Breast Cancer

October is breast cancer awareness month. This reminds me of the pink ribbons/pins that so many people wear, but the color awareness says the pink clashes with all the lovely fall colors. Over all,the contrast of the colors can remind people that all of us, male and female, need to be aware of the early signs of breast cancer. Granted, females are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer that men, but everyone should be doing self-breast exams on a monthly basis.

In St. Louis and other communities through out the country, some TV stations give an on-the-air reminder each month to their listeners on the day that correlates with the station number. I wish I could come up with a reminder number for our Atonement Lutheran members so that Nicki or I could give a regular reminder to all of you. As we age, our chances of developing breast cancer increases at the following ratios:

 Under age 25 years the incidence is rare.
 At age 40, the risk ratio is 1:252
 Over age 85, the risk is 1:8.
 If you have one close relative (mother, sister, grandmother, etc.) with breast cancer, your risk doubles. If you have two or more close relatives with breast cancer, your risk increases even more.
 In general, the more relatives you have with breast cancer who were pre-menopausal at the time of diagnosis, the higher your own risk.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 75% of breast cancer cases occur in women with no known risk factors. At the same time, having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop breast cancer, but these factors may increase your risk of breast cancer:

 Sex, age and family history as already mentioned.
 Personal history of cancer in one breast
 Genetic predisposition. Five to 10% of breast cancer is inherited. This comes from defects in one of many genes. These genes usually fight to prevent abnormal cell growth, but the mutation in the gene makes the cells ineffective in keeping the cells from growing abnormally.
 Excessive weight. The risk is even greater if you have more fat in the upper part of your body (apple shape bodies).
 Exposure to estrogen. In general, if you have a late menopause (after age 55) or if you began menstruation before age 12, you have a greater risk. Also at greater risk are women who never had children or whose first pregnancy occurred at age 35 or later.
 Race. White women are more likely to develop breast cancer then Black or Hispanic women.
 Hormone therapy. The July 2002 study sponsored by the National Institute of Health found that combination hormone therapy, estrogen and progestin, caused a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer.
 Birth control (still being studied).
 Smoking. This significantly increases the risk of breast cancer in women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer.
 Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These chemicals are found in cigarette smoke and charred red meat.
 Excessive use of alcohol. Women who consume more than one alcoholic drink a day have a 20% greater risk of breast cancer.
 Unusual sleep patterns. If you work the "graveyard shift" or are up often during the night your risk of breast cancer is increased. The risk seems greatest if you don’t sleep between 1 AM and 2 AM, when levels of melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone, are at the highest levels. Suppression of melatonin by exposure to light may increase the release of estrogen by the ovaries.

A monthly self-breast exam and yearly mammograms starting at age 40 are still the easiest and most effective way to protect oneself against breast cancer. These methods lead to early detection and treatment. While breast screening guidelines are the same for women with breast implants, care needs to be given during mammograms.
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