2021 Breast Cancer Awareness Edition

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Yellow Jacket Burns and Bobcat Matthews are Players of the Week

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CELEBRATING 139 YEARS OF SERVICE IN LINCOLN, LAWRENCE, COPIAH AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

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17-year-old killed in Sunday shooting

By Brett Campbell brett.campbell@dailyleader.com

Brookhaven police are working a weekend fatal shooting.

Officers responded to an inci-

dent Sunday evening where the body of a black male was found on the carport of a home at 100 Cherry St. The victim was identified as 17-year-old Terrion Thomas and pronounced dead at the scene at

7:59 p.m., according to Lincoln County Deputy Coroner Ricky Alford.

The body has been sent for autopsy.

“We had a homicide at 100

Cherry St. We are still gathering information, talking to witnesses,” said Brookhaven Police Department Detective Capt. Clint Earls.

“After the investigation is complete, we will release more infor-

mation,” Earls said. “But at this point, it is better that we withhold what we do know, in order not to give up identifies of any witnesses or information about any evidence.”

Cancer survivor just wants to be an encourager

By Brett Campbell brett.campbell@dailyleader.com

Chasity Gayten was a Brookhaven High School senior when she found a lump in her breast.

It was the night of Christmas and she’s still not sure why she decided to perform a self-exam.

“I actually was not sick. I was living my normal high school senior life doing all the things — dance, student council, National Honor Society,” Gayten said. “I have a feeling it was my sweet guardian angel who maybe whispered in my ear to do it.”

When she found what she said felt like a marble in her left breast near her

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sternum, she was surprised and concerned. When Gayten was 12 years old, her mother Tracey had fought breast cancer … and lost.

She was shocked to find something at such a young age. Her parents began taking her to see doctors and within a week she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

“The process went extremely fast after that because they wanted to go ahead and get the cancer out of my body,” Gayten said.

SEE SURVIVOR, PAGE B2

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Photos submitted

Top right, Chasity Gayten, with her daughter Caidence, was diagnosed with breast cancer as a high school senior. Above, her father Willie Gayten shaves her head while her siblings surround her with encouragement in a photo taken by her stepmother Latronda Gayten.Top left, Gayten holds a photo of her mother, Tracey, who died of breast cancer when Gayten was 12.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

Debunking common myths Cancer claims the lives of millions of people across the globe every year. But the fight against cancer is anything but hopeless, as the World Health Organization notes that between 30 and 50 percent of all cancer cases are preventable.

Learning about cancer is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves from this deadly disease. Researchers continue to learn more about cancer everyday and routinely discover that information once thought to be accurate was actually off-base.

Despite researchers’ best efforts, some myths about cancer still prevail. Some of these myths are about cancer in general, while others refer to specific cancers, including breast cancer. Myths about breast cancer can be as harmful as accurate information is helpful, so learning the truth and debunking those myths can be an important part of women’s preventive approach to breast cancer.

• Myth: Drinking milk increases your risk for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society notes

that early studies raised concerns that drinking milk from cows treated with hormones could increase a person’s risk for breast cancer. However, ensuing research failed to find a clear link between the two. In fact, a 2002 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found no significant association between dairy fluid intake and breast cancer risk.

• Myth: Lumps indicate breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. says that only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer. However, abnormalities or changes in breast tissue should always be brought to the attention of a physician.

• Myth: Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread. This myth is rooted in the incorrect notion that breast compression while getting a mammogram causes the cancer to spread. However, the NBCF insists that cannot happen. In fact, the National Cancer Institute touts the benefits of mammograms while the ACS

recommends women between the ages of 45 and 54 get mammograms every year. For additional breast cancer screening guidelines, visit the ACS at www.cancer.org.

• Myth: Women with a family history of breast cancer are likely to develop breast cancer, too.

This myth is dangerous because, if taken at face value, it can give women with no family history of breast cancer a false sense of security. However, the NBCF notes that only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that a woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a firstdegree relative, including a mother, sister, daughter, or even a male family member, who have had the disease. But breast cancer can affect anyone, regardless of their family history.

Information is a valuable asset in the fight against breast cancer. Learning to decipher between accurate and false information can be especially valuable.

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Screening guidelines Cancer screenings are widely recognized as a vital component of personal healthcare. Catching cancer in its earliest stages greatly improves patients’ survival rates, and screening is often the most effective way to find cancer before it grows and spreads to other parts of the body.

Working with a physician they trust and being open and honest about their health and their family history of breast cancer can help women make the most informed decisions about when and how often to be screened.

In the meantime, women can consider these screening guidelines from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose cancer experts devised the guidelines based on their extensive experience treating breast cancer patients.

Women at average risk

The MSKCC defines being at average risk as having: • no symptoms of breast cancer • no history of invasive breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread beyond the milk ducts)

• no history of ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule) • no history of atypia (atypical hyperplasia, a form of benign breast disease) • no family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) • no suggestion or evidence of a hereditary syndrome such as a BRCA mutation (evidence would be multiple first- and/or second-degree relatives with breast cancer or ovarian cancer) • no history of mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and some other conditions) MSKCC recommends women between the ages of 25 and 40 who are at average risk schedule an annual clinical breast examination. Women 40 and older should have an annual mammogram in addition to their annual clinical breast exam. Women with dense breast tissue may be advised to have an ultrasound as well. All women

should consider performing monthly self breast exams beginning at age 20. Doing so helps women become familiar with their breasts, and that familiarity may alert them to abnormalities down the road.

Women at above-average risk

Women whose risk of developing breast cancer is above-average face more complicated screening decisions. This includes women with a family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child); history of atypical hyperplasia (a form of benign breast disease); history of lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are confined to the milk duct, or lobule); history of mantle radiation (a radiation therapy used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and some other conditions) before the age of 32; genetic predisposition for breast cancer (for example, women with a BRCA mutation).

Breast cancer screenings are important, and women should speak with their physicians to determine the right guidelines for them.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES One thing the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped or postponed is cancer. That’s why you can’t stop getting routine cancer screenings, including mammography. A screening can help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. If you are 40 or older, or considered to be at risk, we recommend a mammogram screening each year. KDMC, caring for our community like no one else can.

427 Highway 51 North, Brookhaven, MS 39601 | 601.833.6011 | KDMC.org |    

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

SURVIVOR FROM PAGE A1

Doctors removed the 2.5 cm mass, which had not attached to any other tissue, along with all of Gayten’s breast tissue in both breasts and all of the lymph nodes on her left side.

She had reconstructive surgery — “Only because I was so young and I didn’t really know what to expect in the future” — and underwent eight treatments of chemotherapy. All the while, her BHS counselors were helping her to make sure she graduated — she had already completed all of her required credits — and her family and friends were rallying around her.

Her chemo involved four very strong treatments, dubbed “red devil” treatments, and four milder treatments. After her first treatment, she felt very good until she made it home. Then she got “extremely sick” and laid down on her side on the floor.

“I was so weak and I couldn’t move,” Gayten said. Her father, Willie Gayten, picked her up and carried her to her bed and told her something that gave her great encouragement.

“Just because your mom didn’t make it doesn’t mean that you’re not going to make it,” he told her. “We’re going to fight this and we’re going to get through it.”

“My dad and stepmom are very strong Christians and they were there for me and fighting with me,” she said with a smile in her voice. “I think that’s why I was so positive during the entire process and trying to keep myself afloat.”

Though the treatments were difficult, at times sapping her strength to the point she couldn’t speak or do much else, and patients are not expected to be in good spirits the entire time, Gayten still wanted to be positive — for herself and others.

“I have truly been blessed. I didn’t have to have radiation,” she said. “(Back then) I automatically thought that my life was basically over because my mom had already gone through it and she didn’t make it. So I thought, ‘Wow — I haven’t even lived the life that God has planned for me or done what I want to do in my life,’ but I think I was so strong because I didn’t want others to see me not feeling good or not being strong.”

Photo submitted

Breast cancer survivor Chasity Gayten had cancer as a Brookhaven High School senior and is now a high school teacher.

At one point early in the treatments, her family was preparing to attend revival services at their church. Gayten was brushing her hair and all the hair on the crown of her head fell out. She thought of a classmate whose mother had just lost her fight with cancer. She was worried and embarrassed and just wanted to stay home.

Her stepmother Latronda Gayten told her, “It’s OK. We have you,” and led her into the dining room, where her family

gathered around her as her father cut off the rest of her hair. Perhaps surprisingly, Gayten is smiling in a photo of the event and loves that picture.

“My brothers and my sister and my dad are in the picture, and my stepmom took it so I know she’s there, too,” she said. “I had my family and I had that love to get me through.”

Her classmates, boyfriend and coworkers were all very supportive of her as well, she said. But no one more than

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God. “God is creator of everything, and no matter what we go through he is always there for us,” she said. “We are humans, so of course we’re automatically going to have our own views of everything, but in the end it’s his book that he has written for us and we won’t understand all he has planned for us.”

Gayten is 31 now and 12 years cancer free. She works part-time at Walmart Pharmacy in Brookhaven and is a fulltime teacher at North Pike High School.

She teaches grades 9-12, but mainly ninth-grade Mississippi Studies and world geography.

“I start off my week with my students with a positive quote, every week, because you never know what they are going through,” she said. “Kids in high school have to experience so many things and some have to grow up faster than they would like to. It’s my job to be there and show them I care for them.”

She tells her students during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October about her own fight with cancer as a senior in high school.

“They’re amazed because they look at me and can’t believe I had cancer,” Gayten said. “I say, ‘Well, what is a person who had cancer supposed to look like?’”

She makes sure her students understand that cancer is a possibility for anyone and that even young men can get it.

Her students need to be aware of what breast cancer is and what it can do. She is making sure her daughter Caidence understands, too.

For some survivors of breast cancer and people who have lost loved ones to cancer, special emphasis months can be hard, harsh reminders of difficult times.

But for Gayten, it’s still more of a positive thing than negative.

“It’s not as hard as it would seem, only because me telling my story and my testimony can be helpful to someone who may not know and who may be the age that I was during that time,” she said.

“Back then, going through cancer when I did made me a stronger person because when you go through something so traumatic you have no choice but to be a strong person. People say I always have a smile on my face and I’m so positive, but you never know what someone else is going through and they may need me to be smiling and positive. We need to be an encouragement to others.”

THE DAILY LEADER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

Using diet & exercise to prevent breast cancer When it comes to breast cancer risk, some things are beyond a person’s control. Women might not be able to do much in regard to their genetic makeup and family history, each of which can elevate their risk for breast cancer, but many risk factors are within women’s control.

A healthy diet and routine exercise may help women reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, while poor lifestyle choices can increase that risk. For example, being overweight is a strong risk factor for breast cancer for women who are 18 and older, advises Stanford Health Care. Even 10 percent weight gain (or 15 pounds on a 150-pound woman) increases breast cancer risk as well as the risk of recurrence.

Diet and exercise can play a pivotal role in reducing breast cancer risk, and it’s important for women to understand just how much good healthy diets and routine exercise can do for them in regard to fighting breast cancer.

• Stanford Health Care says some studies suggest limiting dietary fats in the diet, particularly those that come from animals, to reduce breast cancer risk.

These include butter, full-fat dairy, poultry skin, and fatty meats. Reducing intake of dietary fats, especially animal fats, may protect against diseases sensitive to hormones, like breast cancer.

• Data from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living study suggests that soy consumption from whole foods and soy milk for any breast

FAQs

Can physical activity reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Exercise boosts the immune system and helps you to keep your weight in check. With as little as three hours of exercise per week, or about 30 minutes a day, a woman can begin to lower her risk of breast cancer. This doesn’t require going to a gym either. Power walking is more than sufficient!

Does smoking cause breast cancer?

cancer type is probably safe, despite public perceptions.

Avoid soy supplements and concentrated soy that comes in many soy protein powders until more about their effects is known.

• The American Cancer society links alcohol consumption to a higher risk of various cancers, including breast cancer. The more alcohol a person drinks, the higher his or her cancer risk.

The ACS recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.

A five-ounce glass of wine is considered one drink.

• Susan G. Komen® says a high body mass index has been associated with increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Exercise may help reduce risk by altering metabolism, hormones and breast density.

• Inflammation is an immune system response to injury or illness. However, when inflammation is chronic, it can damage DNA and lead to cancer,

advises the National Cancer Institute. Deep marine fish; dark, leafy green vegetables; bright, multi-colored vegetables; black teas; and spices like turmeric can help fight or prevent inflammation.

• The ACS recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity activity each week (or a combination), preferably spread throughout the week to keep body weight in check.

• Stanford Health Care says consumption of high amounts of sugar can increase insulin levels and result in weight gain, each of which can lead to breast cancer. Limit intake of sugary snacks and refined carbohydrates, opting for healthy alternatives such as fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains, dairy, and soy milk.

Diet and exercise is vital to overall health and can help women reduce their risk for breast cancer.

Smoking is a confirmed risk factor for many types of cancer. Recent research in the last year (2012) has confirmed that smoking is a contributing risk factor for developing breast cancer. Additionally, second hand smoke is also a risk factor for cancer. So if you are a smoker, help yourself in a significant way and join a smoking cessation program to help you stop. The day you stop smoking the healing can begin and each week in which you are smokefree, you give yourself increasing advantages for a healthier life. Smoking also directly contributes to heart and other lung diseases, too.

Can drinking alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer?

Moderation is key. One drink per day has been shown to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Having more than one drink per day has shown to be a more significant risk factor, and the alcohol content doesn’t mat-

ter: wine, beer or a mixed drink. Alcohol also increases estrogen in your bloodstream.

Although we know that more than one drink per day increases risks, to date there are no studies that demonstrate directly that the more a person drinks, the greater their risk for cancer. And in some cases, drinking one glass of wine a day can offer heart-health benefit. If you drink alcohol, this is an important topic to discuss with your doctor so that you will know what limits are best for you to observe.

Is there a link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer?

There is an increased risk of breast cancer for women who have been using birth control pills for more than five years.

However due to the low amount of hormones in birth control pills today, the risk is relatively small.

But if a young woman has a significant family history of breast cancer, her gynecologist may recommend taking a break for a year from the pill at the 5-year time frame then resuming again for another 5 years. Although evidence-based research data does not offer strong support for this standard of care, it has nevertheless become an increasingly common practice.

How often should I do a breast self exam (BSE)?

Give yourself a breast self-exam once a month.

Look for any changes

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in breast tissue, such as changes in size, feeling a palpable lump, dimpling or puckering of the breast, inversion of the nipple, redness or scaliness of the breast skin, redness or scaliness of the nipple/ areola area, or discharge of secretions from the nipple.

If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes, it is very important that you see a physician immediately.

Though 8 out of 10 lumps are benign, all require evaluation to confirm that they are not cancerous.

Women should perform their breast self exam 7-10 days after their menstrual period starts which is also when their breasts are the least tender and lumpy. If they are no longer menstruating, then she should select the same day of the month (first of the month for example) and mark it on the calendar to remind herself when to perform this self exam. What to look for is a change from last month’s exam to this month’s exam. It is not unusual to have lumpy or bumpy breasts.

All women should know the geography of their own breasts. If having trouble remembering, draw a diagram of where the lumps, bumps, grooves, and other findings are felt so that this can be used as a reminder from month to month.

There is no added value in doing breast self exams more often than monthly.

Also the findings may be different as well, in relationship to where a woman is in her menstrual cycle.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

THE DAILY LEADER

Breast Cancer Won’t Wait.

You Shouldn’t Either.

Early Detection is the Key! WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR YOURSELF, why put off until tomorrow the preventive measures you can take today? At Southwest Health, we offer the advanced technology of Genius 3D Mammography, specifically designed for greater comfort and a more accurate diagnosis.

In addition, we now offer breast MRI’s and breast biopsies, the most sensitive tools in healthcare for detecting breast cancer, particularly in patients who are at high risk. These screenings and procedures, especially when used in conjunction with one another, help identify more tumors at earlier and more treatable stages, sometimes up to two years before a patient or provider can physically detect them! In addition, there is no radiation involved with MRI, making it ideal for younger patients.

Now is the time to take care of yourself! Contact your provider to get an order for your mammogram, then call us to schedule an appointment!

601-249-5198

215 Marion Avenue • McComb, MS 39648 www.smrmc.com • 601-249-5500