By the time you finish reading this article, a woman will have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
It was a year and one month since my mom?s last mammogram when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. According to WebMD, one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer, the most common cause of cancer among women (after skin cancer). Thank goodness for a routine mammogram; it saved her life.
A few years ago when I was writing a feature on breast cancer, I discovered some facts from the Susan G. Komen Foundation that stuck with me. First: the two greatest risks for breast cancer is being a woman and getting older. Second: if breast cancer is found localized to the breast, the chance of survival is 98%. This statistic alone is enough to support early detection.
It was a Friday evening at 6:05 when my mom received a call from her doctor. I was sitting in the living room and saw her hear the news: She had cancer. Just hearing the ?c? word was shocking. An aunt in our family had breast cancer as well, so a diagnosis like this brings up many emotions. Our family medical history is idled with breast cancer diagnoses, so much that a doctor suggested a genetic test.
In a single phone call my mom?s world seemed to be tipped upside down.
My mom?s diagnosis brought back memories of my grandmother?s breast cancer journey. When Nana was diagnosed, mastectomies for women were commonplace. She was one of the first women in Rochester, New York to ever receive radiation. Due to early detection, my mother made the choice to opt for a lumpectomy (the removal of the breast tumor, the ?lump,?) followed by radiation.
We spent weeks attending multiple doctor appointments understand and clarify a treatment program. So much information is tossed around the doctor?s office, it can be overwhelming. Here are three advice tips my mom received.
Tip #1: Start a diagnosis notebook .?Take notes and log in your doctor visits, medical terms discussed and questions before the doctor visits. Bring the notebook to each doctor?s visit and don?t leave the waiting room until all your notes are in the notebook from the doctor discussion. Ideally, a friend or family member should act as a scribe during the discussions.
Source: American Cancer Foundation
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Tip #2: Give yourself a few days after diagnosis to make any medical decisions.?Initially my mother was seriously considering a mastectomy until more data and research revealed that a lumpectomy was a better fit for her. The genetic test even showed that she does not have the gene for breast cancer. Don?t panic or make rash decisions. Take time.
Tip #3: Be each other?s advocate.?Women must be their own advocates and teach their daughters, sisters, nieces and friends the importance of self exams, annual check ups and mammograms,
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Source: Zimbo
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Recommendations for annual mammogram screening can be found at?Susan G. Komen for the Cure.?Early diagnosis is the key to surviving breast cancer.
Photo Source for images: Zache, American Cancer Foundation, Zimbo
Laura Ponticello understands the impact of Breast Cancer. This column is dedicated to her grandmother Rose, a former Breast Cancer survivor and her mom. Connect at?www.AskAmyDaily.com?and?laurasbooklist@aol.com
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Source: http://askamydaily.com/early-detection-saves-lives-breast-cancer
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