breast cancer – Agenda Magazine Archives

Beverly Hills Goes Pink for a Night!

By Marilyn Anderson

What’s pink and green and full of love? With fantastic food, featured femmes, and fabulous fashions? The Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County 7th Annual “Fashion for the Cure” Gala, held at 2 Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, October 23 rd !

It was an extremely special night for an extremely worthy cause: Komen for the Cure is a leader in breast cancer research, awareness, and education. Their mission is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures.

The evening was highlighted by a “Think Pink and Green” fashion show, featuring Uber Models and the new couture collection of Los Angeles celebrity eco-designer Deborah Lindquist.

There was a special guest appearance by actress Mariel Hemingway, who authored the newly published book Healthy Living from the Inside Out: Every Woman’s Guide to Beauty, Renewed Energy and Radiant Life. Lizanne Falsetto, international fashion model and CEO of Think Products, was the emcee.

But the real stars of the night were twelve Breast Cancer Survivors who modeled designs by Sash, Eco-Centric, Staci, and Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. Survivor model Stephanie LaRue wore a “ThinkThinPink Wrapper” dress designed by Lindquist, made from natural nutrition bar wrappers.

Each of the survivors received the loving touch of a hair and makeup makeover by Jose Eber and his salon staff for their fashion runway debut.

The gala was hosted by the always wonderful, ever popularMcCormick & Schmick’s ~ A Pacific Seafood Grill, which offered an array of delicious treasures from the sea, including oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktail, stone crab claws, ahi, albacore, andtako sashimi and ceviche. Add to that, lobster pot stickers, salmon skewers, vegetarian spring rolls and other healthy, fresh organic appetizers, all presented by McCormick & Schmick’s Executive Chef David Iino. And what’s a party without desserts: heavenly treats like brownie bites, key lime squares, mini brulee, and passion-fruit mousse cups!

To go with the tasty cuisine, cocktails were flowing, and a special wine tasting was hosted by Agua Dulce Vineyards. Live music was provided by Jones, and tunes continued through the night withDJ C-Note spinning. Guests also enjoyed a silent auction and a live auction, where they bid on fantastic items, including vacation packages to the Fairmont Kea Lani in Hawaii, the Wynn Las Vegas, a Colorado Ski Package, and Golf at Pebble Beach.

Komen for the Cure’s featured artist, Phil Barnes, who lost his grandmother to breast cancer, painted “One Love,” a 6′ x 6′ acrylic on canvas specifically for Komen’s Fashion for the Cure. “One Love” was auctioned off at the event, and represented the victorious, healing, yet feminine essence of those affected by breast cancer.

All proceeds from the evening benefited The Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker in honor of her sister Susan, the organization is the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research and community outreach programs.

Everyone is invited to save the date for the Komen Race for the Cure in the Los Angeles area on Saturday March 15, 2008.

For more information on Komen for the Cure, contact the Los Angeles County affiliate at 626-577-2700, or go towww.komenlacounty.org.

And for great seafood any day or night:

McCormick & Schmick’s ~ A Pacific Seafood Grill
Two Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210
(310) 859-0434

Breast Cancer Answers Practical Tips and Personal advice from a Survivor

Breast Cancer Answers
Practical Tips and Personal Advice from a Survivor

Judy King

PRESS RELEASE

Breast Cancer Patients May Suffer from Lack of KnowledgeCommon Sense Reference Guide Picks Up Where Doctors Leave Off

When journalist Judy King was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, she was advised by her insurer to undergo an immediate mastectomy. She intuitively balked at this knee-jerk course of treatment and, despite the refusal of her insurer to cover the cost, consulted three breast cancer specialists. Her persistence paid off, as she soon discovered that chemotherapy was the best first treatment for her situation.

In the United States a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes. As a result, women all over the country are working hard to raise awareness about this deadly disease and to help others through it. One such woman is Judy King, author of Breast Cancer Answers—Empowering and Encouraging Patients and Their Caregivers, a new release from Listo Publications.

King’s work offers common sense solutions to the everyday challenges faced by the 211,000 women and men diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Her personal experience and subsequent research uncovered a surprising difficulty in finding information addressing common quality-of-life issues that arise during and after treatment

The doctor’s staff may be so familiar with cancer that they forget new patients aren’t and they need to know some basic information. King says, “The newly diagnosed don’t even know what questions to ask beyond treatment decisions—questions that are as basic as, ‘Will I be able to continue working?’ or ‘What should I tell my friends—or should I even tell them at all?’ Women wonder about reconstruction, what they’ll do if they lose their hair, or what to eat at various stages of treatment.” Many patients are surprised at the anger they feel or the depression that comes after treatment is finished.

Breast Cancer Answers began with Judy’s personal journey and is the culmination of four years of research and consultations with medical experts in many fields, who enthusiastically endorse the project.

-Excerpted from an Event Management Services Inc. Press Release

1127 Grove Street

Clearwater, FL 33755

For more information, please see www.breastcanceranswers.info

Divas for a Cure – Bikers Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness and Raising Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Ladies on motorcycles fighting breast cancer. What a wonderful idea! But is “ladies” too soft of a word? Though these women are true ladies, they represent a demographic that may have been overlooked in the fight against breast cancer. Divas for a Cureconsists of a core group of women who ride motorcycles. Jan Emanuel, the founder, is a breast cancer survivor, who has taken her bike along with a host of other divas to help spread the word about breast cancer awareness to the biker community. Last July I had the privilege of interviewing Jan during her 23-day ride across the country. Lucky for me, she was riding along with two other divas through Los Angeles.

Jan Emanuel is the founder and president of Divas for a Cure. She joined me with Divas treasurer AJ Jemison and Divas rider Kim Terrell. Divas for a Cure was founded by Jan Emanuel, based on her own bout with breast cancer. Not only did she survive three bouts of cancer, but she also suffered from a stroke and cardiac arrest. She has proven that if you put your mind to it, you can do so much more than you ever imagined. Most people who have experienced such debilitating illnesses are just grateful to be alive, much less riding their Harley for 23 days straight—and August 14, 2006, Divas for a Curecompleted their mission and arrived safely in Jan’s hometown of Oakland, California.

At 22 I was diagnosed with cancer and I had two different bouts—a tumor in my head, one in my chest. At 28 I had a cardiac arrest and a stroke, so I decided that there would have to be some changes in my life and I wanted to encourage other women to stay healthy and stay positive, and to do something that would bring attention to women’s health issues, and I think Divas for a Cure is birth of that. And it’s divas, meaning plural.

About a year and a half ago, Jan had to go back to the doctor, and the fear of knowing there might be a reoccurrence caused her to make a change in her life. She decided to get other women involved. Figuring that other women were going through the same experiences as she was, she decided to go online.

Real Divas Ride is an online motorcycle forum. I wanted Real Divas Ride to have a purpose in helping so we launched Divas for a Cure. We needed it to be a non-profit so we could get other people to join in the effort. And in that effort I decided to bring some other people on board. In the beginning I did an outline for Divas for a Cure. Initially, I expected to make a cross-country journey and deliver literature to the different dealerships. It came to me that the dealerships could participate in the event by calling some of their clients and constituents to get involved so we could reach an even larger audience.

Divas for a Cure left from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Las Vegas to Albuquerque to Houston, then finally, to The National Bikers’ Roundup.

The roundup actually brings in 10,000 to 40,000 bikers annually, with at least 10,000 daily, and that is a large audience. Biking used to be predominantly men, but it has changed. Now women are riding bikes. And that is an audience that doesn’t often get the medical information that is needed. So we want to create awareness and reach that target audience. We also have a core group of people that support each other in various events so we clearly would be able to bring those two together to reach the biker community—to reach that audience that may not get their health care needs met, and to also raise money.

Kim Terrell, a biker who works for IAC, formerly known as Ask Jeeves and now Ask.com, was excited to share with Jan that for each $50 contribution each employee from her company donates, IAC will match it.

Divas for a Cure provided a rider’s pledge on the website Divasforacure.org, where visitors could make contributions online, and each contribution would be matched by corporate sponsors, one of which is Harley Davidson, who asked some of their independent dealerships to allow Divas for a Cure to use their parking lots during the ride for approximately two to three hours at each dealership, where the riders met and greeted other bikers in the area. From that point, those bikers would be able to ride with Divas for a Cure to their next destination. This allowed them to get that much needed information out.

We encourage everyone to ride, whether it’s a Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, and especially a Harley. Ninety cents of every dollar goes to cancer research. We’re also launching a wig program for women going through chemotherapy. We believe the look helps to improve the health.

On the 23-day ride, there were seven women and one male rider, including chase vehicle riders. On the route there are pickup riders who ride to a destination and ride for as far as they can go. The next group met up with the Divas in the next city and took them into the next dealership.

AJ Jemison shed some light on just how phenomenal this ride really is.

Pledges go to Firstgiving.com and divasforacure.org, which will link you to the pledge site linking you to the appropriate places to help support the cause. We mentioned this is a run, and a typical run lasts four to five hours on a given day. This is 23 days around the United States, and totally out of the norm. But what we take cross-country is truly information—accurate information. A lot of these women may not ever learn about the risks of breast cancer without this information, and it’s important to know that these riders are all volunteers from different walks of life and careers.

On the website, there are links to breast cancer information, video and early detection literature as well as the latest breast cancer findings. Divasforacure.org identifies hospitals and organizations that have research facilities, as well as those that specifically target breast cancer.

Jan Emanuel –

If you call, you get a real person on the phone. Feel free to send comments. Riders have a pledge, and we’re competing with each other to raise the most money. You can provide services too. There are companies that can donate a service to help create awareness. We welcome your participation. I work in property management, so just having the time off to make this trek is something that my company is giving me, and they are making a donation.

AJ Jemison –

The women who are riding it are doing it voluntarily, and taking off work. I am doing my vacation to do this from here to Florida. We are that committed for all the right reasons. Jan had breast cancer and my mother is a survivor of eight years. We all have our own reasons for doing the ride, but we do it because we care even about those strangers who we never met. When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was there literally twelve hours later and stayed with her throughout the entire surgery. When you know what that feels like, and you can share that experience with someone, it really adds something: “Someone else knows what I am going through.” When you lose your hair, and in my mother’s case, like getting it shaved off before you see the clumps in your comb after your cancer treatments, these are simple things, but the emotions that come with them are so incredible. [I think about the hair stylist and the barber that shaved my mom’s head], women need to know that they are beautiful from the spiritual perspective. But when you look at the outside, you can still look good because that’s what a diva is all about—looking good no matter what. If you got that beauty on the inside, it can’t help but show on the outside.

When Jan Emanuel was originally diagnosed twenty-two years ago, doctors wanted to do immediate radical surgery. I was a little bit vain about it. I elected the lumpectomy, and as a result every year there is a greater chance for reoccurrence because they leave the breast tissue there and take only the affected tissue out.

Doctors are adamant that you do monthly self-breast exams, and do annual mammograms. For Jan it came sooner than later. She had been getting mammograms long before she turned 40.

It’s always a fear that the next lump may be a malignant lump. But I have friends around me that say you beat it once and you’ll beat it again. I am adamant about making sure that I check myself regularly. It was frightening knowing that it could kill me. 22 I was a little immature and only cared about saving the breast. But now that I am older, I realize, wow, I could have died. Now I am in the past 40-category. When I find a lump, I go in immediately to see my doctor because finding the lump is the first call of action. Getting the doctors to examine it with a biopsy, x-ray, or ultra sound is even more crucial. It is also very important that you regularly monitor your health with diet and exercise—those things are key.

Highest High

Launching the Website and the immediate letter we received from the IRS with our 501C3 status, because that meant that we could start eagerly promoting breast cancer awareness and raising the funds. And people would be more apt to help. When you establish a 501C3, it’s important that you honor your commitment and that those dollars reach those people for whom they were intended.

Lowest Low

Not getting the immediate corporate support we thought we would get. It takes a combined effort from resources. But having friends and family support made that low not a blow.

Divas for a Cure has raised more than $35,000.00 with no marketing and advertisement. Their hope is to get the media behind them in hopes that it will make an impact publicly through press releases, radio, and their Public Service Announcements. In the near future, they are hoping to reach six figures.

To learn more about Divas for a Cure, visit their website atwww.Divasforacure.org .

Interview by Kaylene Peoples

Bowling for Boobies: How This Annual Event Has Helped Fight Against Breast Cancer

One might chuckle when presented with the title Bowling for Boobies. I did. But once I learned what this funny little title stood for, my laughter turned into real compassion. Edith Speed and her caring friends founded the annual charity event to aid women while they are dealing with this potentially deadly illness. Bowling for Boobies helps women endure while undergoing the trials and tribulations of breast cancer. Years ago, the very statement, “You have breast cancer,” was cause for panic—cancer meant you were going to die. But today with early detection, the survival rate is 95 percent. Thanks to those who have given their time and support, women have a real fighting chance. What I find most interesting is that those zealous advocators for the disease are its survivors.

So here is where our story begins. Edith Speed saw her aunt and the younger of her two sisters die from breast cancer. It was obvious to her that she was next. Edith was vigilant about getting her annual mammograms. She gave herself breast exams well before the recommended age of 40. But one day three years ago, her X-ray came back abnormal, and her roller coaster ride began. Because Edith was no stranger to breast cancer, she had an inkling of what was ahead. She did her research, and once she received her diagnosis, she set out to change her luck. After firing her initial oncologist, she met with a number of doctors before deciding on her team.

I found the head of the breast center at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She sat with me as long as I needed, and she answered every question I had. She talked to me like a woman, and was very understanding about the things I was feeling. She was straight up with me about my choices, which included a lumpectomy, radiation, chemo, radical mastectomy, etc., and what each option offered regarding chances of recurrence and side effects.

What came next was debilitating. Edith’s battle turned into a war with the mounting expenses that just were not covered by her insurance company. She witnessed her doctors’ struggle to get the insurance companies to approve procedures in a timely manner, not to mention her own struggles of just getting them to pay for things she thought they were supposed to cover. But with the decision to have radical mastectomies and massive reconstructive surgeries, how could she cover all the costs?

I wanted to choose the best doctors that I could possibly get for myself, and get the best treatment, but that involved going out of my participating provider network for my insurance, and the costs were mounting really quickly. So my friends got together and staged the first Bowling for Boobies, and we raised $1,500.00 that went entirely to my medical bills. I just decided after all of my surgeries were finished and I was cancer-free, that I would keep this going. I wanted to keep giving back to my community. I want to raise money for other women who are in the same position I was in—not necessarily destitute women, but women like me who are self-sufficient and pay for their own insurance—but there are things that aren’t going to be covered by the insurance company.

Edith is now the event chairperson for Bowling for Boobies, and the event is sponsored by the Soroptimist International Verdugos. Surprisingly, Edith’s biggest champion was her best friend Jane Wiedlin from the Go-Gos, and now Bowling for Boobies and Jane go hand in hand. Jane Wiedlin’s celebrity status has helped to bring awareness and additional funding to the charity.

I got involved because one of my best friends, Edith, had breast cancer a few years ago. And her friends put together Bowling for Boobies to help pay for her medical costs that weren’t going to be covered by insurance. Ever since then, Edith has carried on with the event every year. And I have been helping every year to bring more awareness to get more money. It’s a fun night for a really important cause. The other entity involved is the Soroptimist group, which is a club for businesswomen who raise money for various worthy causes. It’s a non-profit group, so they can bring in the money and give all of it to a recipient. Every year they donate the money to a local woman who is battling breast cancer. Hardly ever will your insurance cover all of your costs when you’re battling cancer.

Bowling for Boobies will be auctioning off some amazing gifts to help raise funds for this year’s recipient. Here are some of the things that will be auctioned that night: a pink bowling ball and pin autographed by Jane herself; Felina Lingerie will create a bustier that Jane will wear first in the Bowling for Boobies’ colors, pink and black. Coveted spots on Jane’s bowling team have even been auctioned on e-bay, fetching $1100.00 from one excited fan, Rusty Perez.

There was a lot of competition to get on Jane’s team—a lot of aggressive bidders! But I’ve been a huge fan of Jane’s for 25 years, and I like Boobies. It was a good benefit, so I had to be on the team.

Some of the things that Bowling for Boobies has paid for are cosmetic reconstructive expenses, maids to help out breast cancer patients, taxi rides to and from treatment, adjunctive therapies for cancer such as acupuncture and herbalists—basically anything that your insurance company doesn’t cover, related to breast cancer, and/or aiding in the recovery process.

We want to give support for anything that can ease your struggle with breast cancer, make your life easier and maybe less stressful.

I am a person who takes a lot of pride in taking care of myself and being self-sufficient. On one hand it was really difficult to reach out and ask other people for help, but it was also extremely gratifying when I did. Because if you just reach out a little bit, the amount of love and outpouring and help that people do give you back is just astounding. And I still get kind of choked up about it when I think about how many people really step forward to help. I like the idea of Bowling for Boobies because it’s really fun, and you can be raising money and helping somebody at the same time. We give money to a local woman, or hopefully this year, two local women.

As a woman who has been through such a traumatic and life-threatening experience, what does Edith Speed say about her experience?

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was in that place where I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I was in uncharted territory. You have to go forward and you have to do something, even though it’s terrifying. You want to just put your head under the covers and hope when you wake up, everything’s O. K., but of course that doesn’t happen. With my experience with my family members, they died from it. I thought it was my turn and I was going to die, too. I’ve been extremely healthy all my life. I had never been in the hospital, never broken any bones, never even had my tonsils removed. So when I had that first lumpectomy surgery, I was lying in the hospital bed, it was freezing cold in the room, and none of my family could be with me. I had IVs going into my arm. I found myself thinking about my aunt who died from breast cancer who was a very devout Catholic, and then I found myself praying the Catholic prayers that I thought I had forgotten a long time ago because I don’t practice anymore. It’s really hard to describe that feeling—you’re in a place completely unfamiliar to you and you feel like you’re really alone. I felt like I was facing death, and I came through it.

I had the strength to choose a great medical team. But I had the foresight and determination to assemble the best team and figure out a way to assume the responsibility to pay for it, even if it meant I had to swallow my pride and ask for help.

Pride doesn’t have much place in my life after this ordeal. I don’t feel like I am so much about my ego or my body. These things I associate with pride. It was touching the people who came forward to help me. I have a new perspective on my life now, and every day is a gift. I no longer put important things off because if I don’t do it now, it’s not guaranteed later. I want to take the time and appreciate the great things I have in my life. I certainly appreciate the gift that life is. I do find myself taking more time to tell the people in my life that I care about them. I show them that I love them. I definitely want to reach out and help others, and now there is a special place in my heart for women dealing with breast cancer.

Edith has been cancer-free for two years, and she still fears that it could come back, because oftentimes, cancer does.

Highest High

I feel a sense of victory, happiness, and elation that I have a great support network. I have a great husband. The high point was getting married because it was right after our engagement that I was diagnosed. I was terrified that I was going to be a chemotherapy, bald bride. And I didn’t want to go through that. I got to have the wedding I wanted and two years later got to go on the honeymoon after I was healed and feeling good.

Lowest Low

My lowest point was before the first surgery where I felt really alone. But going into my second surgery, the bilateral mastectomies, and because I had already been there before with the lumpectomies, I knew what to expect. I knew my doctor, and I knew I would wake up and be O.K..

What advice would you give women going through this?

Have a support system, like a friend or family member, and arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can get—we do have access to it.

Bowling for Boobies 2006 will be October 9, 2006, Monday night at Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood. It’s a fun event. In addition to the prizes previously mentioned, there will be t-shirts and raffles. Visit www.bowlingforboobies.com, and you can donate money through paypal, or you can send money. Bowling for Boobies has two affiliate programs, too. “Feel Your Boobies” fashion line encourages young women to do their breast exams. Www.BowlingShirt.com donates proceeds from the purchase of their custom bowling shirts. There are a lot of ways to contribute all year, not just October.

Interview by Kaylene Peoples

Breast Cancer Month October – A Month Where ‘The New Black Is Pink’

October – A Month Where ‘The New Black Is Pink’

These days there is a lot of talk about “going green,” but the truth is that green isn’t the only color getting attention. It seems safe to say that for the month of October “the new black is pink.”

For more than 20 years, the month of October has been dedicated to building awareness and sharing information on the most common type of cancer that affects women across the world. There are over 2 million women in the United States alone that have been treated for cancer. Last year over 40,000 women and 300 plus men had their lives taken by this horrible disease.

Thanks to combined efforts of several government agencies, professional medical associations, and national public service organizations, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization has been able to reach out and touch thousands of individuals. Home entertainment companies, cosmetic lines, and clothing designers are all making a stand to help not only raise money but awareness for the cause. The everyday consumer now has an opportunity to support breast cancer research just shopping for life’s little necessities.

This month “DVDs for a Cure” will be available once again. Last year, MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment partnered to produce a collection of “pink packaged” films during the month of October. The campaign sold over 400,000 DVDs in 2007, and fifty cents from each sale was contributed to Susan G Komen for the Cure. Titles such as, Thelma and Louise, Legally Blonde , and In Her Shoes are just a few that will be available this year.

“Pink Ribbon” house ware is another way to support research. Manufacturers like Dyson, KitchenAid, and Dirt Devil are just a few that have provided your everyday cooking and cleaning appliances in a shade of pink that will not only add a fashionable flare to your home, but also serve as a daily reminder that we need to be making strides to find a cure. Vacuum cleaners, utensils, and irons are all essentials for a household and can now be purchased with a portion of the money going towards a greater good than just helping you mix your cake batter or clean your floor.

Hallmark launched a “Cards for the Cure” campaign in 1999. Since then $2.7 million in donations has gone to the Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation.

The beauty industry is just another of many that have jumped on board to give people a chance to benefit others while benefiting themselves. Pantene allows women to keep their hair silky smooth while at the same time helping to support a campaign which provides real wigs for women battling cancer. Smashbox Cosmetics donates 10% of all ‘O Gloss’ sales during the month of October to the “Look Good Feel Better Campaign,” a program solely supported by corporate donors that helps women to deal with appearance-related changes from cancer treatments. There is the “Pink Collection” by Estee Lauder, which includes the Elizabeth Hurley Lip Color Collection and Beautiful Eau de Parfum Spray. All donate a fraction of profits to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Plucking your eyebrows has never been so stylish with the “Breast Cancer Ribbon” tweezer by Tweezerman. A dollar from each purchase goes to “Rethink Breast Cancer.” The world of beauty is now very intertwined with breast cancer awareness. With that said, for many gals beauty has become more than skin deep.

Breast cancer is such a powerful disease that it is one of the few topics that can even bring our politicians together. Both presidential candidates, Senator Obama and Senator McCain, have stated that they intend to increase research funding.

Politics, beauty, fashion, entertainment . . . different worlds and businesses all coming together for a common good; each reaching out and doing what they can in their own way to raise awareness in our community. October is only one out of the twelve months we should devote to finding a cure for a disease that has touched the lives of so many. Breast cancer does not just hurt its victims. Make no mistake, family and friends all suffer when just one suffers. But if we stand together to raise awareness and funds to support those who have experienced the disease firsthand and those whose hands are trying to find a cure, we can and will be successful.

Written by Shannon Haggard

Breast Cancer Risk Factors – Knowing Can Make All the Difference

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2009 tell us that 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,170 deaths from breast cancer occur each year. In this issue we focus on breast cancer awareness in our attempt to keep you healthy and living a long, wonderfully productive and fulfilling life.

“The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer sometime during her life is a little less than1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States.” -American Cancer Society

Breast cancer is simply an uncontrolled growth of confused cells forming in the breast area that was caused by any of so many factors we will discuss. These irregular cells first begin killing surrounding normal healthy cells and tissue, causing a lump or mass to form which we know as cancer. Although we still lack the medical technology to prevent breast cancer completely, we can definitely reduce risk dramatically. Awareness is key to preventing this horrid battle from ever beginning, as early detection can mean the difference between life or death, ladies. I don’t mean to be so grave, but your life is very precious and I choose not to take this subject lightly in the hopes of keeping you smiling for many healthy cancer-free years. Prevention begins with knowing your family history, routine self breast examinations, yearly routine mammograms for women 40 and over, and an annual breast examination by a medical professional.

All women are at risk of breast cancer and those with a family history of this burden are at even higher risk, so please be cautious and responsible with your health. Nearly 10% of breast cancer cases are actually hereditary, commonly resulting from the mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These funny named genes actually help to prevent cancer by making the proteins that keep your cells from growing abnormally, a checks and balances, if you will. Cancer at its most basic level is simply a glitch in your system that has caused imbalance that is growing wildly out of control, destroying good elements and causing progressively more aggressive glitches. You want to catch this “glitch” early, or better yet, create the optimal environment in your body so that this glitch never comes to pass.

A woman should perform a monthly breast self examination (BSE) to catch this glitch fast and stop it in its treacherous tracks. Optimum time for self examination is a week past the end of a menstrual cycle or on the same day each month for women that might have irregular cycles. The BSE is a quick and simple process, and it is definitely worth your life, so no complaining or procrastinating. The following link is directions according to the American Cancer Association:

http://www.cancer.org

You can also always ask your gynecologist or family physician for all the information you will need.

The main idea is to feel for any irregular lumps that would need immediate attention. Be aware that not all lumps are cancerous, as some are merely natural irregularities; but don’t take any chances and get a professional opinion. Your regular physician will also inform your other more powerful examination, a yearly mammogram that needs to be routine for women 40 and on. A mammogram is simply a quick x-ray of the breast in order to rule out all doubt. Women between the ages of 20-39 should take at least one exam every three years. It is recommended that women 40 and older have the exam once a year. Nearly 77% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed at the age of 50 and beyond. Regular exams are critical as the years pass since development of breast cancer only increases with age.

Reducing risks of breast cancer is simple and brisk. Maintain a history of your family, perform routine self breast examinations, get yearly mammograms, and best of all keep your body happy and healthy in the first place to minimize any possibility of this horrible cellular glitch.

Common Lifestyle Risk Factors (Factors You Can Control and Change):

· Lack of physical activity

· Being overweight or obese

· Alcohol

· Not breast-feeding

· Post-menopausal hormone therapy

· Recent oral contraceptive use

· Not having children, or having them later in life

Common Unavoidable Risk Factors (Factors You Can Not Control or Change):

· Genetic risk factors

· Aging

· Gender

· Family history of breast cancer

· Personal history of breast cancer

· Race and ethnicity

· Dense breast tissue

· Certain benign breast conditions

Non-proliferative lesions

“These conditions show excessive growth of cells in the ducts or lobules of the breast tissue. They seem to raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer slightly (1½ to 2 times normal).” – American Cancer Society

Proliferative lesions without atypia

“In these conditions, there is excessive growth of cells in the ducts or lobules of the breast tissue, and the cells no longer appear normal. They have a stronger effect on breast cancer risk, raising it 4 to 5 times higher than normal” – American Cancer Society

Common Risk Factor Myths (Rumors):

The following is a list of controversial, uncertain or unproven rumors for increasing breast cancer risk but have been investigated and found insignificant or dismissible according to the American Cancer Society:

· Working at night

· Breast implants

· Induced abortion

· Bras

· Antiperspirants

· High fat diets (Good unsaturated fats)

Ladies, please be safe and take care of those precious lives of yours. Every day is a gift that we should not take for granted. Respect that wonderful body that takes you down this wonderful journey called life, and it will reward you with a long, fulfilling life to be proud of. For more in-depth information on the various forms of breast cancer, their risk factors, and more information on prevention, make your way to www.cancer.org. Smile, ladies and gentlemen readers of Agenda. The world is better that way.

Resources: www.cancer.org

Written by Anthony Heredia

Healing with Fashion

How does fashion relate to Breast Cancer Awareness Month? As I was trying to conjure thoughts for this column, I was so stumped. I felt that talking about fashion was trivial compared to a cause that is so big. Breast cancer has devastated so many lives. But then I sat back, took my fingers off the keyboard, rested my chin in my hands, and took a sip of coffee.

Then it came to me!

Because fashion inspires others to start over and reinvent their look, this couldn’t be more relevant to breast cancer survivors. For these women, rebuilding their lives entails being healthy, happy, and stylish.

Shopping (especially shopping sales and clearance racks!) is a popular outlet among those who are weighed down or lifted up with emotions; and I can imagine that breast cancer survivors may feel both highs and lows as treatment concludes. Whether you were the one diagnosed with breast cancer or are a loved one who experienced its suffering with someone throughout her treatment, it may be time to take a deep breath, put on some cute flats, and head on down to the local mall. It may be time to treat yourself to a new wardrobe or update your already-fabulous style.

As for where to find affordable pieces to invest in, think such stores as Target, JCPenney, and Old Navy. For personalized care and customer service, Nordstrom offers you excellence. But before you get going with spending your hard-earned dollars, make a shopping list of your essentials. If you or your loved one underwent a mastectomy or a double mastectomy, specific types of undergarments may be the first items to purchase.

However you approach shopping, remember not to overspend! That is my number one tip. Feeling reinvigorated with new fashion is an understatement, but you never want to go home broke. After all, don’t you want some money left over for your next trip? Treat yourself well, and be kind to your bank account in the process. Healing with fashion doesn’t have to leave your wallet empty.

Tragedy is prevalent in so many lives, and recovery is a blessing. This column is dedicated to those who lost their lives to breast cancer, those who are beginning treatment, and those who have survived.

Written by Elana Pruitt