Photo Karen Graham.
This educational tool known as “Know Your Lemons” provides examples of some of the visual clues that warning signs of potential issues, such as puckering skin, discolouration, a dimple, a sunken nipple, a thickening of the skin, a bulging vein or discharge.
It’s the six-letter word that strikes terror into the heart. It’s time to shed some light on some of the current statistics on breast cancer, which is the most common cancer faced by women in Canada. Today 85% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease, but those with a family history of the disease face a higher risk themselves.
Only one percent of breast cancers are found in men. Researchers believe this is due to hormones. The left breast is more vulnerable to the disease, as it usually has more glandular tissue which is where most breast cancer starts. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age; the average age of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62. One in eight Canadian women will receive that diagnosis over the course of their lifetime, but with early detection, survival rates are high. In fact stage 1 breast cancer patients face a 98% five year survival rate, which highlights the importance of an early diagnosis.
For more than twenty years, most women in Ontario have received regularly screening through the Ontario Breast Screening program. While breast cancer is becoming more common in younger patients, some of the screening options do not seem to reflect this new information. Regular screening through the Ontario Breast Screening program for most women begins at age 50. Women between the ages of 50 to 74 are screened every two years, but after age 74, women are no longer automatically recalled for examination and must initiate the screening on their own. Younger women are eligible to start screening earlier if they exhibit risk factors including a family history of the disease or if they are a known or are likely to be a carrier of one of the pathogenic gene variants associated with the disease. Breast implants also increase the risk of breast cancer. Women aged 30 to 69 who are confirmed to be in a high risk category are eligible for annual screening to facilitate early detection. Research has not confirmed the effectiveness of screening younger women who are not at a high risk of the disease, according to Health Quality Ontario.
Physical breast exams are no longer included in the Ontario Cancer Screening Guidelines, which also discourage breast self – examination. By the time a lump can be detected, it is usually 2 cm in size, whereas mammograms can detect lumps as small as 4mm. The decision to discontinue promoting self-examinations was taken because it was believed that they sparked needless concern in patients, leading to unnecessary testing, particularly in women with dense breasts.
Breast density is another risk factor in breast cancer rates- the denser the breast, the higher the risk. Unfortunately, breast density can’t be felt- it must be assessed through a mammogram or another technology. In breasts, fat is good, as the more fatty tissue in a breast, the less dense it is, but density falls as we age, which contributes to the risk rising in older women. The American Cancer Society, however, continues to promote monthly breast self-examination to assist in early detection. This tool involves a physical and visual examination of the breasts to check for signs of breast cancer. Women who become more familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel through these exercises are more likely to discover changes or abnormalities in their breasts, prompting visits to their healthcare provider for further examination. Self-examinations are meant to supplement, not replace, regular mammograms or clinical breast exams.
Photo Karen Graham.
Those who have experienced mammograms know that these photos are not just of the breast tissue, but include part of the underarm. That is because the breast stretches from the collarbone to the underarm and sternum. The most begin in the glandular tissue; in ducts or lobules, and forty-five percent of breast cancer cells are first detected in the upper and outer quadrant of the breast near the underarm.
Women can take some initiative by keeping track of the look and feel of their breasts. There are many outward other signs of a problem that were cleverly illustrated with a carton of plastic fruit. This educational tool is part of a worldwide program known as “Know Your Lemons” and its visual cues are very effective. Each lemon exhibited a different warning sign, such as puckering skin, discolouration, a dimple, a sunken nipple, a thickening of the skin, a bulging vein or discharge.
On Tuesday, October 24th, the Village Apothecary is hosting a Women’s Health Day event dedicated to providing tips on preventative action women can take to detect breast and cervical cancer. Naturopathic doctors will be on hand to perform breast exams and pap tests, with educational resources on hand. The event is designed to fill the gap for those without access to routine screening through a family doctor or individuals who would like cervical cancer screening more frequently than the three year recall available through OHIP. Drop into the shop at King St. East for more information, or call 705-932-2988 to schedule an appointment. KG
