heather
Ingredients:
2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 cup pumpkin 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Stir first 6 ingredients together. Combine pumpkin, sugar, milk and eggs in a bowl. Add dry ingredients and butter. Mix until flour is moist. Stir in nuts. Bake in 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pan for 65 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. |
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Greetings!
This month I am going to deviate slightly from our senior focus and instead highlight a disease which has impacted many of my friends and family. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. In 2009, an estimated 40,170 women died from the disease. But there is still hope. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Breast cancer touches the lives of so many. I'm sure it has touched the life of someone you know.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Desert Gazette, Desert Care Management's newsletter. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have, as we strive to make this publication a resource for our friends, families and colleagues.
Wishing you good health, Heather
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Types of Breast Cancer
There are several different types of breast cancer that can be divided into two main categories - noninvasive cancers and invasive cancers. Noninvasive cancer may also be called "carcinoma in situ." Noninvasive breast cancers are confined to the ducts or lobules and they do not spread to surrounding tissues. The two types of noninvasive breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (referred to as DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (referred to as LCIS).
It is known that hormones in a woman's body, such as estrogen and progesterone, can play a role in the development of breast cancer. In breast cancer, estrogen causes a doubling of cancer cells every 36 hours. The growing tumor needs to increase its blood supply to provide food and oxygen. Progesterone seems to cause stromal cells (the woman's own cells to send out signals for more blood supply to feed the tumor. (Source: Dr. V. Craig Jordan, vice president and scientific director for the medical science division at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia as quoted in NY Times, Hormones And Cancer: By Gina Kolata, Published: December 26, 2006)
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Early Detection is Key to Survival
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One of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Additional changes that may also be signs of breast cancer include:
- Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast
- Change in breast size or shape
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
- Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
- Pulling in of the nipple
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast
- An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple
Mammography screening remains the best available method to detect breast cancer early. However, no medical test is always 100 percent accurate, and mammography is no exception. Research is under way to improve the technology to lead to better accuracy and to create new technologies.
It is important for women to practice the elements of good breast health. It is suggested women:
- Obtain regular mammography screening starting at the age of 40
- Obtain annual clinical breast exams
- Perform monthly breast-self exams
- Obtain a risk assessment from a physician
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