Breast Cancer Now’s Post

National B.R.A. Day is celebrated annually on the third Wednesday in October to honor women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and this year, it falls on October 16. The holiday’s primary goal is to educate, engage, and empower women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. These women should have access to information they need to make an informed decision about their treatment, including their breast reconstruction options, which means educating patients, their family and caregivers, and the media. However, there is still work to be done in educating women and their families on breast cancer and treatment options. History of National BRA Day National Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or B.R.A. Day, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the various alternatives available to women who have had breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is not for everyone, but every woman must be given all the information they need to make an informed decision about available options. Breast cancer treatment has come a long way since Halsted first detailed his surgical approach in 1895. Breast reconstruction has also garnered attention from both doctors and patients alike. In the 1800s, the first attempt to reconstruct a breast after a mastectomy occurred when a lipoma was transplanted to the location of the mastectomy. Several breast reconstruction procedures, ranging from Gilles’ “walking flap” to the free perforator flap using autogenous tissue for the reconstruction of a breast “mound,” have been developed and refined. The use of tissue expanders for breast reconstruction has also been developed significantly over the last three decades. Even though breast reconstruction was formerly frowned upon in the early part of the 20th century, it is considered standard practice for women after breast cancer surgery today. Breast reconstruction procedures have advanced greatly over the past few decades. A woman with breast cancer can take comfort in knowing that she will be able to live her life with a breast that resembles and feels just like her own. This can be accomplished with the use of implants or autologous reconstruction. A variety of solutions are available to meet the requirements of the person.

What is breast cancer? | program #Emirates_Morning. Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal. Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form (in situ) is not life-threatening and can be detected in early stages. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion). This creates tumours that cause lumps or thickening.  Invasive cancers can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs (metastasize). Metastasis can be life-threatening and fatal. Treatment is based on the person, the type of cancer and its spread. Treatment combines surgery, radiation therapy and medications. Scope of the problem In 2022, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 670 000 deaths globally. #BreastCancer occurs in every country of the world in women at any age after puberty but with increasing rates in later life.  Global estimates reveal striking inequities in the breast cancer burden according to human development. For instance, in countries with a very high Human Development Index (HDI), 1 in 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 71 women die of it. In contrast, in countries with a low HDI; while only 1 in 27 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, 1 in 48 women will die from it.

🎉 Proud to Share Our Latest Publications! 🎉 I'm excited to share our new papers, "The EORTC QLQ breast modules and the FACT-B for assessing quality of life in breast cancer patients - an updated literature review" and "Comparing the EORTC QLQ-LC13, EORTC QLQ-LC29, and the FACT-L for assessment of quality of life in patients with lung cancer - an updated systematic review" where I had the honour of being the last author. This comprehensive review involved the expertise of leading quality of life experts, Dr. Andrew Bottomley, Dr. David Cella, and Dr. Edward Chow. Our study highlights the effectiveness of these tools in evaluating quality of life for breast cancer and lung cancer patients, providing valuable insights for both clinicians and researchers. This paper is part of a series in the Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care focusing on different cancer site-specific modules, exploring similar themes to enhance patient quality of life. Check out the full papers here: https://lnkd.in/gqiEJTSw https://lnkd.in/gdfpZF5b A huge thank you to my amazing co-authors and everyone who supported our work! Caroline Hircock Shing Fung Lee Adrian Chan #Research #BreastCancer #QualityOfLife #Healthcare #CancerResearch

With everyone talking about their breast cancer journey, I thought I would add my roller coaster story to the mix. In spring 2018 I had a pretty small symptom emerge. It was something that could be considered common for women of my age, but I thought it was weird. 3 months of "It's nothing, many women your age get this". 6 months of "Oh it is this other issue we found and are treating" (good catch but not the cause of my issue) 3 months of "We will perform a minor surgery in early 2019 to get rid of the symptom". THEN>>>>I had another problem crop up in December 2018. That required an MRI (Feb 2019) that showed something in my breast. Another MRI, with a biopsy, a month later where the doctor was adamant that it was not cancer showed CANCER. Next is first appointment with an oncologist who does not believe the initial finding so... On to next oncologist and prep for chemo which included having a port installed. Unknown to me, the first oncologist wanted to prove they were right that I did not have cancer and so sent my biopsy to a specialist lab. That lab came back with results of CANCER...but not treatable by chemo. So port was installed on a Monday, chemo was scheduled to start that Wednesday. Tuesday evening I get a call from the second oncologist "Don't go to chemo. It won't work." Turns out my very rare form of cancer was untreatable by chemo and I would have had 6 months of chemo and still required a mastectomy. So on to surgery and fully removed cancer. The Moral? I am not sure but... 1. Advocate for yourself. You know your own body 2. Everyone makes mistakes, but hopefully they own up to it 3. Sometimes things work out for the best (Hopefully more often than not) If the first oncologist didn't want to prove themselves right (when they were wrong), I would have gone through 6 months of chemo for nothing. #breastcancerawareness

BCAM A-Z K - Kinds/ Types of breast cancer Who knew there were different types of breast cancer? Not me until I was diagnosed! Even though my Auntie had just finished treatment for breast cancer. As discussed in the earlier post on biopsies, a sample of your tumour is tested and part of that testing is to see what type of breast cancer you have and what receptors it has. The type of breast cancer is determined by the shape and pattern of the cells looked at under a microscope. The main types are: 🍋 invasive breast cancer / invasive ductal carcinoma - the cancer cells have grown through the lining of the ducts. Accounts for 70-80% of breast cancers. 🍋 ductal carcinoma in situ- some cells have started to turn into cancer but are contained in the duct. 🍋 invasive lobular breast cancer/ invasive lobular carcinoma- cancer started in the cells that line the lobules and has grown into the surrounding breast tissue. This is the 2nd most common type at 15%. 🍋 inflammatory breast cancer - the cells block the small lymph vessels in the breast which can cause the skin to become red and inflamed. 🍋 rare breast cancers which can also be known as special type. These look different under the microscope but many are treated in the same way as other types of invasive breast cancer. The main types of receptors are: 🍋 estrogen receptive positive (ER) - most common - around 80% of cases 🍋 progesterone receptive positive (PR) 🍋 HER2 receptive positive (HER2) - around 15% of cases 🍋 no receptors = triple negative (TNBC) The receptors (or lack of) and the type of cancer, along with the stage of cancer, usually determine the treatment plan. For example, hormone treatment will only likely work for those with ER+ breast cancer. Some targeted drugs work with HER2+ . Neither of these options work for TNBC so you usually have to have chemo. NICE recommends tumour profiling for some people with breast cancer to help decide if they should have chemo after surgery if they are ER+ and HER2 low and there is a high risk of reoccurrence. Photo of me preparing for surgery (note - No eyebrow hair or eyelashes left standing!) #breastcancerawareness #breastcancer #bcam

As we approach the last week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to take some time to debunk some common myths around breast cancer so you can know your risks and make informed decisions. Fact: There is no connection between breast size and cancer risk, although it can sometimes be more challenging to examine larger breasts. Obesity and breast density, on the other hand, can both increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition, family history and lifestyle factors can also influence the odds of getting breast cancer. Myth: A breast injury can cause breast cancer Fact: Injuries to the breast do not cause breast cancer. Injuries caused by car accidents or a blow to the body, for instance, can lead to pain, bruising, or bleeding, which may result in a build-up of blood in the breast, known as a hematoma. Additionally, fat necrosis, or scarring of the breast tissue, can occur following an injury, surgery, or biopsy. Generally, these injuries will heal on their own with time. Myth: Using underarm antiperspirant can cause breast cancer Fact: There is no evidence of a connection between underarm antiperspirants and breast cancer. There have been persistent rumors that underarm antiperspirants, especially those containing aluminum and other chemicals, are absorbed into the lymph nodes and make their way into breast cells, increasing cancer risk. Information from: National Breast Cancer Foundation Breastcancer.org Breast Cancer Research Foundation #breastcancerawareness #pinkoctober #healthcare #mythvsfact #archivecares #pinkribbon

As we wrap up the breast cancer awareness month I would like to briefly share a little knowledge in breast magnetic resonance imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging of the breast has become an essential modality for screening and diagnosing breast cancer, alongside other modality which includes mammography and ultrasound. Breast MRI has been shown to have increased sensitivity in diagnosing breast cancer as compared to mammography and ultrasonography. MRI breasts screening is highly recommended in; ✅ Screening women at high risk for breast cancer: - Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation - Women yet to be tested, with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, and/or daughter) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. - Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30, such as for treatment of Hodgkin disease - Those with the lifetime risk of 20% or more - Women with the genetic disorders predisposing for breast cancer which includes; Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome; or those who have a first degree relative with the syndrome ✅ Post Diagnosed with breast cancer, Magnetic resonance imaging is important for the following reasons; -Further evaluation of abnormalities detected by mammography/ultrasound - Characterization of lesion - Evaluate the size and precise location of breast cancer lesions, including the possibility that more than one area of the breast may be involved (this is helpful for cancers that spread and involve more than one area) - Breast cancer staging for treatment planning. - Monitoring tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy - To improve breast cancer surgery - More sensitive as compared to mammography when assessing patients with dense breast parenchyma to detect additional occult cancer foci ✅ Evaluation of Silicon implant. MRI is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer, of which when used in appropriate clinical situation, can contribute positively to patient management and improve outcomes. Ref: Gunduru M, Grigorian C. Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiopaedia.org #breastcancerawareness #pinkoctober #breastmri

New Hope for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Treatment Recent studies highlight that a simple hysterectomy could expand treatment options for women with early-stage cervical cancer. This less invasive approach offers: ✔️ Faster recovery ✔️ Fewer complications ✔️ Increased accessibility to treatment This advancement not only broadens the scope of care but also enhances the quality of life for patients. It’s a step forward in the global fight against cervical cancer. At VGrow Health Care Foundation, we’re committed to spreading awareness and ensuring access to life-saving solutions. Together, we can empower women with better treatment options and a brighter future. 🔗 Learn more about this development and join us in advocating for better cervical cancer care in the following article by National Cancer Institute. #CervicalCancerAwareness #MedicalInnovation #EarlyDetection #CervicalCancerTreatment #VGrowForHealth

Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast cancer have no symptoms—this is why regular breast cancer screening is crucial. Getting a mammogram is often the best way to detect breast cancer early when it’s most treatable. Learn more on our Bee Healthy Blog. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

📢 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers, leading to a rise in HPV-positive throat cancers among younger, non-smoking patients. These cases often have a better prognosis compared to traditional tobacco-related oropharyngeal cancers. Understanding the impact of HPV is crucial for surgeons and medical students, highlighting the importance of early detection and vaccination. Stay at the forefront of cancer prevention and patient care. For more information, call us today: ☎️ 773-245-5253 https://lnkd.in/dXmMh6bU  #HPV #OralCancer #OropharyngealCancer #HealthAwareness #CancerPrevention #MedicalProfessionals #PatientCare #OralCancerInstitute #BetterPrognosis #Oncology