Colleen Hargraves, BSN, R.N.-C

Health Initiatives Department

Member Initiatives Manager 
 

The Best Cancer Prevention is through Vigilant Health Management

1^st Corinth 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

The famous ad slogan, “We’ve come a long way baby!” sure sums up where we are in our knowledge of breast cancer compared to a decade ago.  It’s hard to believe that the following statement was found in the October issue of 1996 Harvard Women’s Health Watch, “Unfortunately, there is little we can do to reduce our risk of breast cancer.” However, having more information has not changed the American Cancer Society’s death toll projection this year of 40,910 lives (40,460 women, 450 men) due to breast cancer in the U.S. To date, it remains second after lung cancer for taking more women’s lives than any other form of cancer.  Oddly, the bright side of this report is when diagnosed early, there is greater than an 80% chance of survival.

So then, what is the most recent talk regarding a drop in the breast cancer rate?  According to the July 2007 Harvard Women’s Health Watch, the most significant drop occurred from 2002-2003. Why are those years significant you may ask?  That was when the New York City based Women’s Health Initiative long term study came to an abrupt halt.  It was a time I can easily recall due to being newly hired to Christian Care and it required a crash course in HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy, due to the sudden intense call volume.  You may have been one of those frantic members who called us at that time looking for direction. As a matter of fact, since that time, women have had to look to a variety of resources to educate themselves about breast cancer protection and HRT. The hush from the medical community was proverbially deafening in those early weeks and months when medical providers were scrambling for guidelines for their patients.  Most providers had actively promoted and prescribed the pharmaceutical conjugated estrogen/progestin therapy as if it were candy.  The press release from the WHI study in July 2002 was actually an historic medical event.  It was indeed a catalyst that led many women to move away from medical providers with a disease management approach to ones who supported healthy life management. In summary, scientists from the famous MD Anderson Cancer Center studied the research and explained the 7% drop rate was coming from women over the age of 50. The precise age group who were traditionally using the prescription form of HRT!  By the end of 2002 HRT prescriptions dropped 40% from the previous year. Between 2002 and 2003 it fell 50%, so they concluded this was by no means a coincidence, but rather a clear indication that HRT was an obvious contributor to breast cancer!

We know that breast cancer can be complex in its findings, but the risk factors are increasingly taking shape.  Many of our members have already experienced a diagnosis of breast cancer since the start of Medishare.  Over spring and summer, the Health Initiatives made a special outreach effort to anyone who reported breast cancer on the Ask First line. We also included some special cases we remembered working closely with over the last 10-12 years.  We called offering prayer, direction and a special resource we would like to put in the hands of every member.  It’s a powerful little book called Breast Cancer- the notebook, published in 2006 by Christian author Julia Chiappetta.  Julia succinctly covers her experience with breast cancer, anatomy, risk factors, staging terminology, treatment options, reconstruction, lab tests specific to breast cancer, and prevention all in fewer than 30 pages.  She also adds a glossary of medical terms that a woman with breast cancer will encounter, helpful internet links, a list of the Top 10 Breast Cancer Hospitals in the U.S. and nutritional information on how to increase your body’s immune strength and more.

Some of you may be wondering if men need to be concerned about breast cancer. The statistics in the first paragraph referred to 450 deaths of men due to breast cancer, yet the expected cases of breast cancer diagnosed this year is anticipated to be around 2000.  Men’s type of breast cancer is 80-90% due to IDC- Infiltrating or Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  This type of cancer is most successfully treated with surgery alone, but sadly men often wait too long after finding a lump. Because the diagnoses of these cases are delayed, tumors are allowed to grow and the cancers advance in stages negatively impacting an otherwise good prognosis.

The conclusions of both WHI –Women’s Health Initiative and the recent Nurses Health Study report. (See insert) is good news to women who have worked hard at personal health and fitness.  It’s time to take charge of your health like never before.  We know the threat is real and together as a body of believers in Christ, we can prayerfully take appropriate steps to learn how to lower risk factors, improve healing and recovery, and eliminate the threat of reoccurrence.  Keep the insert in this newsletter along with this list to protect you and your loved ones from the threat of breast cancer.

• Why not start today by learning your risk with the Harvard Center for Cancer prevention. http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/
• Visit Our HI website http://www.ccmhi.org and click on Women’s Health section – for special research articles, auditory programs and links for you to explore.
• 1 800 374 2562 -Call in to and speak with a HI team member or consultant with your health or fitness questions, and learn of other professional resources or programs we have available at little or no cost to you. 
• www.breastcancer.org Learn how to correctly perform monthly self breast exams.
• Many areas of the country offer low-cost or free mammograms that are provided as part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) or through community organizations, such as the YWCA. To find out more about whether there is a NBCCEDP program in your locale, contact the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-888-842-6355 or on the Internet at www.cdc.gov.
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; many radiology facilities offer mammography at a reduced rate. To find out how to get a low-cost or free mammogram or to find a certified radiology center in your area, call the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1-800-IM-AWARE (1-800-462-9273).