Breast Cancer Awareness in Geary County

2008-10-30T08:24:00.002-05:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is a deeply devastating disease which effects the body both physically and emotionally. This disease is often fatal, resulting in over 40,000 deaths this year alone. To put this in perspective, during the time it will take to complete this post, 21 women will have been diagnosed with breast cancer and two women will have died from it.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) educates women about the importance of early detection for breast cancer. Since NBCAM’s inception, mammography use has doubled, and breast cancer death rates have declined. Still, many women do not utilize mammography at regular intervals. In recognition of the fact that mammography is the best available method of detecting breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt, and that breast cancer deaths could decline further if all women age 40 and older received mammograms at regular intervals. I urge all women and their families in Geary County to get the facts about mammography.

Yesterday, the Flint Hills Job Corp held a breast cancer awareness event attended by students, faculty and survivors. As part of the presentation, the Junction City-Geary County Health Department gave a presentation on current breast cancer facts and trends. The group then heard a moving story from a breast cancer survivor who has beaten the disease and lived well beyond her prognosis.

Help get the word out about breast cancer. The more you know about breast cancer, the higher your chances of survival if you receive a diagnosis. Tell your friends and family. Tell your co-workers. Help us to eradicate this devastating disease.

9-11 Warrior

2008-08-18T16:00:00.006-05:00

As the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, we can reflect on the tragedy in a new way. Gina Maisano is the author of "No Surrender, A Battlefield Guide for Fighting and Surviving Breast Cancer," the founder of the No Surrender forums and a seven-year survivor of breast cancer whose battle began on that fateful September morning.

She states, "We were the only people on the bridge and we pulled over to look downtown at our beautiful city engulfed in smoke. It was at that moment that I realized the people in those buildings didn't have a chance to fight to save their lives, but I did. And I went from terrified zombie to warrior."

Maisano has overcome two separate bouts of breast cancer and is an advocate and mentor for the newly diagnosed. For the full story, please visit www.kctv5.com/breastcancer/16377238/detail.html.

Local Event

2008-07-17T09:25:00.003-05:00

The Geary Community Hospital will be hosting a Hot Topics for Women Only Chick's Night Out on September 20, 2008 from 4:30 to 8:00pm. Chick's Night Out will be an evening of food, fun and laughs. Enjoy a night out with your friends and hear about what's hot in women's health and wellness. Come and browse the many booths, get free information on your health and a hand massage, or buy a necklace. Dinner is at 5:00 so please be punctual. This event is being held to address the tremendous community response they received from their first three Hot Topics Seminars. Guest speakers will include: Dr. Anwar Khoury, Ob/Gyn on "What's Hot in Women's Health"; Al Babcock, JCPD on Self Defense; Dr. Pat Landes, Chief Radiologist on breast health; and Dr. Susan Corbett, Certified Nurse Midwife on sexual health. Tickets are $10 on or before August 29 and $15 if purchased after. Groups of 8 are $60. Childcare will be provided ONLY to those who request it. Registration is required by September 5th, 2008! The event will be held at the Family Life Center on 1315 W. Ash Street in Junction City (behind the Church of the Nazarene). To register or for more information, please call Pam Shelite at (785) 210-3308 or email: pshelite@gchks.org. Bring your best friend, you mom or your sister and learn a little more about what hot in women's health today!

Kansas Official's Fight Against Breast Cancer

2008-07-08T09:35:00.002-05:00

According the the Kansas City Star, Barbara Allen, Kansas Senator and long time advocate for breast cancer outreach and research, has completed her second term in office and will now devote her time to the fight full time. A breast cancer survivor herself, Allen made it possible for Kansans to donate to the Kansas Breast Cancer Research Fund on their tax forms and created the popular Breast Cancer Research and Outreach license plate. The former Senator is now enrolled in the KU Medical Center's Masters of Public Health program and will be devoting the coming months to the completion of her degree.

When public officials champion a cause like the fight against breast cancer, more coverage is given to the supporting events, more donations are received for research and outreach and more citizens become aware of the seriousness of the disease and may be inclined to join the cause. Thanks to Barbara Allen for her work as Senator and to all public officials and personalities who bring these issues to light.

For the full story, please visit http://www.kansascity.com/shawnee_mission/story/677126.html

Get Out and Get Moving for a Cause!

2008-05-30T13:29:00.003-05:00

In 2008, Susan G. Komen for the Cure celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Komen Race for the Cure, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, with well over 1 million participants since 2005.

If you are looking to make a difference in breast cancer prevention and research, consider participating in Race for the Cure or other breast cancer awareness event. Not only will you be excercising your body, you will be excercizing your mind after meeting other partcipants, survivors and activists in your area.

I ran my first 5K last August in the Race Against Breast Cancer in Topeka. It was amazing to be surrounded by hundreds of Kansans honoring friends and relatives, survivors keeping themselves strong and citizens supporting a local outreach program that provides free mammograms to underpriveledged women in the Topeka area. It was an event that profoundly affected my life and one that I will continue to participate in annually.

The Topeka Race Against Breast Cancer will be held October 4th this year. The web address is: http://www.rabctopeka.org/ for more information and to register.

There is also a Race for the Cure in Wichita. This event will take place September 27th this year. The web address is: http://www.komenmidks.org/.
One woman stated, "I do the Race for the Cure in honor of my mother who was 36 when she lost her battle to breast cancer after the 4th reoccurance. She left behind a 17 year old a 15 year old and a 10 year old so my family does the race every year in hoping that another family does not lose a mother."

These events are truely inspiring. Register today to participate in a race this year and make a difference for breast cancer.
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2008-05-06T14:55:00.002-05:00

Walk Kansas has officially ended but you can continue your excellent progress during the WOMAN Challenge, an eight week walking program starting on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008. The WOMAN Challenge (Women and girls Out Moving Across the Nation) encourages women to get out and walk 10,000 steps in order to keep themselves healthy. This event is a perfect way to continue to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. It would also be a perfect way to reconnect with your mom this Mother's Day. Team up with your Mom this Sunday and start walking to kick off National Women's Health Week. For more information, please visit: www.womanshealth.gov/whw or call (800)-944-9662.

National Women's Health Week

2008-05-06T14:33:00.003-05:00

May 11 through May 17, 2008 is National Women's Health Week. National Women's Health Week empowers women across the country to get healthy by taking action. The nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier and happier life.
One aspect of Women's Health Week encourages women to receive breast and cervical check-ups on National Women's Check-Up Day, May 12, 2008. If you are a woman over 40 and have not received a mammogram or Pap smear in the last year, see your health care provider for a referral to either the Geary Community Hospital or the Irwin Army Hospital, the two mammogram centers in Geary County. You can also receive Pap smears and mammogram referrals here at the Health Department. Encourage your Mom to schedule a routine screening this Mother's Day. It may be the first step in keeping her healthy and cancer free for many years to come. National Women's Check-Up Day is a great time to schedule these very important screenings. Call us today to schedule your screening.
For more information, visit the following link: www.womenshealth.gov/whw or call (800)-994-9662.

Ist Annual Friends for Friends Health Expo

2008-05-01T10:49:00.001-05:00

The “It’s About Me” Breast Cancer Awareness Association hosted its first annual Friends 4 Friends Health Awareness Expo on April 26th, 2008. The theme for this year's event was “Be Strong, Be Healthy, Be In Charge, Be Alive”. The event was held at the Junction City Municipal Building on 7th and Jefferson. 56 young adults from our community participated. The event was targeted towards area youth and offered education on health issues such as breast cancer in both men and women, cervical cancer, HPV transmission and the Gardisil vaccine, diet and exercise, tobacco cessation, and immunizations. Speakers at this event included Loren Edgar, a young Leukemia survivor; Mary Ann Foxx, Promise Coordinator from the Susan G Komen For A Cure Foundation; breast and cervical cancer survivor, Tim Weimer, Irwin Army Community Hospital Preventative Health Educator; and Elizabeth Gallagher, Irwin Army Community Hospital Nutritionist. Event attendees also participated in the Best of the Best Contest. Those that were chosen received gifts or gift certificates from Kay’s Jewelers, Tom’s Men’s Wear, and Expert Tire Company. Continental breakfast was served for event participants and speakers, and lunch was provided by the Junction City Subway on 6th Street. This event was a collaboration between the following agencies: Junction City/Geary County Health Department, Junction City Youth Clinic, Irwin Army Community Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Susan G Komen For A Cure Foundation, Sanofi Pasteur Pharmaceutical, and Merck Pharmaceutical Companies. The “It’s About Me” Breast Cancer Awareness Association will be hosting its 6th annual Women’s Health Conference on October 11, 2008. It will be held at the Junction City Municipal Building and will focus on continuing the fight against breast cancer. Submitted By: April M. Valdemar-Esterly

Double Mastectomy...No Cancer?

2008-04-18T10:02:00.002-05:00

A mastectomy can be one of the most terrifying and emotionally difficult procedures a woman can undergo. The removal of the breasts affects women not only physically but mentally, often leaving patients depressed and self conscious. Most mastectomies are performed as a last ditch effort to rid the body of invasive breast cancer cells. Some, however, are approved as a preventative measure if a woman has a very high risk of developing invasive cancer. Read more about one woman's choice to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing the breast cancer that killed her mother:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/131985?GT1=43002

The Different Faces of Breast Cancer

2008-04-16T08:20:00.005-05:00

The medical profession categorizes all cancerous cells developing in the breast "breast cancer", however, there are different forms of breast cancer which exhibit different symptoms. About 85 percent of all breast cancers originate in the mammary ducts, while about 15 percent arise in the lobules. One of the most important distinctions to understand about breast cancer is the difference between invasive cancer and carcinoma in situ (kar-sin-O-ma in SY-too).

Invasive cancer is the more serious of the two main types of breast cancer. Invasive cancer develops when abnormal cells from inside the lobules or ducts break out into the surrounding breast tissue. From here, the cancer cells can spread into the lymph nodes and later into major organs like the liver, lungs and bones. Scientists believe that invasive breast cancer cells are capable of traveling outside of the breast, through the blood and lymph systems, very early in the course of the disease. Inflammatory breast cancer is a very rare but extremely deadly form of invasive ductal breast cancer. Unlike other forms of invasive cancer, inflammatory breast cancer does not form a lump or tumor in the breast. It is often undetectable through mammogram and the survival rate is low. Early detection of breast cancer is critical to increase the chances of survival if the cancer cells have already traveled outside of the breast.

When abnormal cancer cells grow inside the lobules or milk ducts but have not spread to the surrounding tissues, the cancer is called carcinoma in situ. The term "in situ" means "in place" and is used to describe this condition because the cancer stays "in place" where it first developed. Carcinoma in situ is categorized as either "ductal" carcinoma in situ or "lobular" carcinoma in situ. The cells in both carcinomas in situ are not fully cancerous because they have not developed the ability to invade other tissues. Carcinomas in situ are sometimes considered precancerous conditions because they can lead to or increase the risk of invasive forms of breast cancer.

Because breast cancer can take so many forms, it is important to know your breasts through regular self breast exams. These types of cancers do affect women under 40 who are often not recommended for routine mammograms. Self breast exams and clinical breast exams are the only way to detect the early stages of all types of breast cancer.

Young Women and Breast Cancer

2008-04-11T09:43:00.003-05:00

When it comes to breast cancer, "young" usually means anyone younger than 40 years of age. Breast cancer is less common among women in this age group. Less than 10 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under age 40.
Diagnosing breast cancer in younger women can be more difficult because the breast tissue is often thicker than the breast tissue of older women. By the time a lump can be felt in a younger woman, it is often large enough to lower her chances of survival. In addition, the cancer may be more aggressive and less responsive to hormone therapies.
Delay of diagnosis in younger women is a special problem because it is so rare for a younger woman to get the disease. As a result, younger women are often told that a lump is just a cyst and to wait and watch it. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice a change in either of your breasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

2008-04-10T16:05:00.002-05:00

Q: What are the signs of breast cancer?

A: The signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. In fact, some women have no signs that they can see. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away:

A lump, hard knot or thickening of breast tissue

Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening

Change in breast size or shape

Dimpling or puckering of the skin

Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

Pulling in of your nipple or other areas

Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

New pain in one spot

Q: When should a breast self-examination (BSE) be done?

A: A BSE should be done every month at the same time of the month, for instance; for menstruating women, it should be performed after the menstrual period has ended, when the breasts are less tender. For postmenopausal women, it should be performed the same time each month.

Q: What is a clinical breast exam (CBE)?

A: A CBE is performed by a healthcare provider. It includes visual examination and palpation (feeling) of the entire breast and underarm area, and is performed in both sitting and lying down positions.

Q: How often should I get a CBE?

A: You should get a CBE by a healthcare provider at least every three years beginning at age 20 and yearly after age 40.

Q: Who is at risk for breast cancer?

A: The following are breast cancer risk factors:

Being a woman

Being older than 40

Personal or family history of breast cancer

Never giving birth or giving birth after age 30

Long menstrual history (menstual periods started early/ended late in life)

Q: What can I do to prevent breast cancer?

A: It is estimated that 50-70% of cancers are related to lifestyles that include smoking, poor dietary habits, poor/infrequent exercise and high body mass index (BMI). Eating right, controlling your weight, exercising and not smoking can decrease your odds of developing breast cancer.

Q: What is a mastectomy:

A: A mastectomy is the complete surgical removal of the breast. This kind of surgery is usually only performed for late-stage or invasive and uncontrollable breast cancer. Early detection can sometimes prevent the need for a mastectomy.

What is Breast Cancer?

2008-04-10T09:12:00.000-05:00

Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but men can get breast cancer too. A woman’s breast is made up of glands that make breast milk (lobules), ducts (small tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple), fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph (pronounced limf) vessels.

Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts (ductal cancer), some begin in the lobules (lobular cancer), and the rest in other tissues. Most breast lumps are benign (be-nine); that is, they are not cancer. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life threatening. But some benign breast lumps can increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.
Most lumps turn out to be caused by fibrocystic (fi-bro-sis-tik) changes. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs. Fibrosis is the formation of scar-like tissue. Such changes can cause breast swelling and pain. The breasts may feel lumpy, and sometimes there is a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge.

There are many types of breast cancer, though some of them are very rare. Sometimes a breast tumor can be a combination of these types and to have a mixture of invasive and in situ cancer.

For more information visit the American Cancer Society website, the source of the information in this post: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_What_is_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=

Breast Cancer in Geary County

2008-04-09T14:02:00.000-05:00

Today is a brand new day in the fight against a local, national and global killer. Breast cancer is a devastating disease that has taken the lives of coutnless women all over the world. With early detection, breast cancer can be treatable but this invasive and often asymptomatic killer still claims the lives of women (and men) every year in Kansas. The purpose of this blog is to provide information about breast cancer, prevention and detection facts, news and research findings and local happenings in Geary County and North Central Kansas. Our goal at the Junction City-Geary County Health Department is to arm local women with the tools they need to combat breast cancer and it's effects on all areas of life. We sincerely hope that you find the information on this page relevant and useful. Please feel free to comment on the information you see here or ask questions if you would like to know more. If you are a survivor, please post your comments or a personal story to help us get the word out about breast cancer. It is our hope to provide the most current links, findings and news on a regular basis. If you would like to contact us outside of this forum, you can send an email to Joelle Pitts, the Health Educator for the Health Department, at jpitts@jcgchealthdept.org.