Updated: Oct 19, 2007 08:24 PM
By Lori Lyle
WAVE 3 Medical Reporter
LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Many of us use PDAs every day. The tiny hand-held computers can do everything from keep us in touch to keep us on schedule. Can they help battle breast cancer too? Medical reporter Lori Lyle tells us about a new study that is underway to find out.
As
a single mother, Laura Adkins leads a busy life. Between her job, her
daughter and chores around the house, she's constantly on the go. Like
a lot of us, Laura uses her PDA. But unlike most of us, Laura is using
hers to battle breast cancer.
"The PDA gives me a place, as a
framework, to put all of those emotions and symptoms and put it down
someplace and I can see what's happening to me," says Adkins.
Laura's
part of a new study launched by Charles Shapiro, MD, and his colleagues
at Ohio State University's James Cancer Hospital. Shapiro has been
treating women with breast cancer for decades, and has come to realize
how important information can be as part of that treatment.
"What we're asking patients to do is record their symptoms in real time and then present these to the doctor," says Shapiro.
So
every time patients like Laura experience pain, fatigue or depression,
they simply jot it down on specially designed PDAs. Shapiro says that's
helpful, because women may have to wait weeks until their next doctor
appointment, and by then, they may not have an accurate account of what
they've been through. With the PDAs, they will.
"This is a
unique study and if it works, I think it'll be very, very useful -
perhaps practice-changing in the way we assess patients," says Shapiro.
By
knowing just what patients are going through and when, doctors can
better help them by prescribing certain medicines or altering
treatments, or by simply offering some timely advice. All of which can
make patients feel more in control of their condition, and improve
their quality of life.
At each visit, doctors go over a
printout of what the women have recorded on their PDAs. Doctors say
that real-time information is key to treatment. Right now the devices
are only being tested on breast cancer patients, but could be used for
any type of cancer in the future.
October 5th from 7-11pm, Northampton Community College will be sponsoring a fundraising event for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Biology Club is putting this event together so Kudos to them!!! The benefit will be held in the Spartan Center. Admission is $7 at the door, $5 in advance and $4 for students. Tickets can be purchased at Student Life on the second floor of the College Center. There will be 3 bands, snacks, refreshments a silent auction and a raffle. One of the prizes being auctioned is a guitar which hopefully will be signed by Cheryl Crow or possible Carlos Santana. All proceeds for this event will go to Dr Andrew Godwin's Breast Cancers Research laboratory at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
For more information please contact:
Pamela A Bradley, M.Ed.
610-861-5537
19 West 56th StreetBreast Cancer Resource Committee
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 1-212-664-9176 or 1-800-227-2345
Web site: www.cancer.org
- or -
1599 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 1-404-816-7800
Why do you recommend this treatment or procedure? What do you expect this treatment will do for me?
What are the possible risks of this treatment or procedure? How likely is it that I am at risk for side effects?
How long will this treatment take? How often do I receive it and how is it given?
Are there more or less aggressive options available for me?
What happens if I choose to receive no treatment?
What are the symptoms that usually develop with my type of cancer diagnosis, and how are they treated?
How will each of these options affect my quality of life? Will I be able to do the things I enjoy? Can I work, take care of my kids, go on vacation?
What lifestyle changes would you recommend I consider during my treatment?
How and when will the effectiveness of this treatment be evaluated?
It's hard to find a woman who doesn't worry that one day she will get breast cancer. Knowing more about risk factors can make it easier for a woman to understand her own risk and find the screening and prevention strategies that are right for her.
Nearly 215,990 new cases of breast cancer will be discovered in the United States this year, according to American Cancer Society predictions, and more than 40,000 women will die of the disease. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and the second leading cause of female cancer-related deaths after lung cancer.
In the general population, a woman who lives to age 90 has about a 12 percent chance of developing breast cancer. If she has an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, however, her risk can be as high as 60 to 87 percent.
| Age | Risk |
| 30 | 0.05% |
| 40 | 0.4% |
| 50 | 1.9% |
| 60 | 4.3% |
| 70 | 7.1% |
| 80 | 10% |
Men can also develop breast cancer, although it is much less common
in men than women. Approximately 1 percent of all breast cancer occurs
in men. With hereditary breast cancer, the risk for male breast cancer
is estimated to be 6 to 8 percent.
When considering your
personal risk for breast cancer, it is important to keep in mind that
all of these statistics apply to general populations. There are a
number of factors including environmental and genetic that
determine each individual person's risk for breast cancer.
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/articles/?id=dnad0026&ipc=B00168
What if the radiologist sees something suspicious or abnormal on your mammogram? The fear of abnormal mammogram results is real, but facts may help calm it. Most abnormalities found in mammogram results are not breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends having a baseline mammogram between ages 35 and 40, and then a screening mammogram every year after age 40. Questionable mammogram results sometimes require additional evaluation. With further examination (imaging studies and/or biopsy), most of these abnormalities are found to be normal breast tissue or benign (non-cancerous) tissue.
Screening mammograms are recommended annually for all women starting at age 40, even if they are asymptomatic, meaning that they have no signs or symptoms of breast disease.
In a screening mammogram, each breast is X-rayed in two different positions: from top to bottom and from side to side. When a mammogram image is viewed, breast tissue appears white and opaque and fatty tissue appears darker and translucent.
Potential abnormalities are found in 6% to 8% percent of women who have screening mammograms. This small group of women needs further evaluation that may include diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, or needle biopsy.
After the additional evaluation is complete, most of these women will be found to have nothing wrong.
Diagnostic mammograms differ from screening mammograms in that the examination focuses specifically on an area of tissue that appeared abnormal in a screening mammogram. Diagnostic mammograms are also done for women who haven't had a screening mammogram but may be showing signs or symptoms of something abnormal in the breasts.
Depending on the potential abnormality, different studies may be done. In some women, only additional mammographic images are needed. In other women, additional mammographic images and an ultrasound are done.
A potential abnormality on a mammogram may be called a nodule, mass, lump, density or distortion.
Mammography is 85% to 90% accurate. Mammograms have improved the ability to detect breast abnormalities before they are large enough to be felt during a breast examination.
However, it is possible for a mass to be felt but not appear on a mammogram. Because of this, your healthcare provider should evaluate any abnormality that you feel when examining your breasts. A diagnostic mammogram or additional studies may be recommended.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
See a diagram of a breast self-exam.
Examining your breasts is an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it's most likely to be cured. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself. No woman wants to do a breast self-exam (or "BSE"), and for many the experience is frustrating—you may feel things but not know what they mean. However, the more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something unusual has occurred. BSE is an essential part of taking care of yourself and reducing your risk of breast cancer.
Studies show that regular breast self-exams, combined with an annual exam by a doctor, improves the chances of detecting cancer early.
Try to get in the habit of doing a breast self-examination once a month to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.
Don't panic if you think you feel a lump. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time. Eight out of ten breast lumps that are removed are benign, non-cancerous.
Breasts tend to have different "neighborhoods." The upper, outer area—near your armpit—tends to have the most prominent lumps and bumps. The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.
What's important is that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts' various neighborhoods. Does something stand out as different from the rest (like a rock on a sandy beach)? Has anything changed? Bring to the attention of your doctor any changes in your breasts that:
Knowing how your breasts usually look and feel may also help you avoid needless biopsies—a procedure in which the doctor takes a small sample of breast tissue and examines it under a microscope.
Some women find it helpful to keep a record of their breast self-exam on paper. This can be like a small map of your breasts, with notes about where you feel lumps or irregularities. Especially in the beginning, this may help you remember, from month to month, what is "normal" for your breasts. It is not unusual for lumps to appear at certain times of the month, but then disappear, as your body changes with the menstrual cycle. Only changes that last beyond one full cycle, or seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way, need your doctor's attention.
Mammograms are probably the most important tool doctors have to help them diagnose, evaluate, and follow women who've had breast cancer. Safe and highly accurate, a mammogram is an X-ray photograph of the breast. The technique has been in use for about thirty years.
Mammograms don't prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. For example, mammograms have been shown to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 35% in women over the age of 50; studies suggest for women between 40 and 50 they may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 25–35%.
Leading experts, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Radiology now recommend annual mammograms for women over 40.
Finding breast cancers early with mammography has also meant that many more women being treated for breast cancer are able to keep their breasts. When caught early, localized cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal (mastectomy).
Mammograms aren't perfect. Normal breast tissue can hide a breast cancer, so that it doesn't show up on the mammogram. This is called a false negative. And mammography can identify an abnormality that looks like a cancer, but turns out to be normal. This "false alarm" is called a false positive. To make up for these limitations, more than mammography is needed. Women also need to practice breast self-examination, get regular breast examination by an experienced health care professional, and, in some cases, also get another form of breast imaging, like ultrasound or MRI scanning.
1. They can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25 - 30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they're at high risk.
2. Don't be afraid. It's a fast procedure (about 5 - 10 minutes), and discomfort is minimal. The procedure is safe: there's only a very tiny amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram. To relieve the anxiety of waiting for results, go to a center that will give you results before you leave.
3. Get the best quality you can.
4. It is our most powerful breast cancer detection tool. However, mammograms can still miss 15—20% of breast cancers that are simply not visible using this technique. Other important tools—such as breast self-exam, clinical breast examination, ultrasound, and MRI—can and should be used as complementary tools, but there are no substitutes or replacements for a mammogram.
—Marisa Weiss, M.D.
There's a lot of confusion out there about when and how often to get a mammogram. For now, the recommendation is that women get a mammogram once a year, beginning at age 40. If you're at high risk for breast cancer, with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had radiation treatment to the chest in the past, it's recommended that you start having annual mammograms at a younger age (often beginning around age 30). This, however, is something that you should discuss with your healthcare provider.
Digital tomosynthesis (pronounced toh-moh-SIN-thah-sis) creates a 3-dimensional picture of the breast using X-rays. Currently, digital tomosynthesis is available only for research purposes.
Digital tomosynthesis of the breast is different from a standard mammogram in the same way a CAT scan of the chest is different from a standard chest X-ray. Or think of the difference between a ball and a circle. One is 3-dimensional; the other is flat.
Mammography usually takes two X-rays of each breast from different angles: top to bottom, and side to side. The breast is pulled away from the body, compressed, and held between two glass plates, to ensure that the whole breast is viewed. Regular mammography records the pictures on film, and digital mammography records the pictures on the computer. The images are then read by a radiologist. Breast cancer, which is denser than most healthy nearby breast tissue, appears as irregular white areas—sometimes called shadows.
Mammograms are very good, but they have some significant limitations:
Digital tomosynthesis is a new kind of test that's trying to overcome these three big issues: discomfort with compression, cancer hiding within overlapping tissue, and a limited number of views.
Digital tomosynthesis takes multiple X-ray pictures of each breast from many angles. The breast is positioned the same way it is in a conventional mammogram, but only a little pressure is applied—just enough to keep the breast in a stable position during the procedure. The X-ray tube moves in an arc around the breast while 11 images are taken during a seven-second examination. Then the information is sent to a computer, where it is assembled to produce clear, highly focused 3-dimensional images throughout the breast.
Early results with digital tomosynthesis are promising. Researchers believe that this new breast imaging technique will make breast cancers easier to see in dense breast tissue, and will make breast screening more comfortable.
A radiologic study (mammogram, ultrasound, etc.) is not enough to establish an initial diagnosis of cancer. A diagnosis of cancer must be proven by the presence of cancer cells as seen under a microscope. This is why a biopsy—a very small operation that removes tissue from an area of concern in the body—is required to get the cells for microscopic analysis.
A biopsy helps doctors zero in on the size, type, and kind of breast cancer you may have. Biopsies are performed on any kind of abnormality that your doctor can feel or that looks suspicious. It's usually a very simple procedure. In the United States, only about 20% of women who have biopsies turn out to have cancer. By contrast, in Sweden, where cost accounting is much stricter and only the most suspect lesions are biopsied, 80% of biopsies turn out to be cancerous (malignant).
Various techniques are used to biopsy tissue, and it's likely that your surgeon will try to use the least invasive procedure possible. Tissue removed by the various types of biopsies described below is examined with a microscope for cancer cells. For more about this process, see Understanding Your Big Picture.
A long, thin hollow needle is placed in the lesion with the help of mammography or ultrasound to see where the needle is going. Cells are extracted through the center of the needle. A collapsible hook at the end of the needle keeps the needle in place until the surgery is done. X-rays verify that the abnormal area seen on the original X-rays is the same area into which the surgeon inserts the needle. This biopsy technique has the highest risk of "false negatives," which is when the biopsy result says normal, even though a cancer is present. The reason for this is probably that the needle doesn't always pick up the cancer cells.
Biopsies are not medical emergencies and can be scheduled at your convenience. But for peace of mind, most women want their biopsies done "yesterday." Before proceeding with a biopsy, your doctor should review the mammogram with you, show you the area in question, discuss how and why the biopsy will be performed, answer any of your questions, and arrange for you to sign required consent forms.
PINK PARTIES
SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER
Pink Parties are proud to support Breast Cancer in many different ways. We support it through raising awareness of this disease and awareness of the steps we can take to help prevent it and find a cure for Breast Cancer. We take part in fund raising events, awareness campaigns, awareness and support blogs and bulletins through the internet.
Pink Parties are extremely proud to donate a portion of all sales to Cancer Research.
Our campaigns and fund raising events will be listed and we invite anyone who would like to support this great cause to contact us. You can become a 'Party Planner' and head up parties in your area or you can host your own 'Pink Party'.
We have a Memory Board - 'Pink Wishes' where you can leave your thoughts, wishes, words of wisdom, encouragement and support for the thousands of woman fighting this today. If you or a Loved one has suffered with Breast Cancer and you feel you would like to tell us your story or you would like to help others who are dealing with this, please do use our site to reach out to them.
There are many ways big and small in which we can all work together to fight this disease. The first step is to join together. Through Love, Support, Understanding and Perseverance we can work together to find a cure for Cancer.
