A special section celebrating the importance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the health of women everywhere
Millions of people across the globe will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. In fact, only certain skin cancers affect more women than breast cancer within the United States and Canada.
The World Cancer Research Fund International says breast cancer is the most commonly diag nosed cancer in women across the globe. Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg had the highest number of breast cancer cases in 2020, while Barbados and Fiji had the greatest number of deaths attributed to the disease. Some of these high case numbers may be attributed to women with family histories of breast cancer – something that increases risk significantly.
BreastCancer.org indicates that women with close relatives who have had breast cancer, such as sisters, mothers or grandmoth ers, are at considerably higher risk of developing breast cancer them selves. Also, breast cancer may occur at a younger age in women with family histories of the disease.
Understanding breast cancer risk is vital for women’s health. The following breakdown, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can help women from all backgrounds understand their risk for breast cancer.
• Average risk: No first- or sec ond-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, or one seconddegree female relative with breast
cancer (in one breast only) diag nosed after age 50.
• Moderate risk: This is a some what higher risk that may not turn into breast cancer. It occurs when there is one or two first-degree or two second-degree female relatives with breast cancer (in one breast only), with both relatives diagnosed after age 50; otherwise, one or two first- or second-degree relatives with high grade prostate cancer.
• Strong: Women with strong risks have much higher chances of developing breast cancer than the general population. Conditions like having one or more first- or seconddegree relatives with breast cancer diagnosed at age 45 or younger, triple negative breast cancer, primary cancer of both breasts, and both breast and ovarian cancer in the same relative are warning signs of increased risk.
It’s important for women with increased risk for breast cancer due to family history to discuss options with their doctors. More frequent mammograms and other screening tests may be recom mended, and screening at younger ages than the standard age also may be considered. Women who are at high risk may be urged to undergo genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer markers.
Breast cancer can be an especially scary prospect for women with family histories of the disease. By familiarizing them selves with their risks for breast cancer, women can take the nec essary steps to protect their long-term health.
Millions of women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Such a diagnosis is never welcome, but women should know that survival rates have improved dramatically in recent decades. In fact, the World Health Organiza tion reports that, by the end of 2020, nearly eight million women were living despite having been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in the previ ous half decade.
One of the reasons for the improved survival rates is the effi cacy of various treatments. The National Breast Cancer Founda tion Inc. notes that doctors have various options to treat breast cancer, and they often devise treatment plans that include some combination of treatments. Though no one wants to imagine receiving a breast cancer diagno sis, understanding the potential treatments for the disease can help women and their families be more prepared should that day ever arrive. The following are three treatment options physi cians may discuss with women as they begin devising ways to over come the disease.
Chemotherapy is used to treat various cancers, including breast cancer. Chemotherapy employs various drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. The drugs administered during chemother apy are known as cytotoxic drugs
and may be administered orally or intravenously. The NBCF notes that chemotherapy is offered to most patients, though doctors will consider a host of variables before deciding if chemotherapy is right for a given patient. Those vari ables include the type of tumor, its grade and its size.
During radiation treat ments, high energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. Only cells in the part of the body that is being treated with radiation are affected, so patients needn’t
worry that other parts of their body will be hit with radiation. The NBCF reports that patients diagnosed with Stage 0 (DCIS) and most diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive cancer or higher can expect doctors to prescribe radi ation therapy. Women who have had a lumpectomy also are likely
to be prescribed radiation. Two main kinds of radiation are gener ally considered for breast cancer patients. External beam breast cancer radiation treatment deliv ers cancer-killing rays through a large machine. Internal breast cancer radiation is a newer treat ment that injects radioactive cancer-killing treatments into the
The NBCF reports that targeted therapy is commonly used in combination with traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapy attacks spe cific breast cancer cells without harming normal cells, which is why it tends to produce less severe side effects than chemotherapy treatments. Targeted therapy employs drugs to block the growth of cancer cells in very specific ways. One example cited by the NBCF is the drug trastuzumab, or Herceptin, which is given to women whose breast tumors have too much of the abnormal protein HER2. Though the side effects of targeted therapies tend to be less severe, women may still experi ence issues like fever and chills, nausea, headaches and other symptoms after drugs have been administered.
Expanding breast cancer treat ments have done much to improve survival rates for patients. Women diagnosed with the disease are urged to play an active role in their treatments and ask any questions they might have before, during and after being treated.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged or older women. In fact, the median age at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62. Though it’s possible for women far younger than 62 to be diagnosed with breast cancer, the ACS reports that only a very small number of women younger than 45 are diagnosed with the disease each year. Despite the average age of onset being over 60, breast cancer is highly treatable. The World Health Organization notes that breast cancer treatments routinely achieve survival probabilities of 90% or higher. However, those probabilities decline considerably in lower-income countries where access to screening and other medical services is limited. For example, the WHO notes that five-year survival rates for breast cancer routinely surpass 90% in high-income countries like the United States and Canada. However, those rates are as low as 40% in South Africa, where early detection of the disease is less likely than it is in wealthier nations. That disparity in survival rates underscores the need for greater resource allocation in lower-income countries, but also highlights the effectiveness of screening and other measures in high-income countries where women are taught to report any abnormalities with their breasts.
Navigating cancer treatment is a challenge unlike any other. Medical professionals often advise cancer patients to lean on their support systems during treatment, and heeding that advice can make it easier to manage the ups and downs that can arise when being treated for cancer.
In addition to building a strong and trustworthy support system, individuals diagnosed with breast cancer can study up on what to expect during treatment. Side effects of treatment may differ depending on the treatment plan devised by women’s cancer care teams. Such plans are not uniform, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. notes that treatments
often include a combination of therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation. In addition, no two women are the same, so they may respond differently to similar treatment plans than others have in the past. Despite the differences between treat ment plans and patients, Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that women may experience an assortment of side effects, including:
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Pain and numbness: The pain and numbness associated with breast cancer treatment is potentially linked to periph eral neuropathy, an umbrella term that the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says refers to the many conditions that involve damage
Cancer is an insidious disease that affects just about every part of the body, including the breasts. The World Cancer Research Fund International indi cates there were more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer in women in 2020.
Women understandably want to learn what they can do to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. One of the first con siderations may be analyzing diet and determining if it is affecting breast cancer risk.
A variety of factors affect a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer, and certain life style choices, including diet, can play a role. However, according to Healthline, the risk factors with the biggest impact include sex, age and genetics. Lifestyle can influence breast cancer risk but not at the same levels as genetic markers, family history, gender or age. However, women inter ested in doing all they can to stay healthy may want to take a closer look at the foods and bev erages that can adversely affect breast cancer risk.
Healthy food choices are linked to lower incidences of cancer and other conditions. Susan G. Komen states that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may be linked to a lower risk of developing breast cancer. A pooled analysis of data from 20 studies found women who ate the most vegetables had a lower risk of estrogen receptornegative breast cancer (but not estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer) compared to women who ate the least vegetables, accord
ing to a 2013 report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. And it doesn’t really matter if produce is organic or not. According to the American Cancer Society, the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables outweigh any health risks linked to pesticide residue.
Though a single food will
not lead to higher breast cancer risk, overeating and putting on excess weight can increase risk. That is why it is essential to get plenty of exercise each week and monitor calorie consumption. While women who are in their reproductive years may not see as much breast cancer risk from being overweight or obese, after menopause, that risk increases, says Susan G. Komen. The risk is not directly related to fatty foods, however. The American Cancer Society says an exami nation of the amount of fat eaten by women in the United States
found no link between fat and breast cancer risk.
In addition, while consum ing too much sugar may not be healthy in the long run, it’s a myth that “sugar feeds cancer.” Eating sugar may lead to weight gain, which may increase the risk of breast cancer, says the ACS.
One component of diet that has been studied extensively is the effects of alcoholic bever
ages on breast cancer risk. Susan G. Komen reports that a pooled analysis of data from 53 studies found women who had two to three alcoholic drinks per day had a 20% higher risk of breast cancer compared to those who didn’t drink alcohol. Alcohol should be limited to one drink per day for the average woman, or none at all, if possible.
Diet is only one factor in the risk for developing breast cancer. While important, there are other components that increase risk by a more significant margin.
The complex relationship between fat, sugar and cancer
Efforts to educate women about breast cancer have helped raise awareness of the disease and just how treatable it is when detected early. Despite that, a diag nosis can still be difficult for women and their families. When someone close to you is affected by breast cancer, priorities suddenly change and you may be wondering what you can do to provide the support needed to help this person navigate any ups and downs that could be on the horizon.
A breast cancer diagnosis does not produce a uniform response. While one loved one may embrace others wanting to help, another may feel she is a burden and exhibit an unwillingness to accept help. In the latter instance,
being a supportive bystander may require walking on eggshells. Even still, there are some universal ways to lend support when a friend or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer.
• Offer practical support. Cancer affects the body in a number of ways. Energy levels may wane and certain symptoms may arise. Side effects from treatments also can make it difficult to continue with daily tasks. So an offer to help with tasks associated with daily living, such as cooking meals, gar dening, washing clothes, or cleaning up around the house, can be practi cal and much appreciated. Approach the individual and ask questions in pointed ways. Rather than, “What can I do to help?”, which may result in an answer of, “Nothing,” figure out a way to pitch in and then ask if that would be acceptable. This may be, “Would
you like me to run to the supermarket for you today?”
• Offer emotional support. Someone with breast cancer may just need a person who can be there and listen. A hug, a nod of understanding or even a companion who can chat and take the person’s mind off the cancer can be immensely helpful. Keep in mind that emotions may change on a dime, and some emotions may be directed at support systems. While it can feel hurtful, remember the real reason for any outburst is the disease. Patience is needed at all times.
• Learn what you can about breast cancer. Research the type of cancer your loved one has, which may make it easier to understand what to expect. If the person is amenable, you may consider accompanying her to appointments to hear firsthand about the next
steps in her treatment and recovery.
• Maintain a positive attitude. It’s never easy knowing someone you love is sick. They are going through their own emotional roller coaster, and support systems can lift their spirits by maintaining positive attitudes. Avoid wearing rose-colored glasses, but try to remain as upbeat as possible.
• Find a support group. Professional support groups are great resources for coping with a cancer journey. Sup porting a person with cancer takes its own unique toll, particularly when caring for a spouse, child or mother with breast cancer. Support groups for support networks can be helpful.
Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer may need a little extra love and support. It’s up to caregivers and friends to step up and provide what is needed.
to the peripheral nervous system. The NINDS notes that this connection is due to certain chemotherapy drugs and not all patients will develop the pain and numbness associated with periph eral neuropathy.
• Dental issues: Among the poten tial dental issues that can arise during breast cancer treatment are mucositis (severe inflammation of the mouth), an increased risk for oral infections, diffi culty swallowing and pain that feels like a significant toothache, among others.
• Lymphedema: Lymphedema is swelling in an arm or leg that the Mayo Clinic notes can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage the lymph nodes.
• Musculoskeletal symptoms: Issues such as myalgia and muscle stiffness have been reported in a high percentage of patients who underwent aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer.
• Bone loss and osteoporosis
• Heart problems: Breastcancer.org indicates that various types of treatment, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, have been found to affect the heart, blood vessels and immune system, potentially increasing the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
• New cancers
• Cataracts
• Blood clots
• Absence of menstrual periods
• Menopausal symptoms
• Sexual difficulties: WebMD notes that a lack of sex drive, vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse are some of the sexual difficulties that can arise during breast cancer treatment.
• Infertility
• Concerns about memory loss and cognitive function, which is sometimes referred to as “chemo brain”
Side effects vary during breast cancer treatment. Some women may not expe rience anything more than minor issues during treatment. But women are urged to discuss side effects with their cancer care teams and seek guidance about how to alleviate or overcome any symptoms that adversely affect their quality of life.
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