October 28, 2020 Issue, Page 11 of 12

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QCiOBER 11 BREAST CANC=R AWARENESS October 28, 2020 Early warning signs for breast cancer are urged to discuss those Breast cancer affects mil- can greatly reduce a woman's the warning signs for breast breast can vary, but Susan G. changes in their breasts are lions of women across the risk of dying from breast cancer are not the same for all Komen® advises women who not necessarily indicative concerns with their physicians globe every year. According cancer. women, but the most common notice these changes to bring of breast cancer. In fact, the immediately. to the World Health Organi- Women can be proactive signs include a change in the them to the attention of their American Breast Cancer Discharge from the nipple zation, breast cancer is the in the fight against breast look or feel of the breast or a physicians immediately: Foundation notes that not all + Lump, hard knot or thick- lumps in the breast cause can- is another potential sign most frequent cancer among cancer by learning to identify change in the look or feel of women, affecting 2.1 million early warning signs of the the nipple. A discharge from ening inside of the breast or cer and that many such lumps of breast cancer, but Susan women each year. As daunting disease. The nonprofit breast the nipple is another common underarm area are benign. Fibroadenomas G. Komen® notes that such as that may seem, the WHO cancer advocacy organization warning sign of breast cancer. + Change in the size or and intraductal papillomas discharge is rarely a sign of shape of the breast are examples of benign lumps, cancer. Discharges that occur also notes that early diagnosis Susan G. Komen® notes that Physical changes in the + Swelling, warmth, red- though it’s important to note ness or darkening of the that even benign conditions without squeezing the nipple, breast such as these may put women occur in only one breast or are + Dimpling or puckering of Did you know? matches and sending an at greater risk of developing bloody or clear are potentially online chat request to volun- the skin breast cancer. indicative of more serious teers. Patients and volunteers Women with breast cancer Susan G. Komen® notes can then schedule a chat and also may notice physical that breast tissue naturally conditions, including breast changes in their nipples, has a lumpy texture. If lumpi- cancer. Women diagnosed with patients cope with treatment discuss any concerns patients including: ness can be felt throughout Breast cancer is a formida- breast cancer who want to and side effects while also of- may have. Volunteers with the speak with someone who has fering advice on speaking with Reach to Recovery program + Ttchy, scaly sore or rash the breast and it feels like ble foe. But women who arm survived the disease can do so friends and family, working are breast cancer survivors onthe nipple your other breast, then it’s themselves with knowledge of thanks to a unique program while receiving treatment and who have been trained by the + Pulling in of the nipple or likely that this is just the nor- other parts of the breast mal texture of your breasts. the disease, including its early sponsored by the American more. Even people facing a ACS to provide peer-to-peer warning signs, are in better Cancer Society. The Reach possible breast cancer diagno- support to people facinga It’s important that women However, women concerned to Recovery program from sis can sign up. The program breast cancer diagnosis. Vol- recognize that physical bya lump or lumpy texture position to overcome it. the ACS connects current works by asking patients and unteers can provide support cancer patients with breast volunteers to join the program to patients, but are prohibited cancer survivors via an online and create profiles on the from offering medical advice. chat. Patients, regardless of Reach to Recovery website More information about the where they are in their cancer (www.reach.cancer.org). Pa- Reach to Recovery program, journeys, can connect with tients then look for a match by including how to join as a pa- volunteers for one-on-one searching volunteer profiles, tient or volunteer, is available support. Volunteers can help filtering through suggested at www.reach.cancer.org. What to expect after cancer treatment ends Once the initial shock ofa cancer has spread to distant move to into the recovery breast cancer diagnosis wears parts of the body, the five-year room after surgery to wake up off, many patients are ready survival rate is 27 percent. from anesthesia. BreastCan- 24/7 to get down to business and ‘These survival rates under- cer.org says if you are feeling SERVICE begin treatment. Based on score the importance of early any pain, now is the time to data collected by the SEER detection and treatment. speak up, as staff in the recov- database, which is maintained Treatment may induce ery room assess your pain and by the National Cancer Insti- feelings of anxiety among vital signs. tute, five-year survival rates patients. Equally scary can be Many surgeries are for breast cancer in the United what to expect after treatment completed on an outpatient States are excellent. If the ends. Here’s a closer look at basis. However, more invasive cancer is localized or regional what comes next. surgeries that involve lymph (spread to nearby structures After surgery node dissection require a or lymph nodes), the sur- If treatment involves hospital stay. vival rate is 99 percent and 86 surgery for a lumpectomy Doctors will set up a percent, respectively. If the or mastectomy, patients will See page 12. Doe D008 D008 BoC” O08 DO0e 3OOe SO0e B00. Doe 3O00e 50 00 5000 3000 3000 D000 3O0e SO0e SoCe Standing Together in the Fight Against Breast Cancer OO e O08 500s 08 DOO" 3000 3000 3O0s Statistics indicate there will be more than 256,000 new cases of breast cancer ao ee diagnosed in American and Canadian women this year, and breast cancer is the xt a second leading cause of cancer death in women of both countries. Thanks to early ; on detection and treatment advances, survival rates have improved dramatically, but much room for progress remains. As diagnosis and treatment options continue to evolve, medical experts agree that early detection is a key factor in overcoming the a) disease, and performing a monthly breast self-exam is often vital to detecting aa.f < abnormalities, including lumps or tenderness, in the breasts that may indicate illness. Take steps to protect yourself against breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by initiating healthy lifestyle changes, beginning monthly breast self-exams, and talking to your doctor about the appropriate clinical breast exam and screening }O ® mammogram schedule for you. UE Pics Great Plains Bank MEMBER FDIC