Breast Cancer

G

Gemtun

Guest
In the past 2 weeks, I have lost two wonderful friends to breast cancer struggle. Both were in early 40's. One left behind 4 beautiful young children and another one left her heart broken family/friends. It has been devastating for me.

Women, PLEASE do monthly breast exams and get mammograms yearly! Please do not put it off...it is so important to catch it in very early stage, thus increasing chances of beating it.

My heart is heavy with my losses. Please educate yourself on monthly breast exams and talk to your doctor about mammograms.
 
Aw I'm really sorry to hear about your friends Megan, I do know what it like to lose a friend... :hug:

Honestly, I haven't had my breasts exam since my 3rd child, and I'm thinking of making an appointment to see a doctor, now that I can see it's very important to have your breast exam every once a year, in case of the result of getting a breast cancer....

Thank you for creating this thread, it will wake up a million of women out there inculding myself how important it is to have our breast exam by a doctor every once a year....

There are times during my pregnancy that I felt a lump, but when I had it exam by the doctor it wasn't anything that I thought it may be, I'm not really sure how or what it really feels like but I do know this that once you feel like something hard then you would know you would need to see a doctor right away....

Again, I'm truly sorry to hear about your friends who die from breast cancer, and how her children is not going to have their moms around them anymore....:(

If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, or venting out your feelings, you know where to find me ;)
 
Thank you Angel :hug:

Please dont put it off...remember you got Cheri, your boys and RR to do this for, not just you :) They would hate to lose you if you keep putting it off. Most of us women are guilty of that, not placing our needs first, but taking care of others first. But we got to take care of ourselves if we want to be around to take care of them :)
 
Meg, I am really sorry to hear about that, but I hope you will be ok. If you need anything, let me know...

Just wondering, how old do we must go and check for breast exams?
 
BabyAngel said:
Meg, I am really sorry to hear about that, but I hope you will be ok. If you need anything, let me know...

Just wondering, how old do we must go and check for breast exams?
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Thanks hun :)

I used to work as a consultant for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for 3 years. I follow their screening guidelines.

Here is it in a nutshell (you can get more information from their site):

Mammography - every year after turning 40 (unless you have high risk due to family genes, etc - can start as early as 35 or advised by your own doctor)

Clincial Breast Exam - done by your ob-gyn. Under age 40, do it every 2 to 3 years. If over age 40, do it yearly with your dr.

Breast Self Exam - over age 20, do it monthly (best time is 2 to 3 after your period. Make sure you do it exactly a month apart so you can compare. For example if you do it on April 19, you need to do it on May 19 so you can compare the exams done on April 19 and May 19. That is how you compare.)
 
Meg said:
Thanks hun :)

I used to work as a consultant for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for 3 years. I follow their screening guidelines.

Here is it in a nutshell (you can get more information from their site):

Mammography - every year after turning 40 (unless you have high risk due to family genes, etc - can start as early as 35 or advised by your own doctor)

Clincial Breast Exam - done by your ob-gyn. Under age 40, do it every 2 to 3 years. If over age 40, do it yearly with your dr.

Breast Self Exam - over age 20, do it monthly (best time is 2 to 3 after your period. Make sure you do it exactly a month apart so you can compare. For example if you do it on April 19, you need to do it on May 19 so you can compare the exam between April 19 and May 19. That is how you compare.)
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Thanks Meg! It is interesting because I didn't know about three differents kind of exams.
 
Meg said:
In the past 2 weeks, I have lost two wonderful friends to breast cancer struggle. Both were in early 40's. One left behind 4 beautiful young children and another one left her heart broken family/friends. It has been devastating for me.

Women, PLEASE do monthly breast exams and get mammograms yearly! Please do not put it off...it is so important to catch it in very early stage, thus increasing chances of beating it.

My heart is heavy with my losses. Please educate yourself on monthly breast exams and talk to your doctor about mammograms.
Click to expand...
Concerning about mammograms, some researches & studies indicated that mammograms may cause the breast cancer. Or causing the breast cancer to spread more because of 'squeezing' technique. I don't know much about that but several women nutritionists mentioned about it in few journals. I think 'Mothering' magazine covers about that. I will see if I can find the article at Mothering.com

It is very important for all of women to eat well and be sure that they have plenty of sleep and rest.
 
Magatsu said:
Concerning about mammograms, some researches & studies indicated that mammograms may cause the breast cancer. Or causing the breast cancer to spread more because of 'squeezing' technique. I don't know much about that but several women nutritionists mentioned about it in few journals. I think 'Mothering' magazine covers about that. I will see if I can find the article at Mothering.com

It is very important for all of women to eat well and be sure that they have plenty of sleep and rest.
Click to expand...

I dont know about that, Mag...but I deeply believe it all has to do with environment and either reducing breastfeeding time or not doing breast feeding at all due to more and more mothers working and opting for not breastfeeding or limited breast feeding time. Also I also believe it has to do with age of having first birth. More and more women are postponing birth of their first child. That also increase the risk. In addition, you see doctors giving HRT at earlier age.
 
Meg said:
I dont know about that, Mag...but I deeply believe it all has to do with environment and either reducing breastfeeding time or not doing breast feeding at all due to more and more mothers working and opting for not breastfeeding or limited breast feeding time. Also I also believe it has to do with age of having first birth. More and more women are postponing birth of their first child. That also increase the risk. In addition, you see doctors giving HRT at earlier age.
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Yeah, Lev mentioned about that breastfeeding issue in other topic. The economy in America is getting worser and worser, it becomes harder on middle & 'low' class to have the 'affortable' budge to have a child or more children. It is not easy on women nowaday. I guess that's major reason why they have to postpone the birth of their first child?
 
Meg, there isn't any article about mammogram & cancer at mothering.com. They often didn't add the articles that they have printed in Mothering magazine. I guess I can google but I don't want to hijack your topic so I rather not :P

btw, my mother refused to take a mammogram too because of that 'cancer' issue. I sometimes worry if she do have one or not but so far, she eats real well.
 
Magatsu said:
btw, my mother refused to take a mammogram too because of that 'cancer' issue. I sometimes worry if she do have one or not but so far, she eats real well.
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Interesting...where do you find articles that support this? This is news to me.
 
I think it is mothering magazine, JAMA or something. I recently paged my mother but she is at work and since it is not emergency so I guess I will hear from her this evening or tonight. Once I have the information or article, I will post.
 
Magatsu said:
Yeah, Lev mentioned about that breastfeeding issue in other topic. The economy in America is getting worser and worser, it becomes harder on middle & 'low' class to have the 'affortable' budge to have a child or more children. It is not easy on women nowaday. I guess that's major reason why they have to postpone the birth of their first child?
Click to expand...

Could be but there is also wide range of birth control options that allow women do postpone while focus on career. If you look behind stats, you will see that most of these women with breast cancers are college educated, have white collar professions and from upper middle to upper class.
 
Meg, I google some and it appears that it is 'myth' about mammograph cause cancer. I am not sure about that but let me post two links:

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/cancer_myths/
MYTH: A mammogram can cause breast cancer to spread.

TRUTH: An x-ray of the breast is called a mammogram. The x-ray and the pressure on the breast from the x-ray machine cannot cause cancer to spread. Do not let tales of other people's experiences keep you from having a mammogram. Base your decision on your physician's recommendation and ask the physician any questions you may have about the mammogram.
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http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit10292001/health1.asp
Myths About Mammography

A mammogram prevents breast cancer.
A mammogram causes breast cancer.
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I guess that answers your question. However I will post the articles or information about 'cause' & 'effect' to balance it out.
 
Meg said:
Could be but there is also wide range of birth control options that allow women do postpone while focus on career. If you look behind stats, you will see that most of these women with breast cancers are college educated, have white collar professions and from upper middle to upper class.
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You are right. I remember about that information. Birth control option is another possibility.
 
I have a very dear friend with whom I chat with, and her sister was diagnosed with a "malignant tumor."
I spent a lot of time online with her trying to calm her down, that there was a GOOD chance for checking the disease right in its path, that there are options.
Well, today she is even more upset. It is worse than they thought.
I am SO FURIOUS. How can they screw that up????
WTF????
I am just shocked and confused. How can it be "worse than they thought?"
I thought we lived in days of medical marvels and I am crushed to learn otherwise.
I do not know what to say, except I will be there for my friend.
:tears:
 
Beowulf, :( I am sorry to hear about that. And to Meg, I am sorry to hear about your friends too. I think I did said that but I haven't. Sorry...

Beowulf, misdiagnose or misinterpretation is common in these kind of situations. More reason why I hate to go to see the doctor or get into hospital.
 
It hurts, Mag.
Maybe this is one of the reasons guys do not like going into hospitals, you see a lot of negatvie stuff and don't want o experience it again.
A wussy attitude I know, but gee whiz.
I have no doubt I am about to catch HELL from those whom I love, lol. It is just so difficult being healthy, ya know? Heh.
I know beyond a shadow of my being that I will wear out some day. I know that. But for now I am still in denial. Peter Pan stuff. What a ferkin idiocy.
 
lol, Peter Pan stuff. Haha...

Yeah, men tend to refuse to see the doctors because of results that we don't want to see. I went to see my doctor before I was gone to Japan for trip and I feel so uncomfortable to be there for examine but heck, I will become a doctor someday. How dumb is that? :D

Yeah, I bet it does hurt. One of my classmates was dying from AIDS, I know how you feel.
 
Sorry Meg about your friends :( Also Sorry to hear about your friend's sister too Beowulf :(


Meg said:
but I deeply believe it all has to do with reducing breastfeeding time or not doing breast feeding at all due to more and more mothers working and opting for not breastfeeding or limited breast feeding time.
Click to expand...

I would have to disagree with that, because my aunt Jenny had breast cancer too and she was a stay-home mom and also did breastfeed both of her daughters, So I doubt it has something to do with reducing of breastfeeding. ;)
 
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