Breast Cancer is defined in as "A malignant (cancer) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. It is found mostly in women". So how do I make sure I don't become one of the 2.8 million who die from Breast Cancer every year? I don't want to be another statistic.
What are the risk factors of breast cancer? Well according to our textbook on page 308, it says these are the possible factors.
- Mother who had breast cancer before age 60.
- Onset of menarche before age 14.
- First child born over after age 30.
- No biological children.
- Menopause after age 55.
- Benign breast disease.
- Estrogen replacement therapy after age 55.
- Consuming more than 3 ounces of alcohol a day.
- Inheritance of BRCA1, BRCA2, and other susceptibility genes.
- Exposure to xenoestrogens.
So what is BRCA1 and BRCA2? According to this website, "The most common cause of hereditary breast cancer is an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. In normal cells, these genes help prevent cancer by making proteins that help keep the cells from growing abnormally. If you have inherited a mutated copy of either gene from a parent, you have a high risk of developing breast cancer during your lifetime. The risk may be as high as 80% for members of some families with BRCA mutations. These cancers tend to occur in younger women and more often affect both breasts than cancers in women who are not born with one of these gene mutations. Women with these inherited mutations also have an increased risk for developing other cancers, particularly ovarian cancer.
To me, it seems like all women are susceptible to breast cancer. There are so many different risk factors and any one women could get it. I also believe that most young women think breast cancer only happens to you in your older years. That is NOT the case. Every time I visit my Gynecologist, my Doctor examines my breasts to make sure that there is nothing abnormal about them. I remember that I was 17 years old when my Doctor first examined my breasts. I however, never think about examining my breasts throughout the year and that can be a matter of life or death.
How do I examine my breasts? and How do I know what to look for?
I found a great website called Breast Self Exam. They give you step by step instructions and if you turn your speakers on, you will be able to listen to the instructions. I also found out that you should do a self exam once a month! I only have it done once a year!
Here is how you feel your breasts:
There are three patterns that can be used to check your breast area.
Choose the one pattern that is the most comfortable and convenient for you.
Clock Pattern
| Circle Pattern
| Grid Pattern
|
This is what you should look and feel for:
Also, our textbook on page 309 gives a Wellness Guide for Self Breast Exam. When you are in your teens, you should get to know your breasts. You should know what your breasts feel like and what they look like. Then, you have a way to determine if something is out of the ordinary.
So when should I contact a Doctor? In the textbook, it says to contact a health professional if you:
- Feel a hard lump or knot in or near the breast or underarm.
- Dimpling, puckering, or ridges of the skin on the breast.
- A nipple that is pushed inward rather than sticking out.
- Redness, warmth, swelling, or pain.
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple.
- Nipple discharge other then breast milk.
- Change in color, shape, size, or texture of a breast.
It's even more important to make sure you do not use a BSE as a replacement over having a mammogram done. In the end, a mammogram can save your life. If you do all these things like a BSE and having a mammogram done, your success rate for treatment of a tumor can increase.
I truly believe that young women should be educated on breast cancer and the risk factors as well. All women should learn how to do a Self Breast Exam and make sure they get a mammogram once a year. In the end, examining yourself or being screened, can be a difference between life or death.
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Participation in this Module:
I feel I participated as much as possible in this module. I was kind of upset to say that least. I put a lot of time into my discussion post and only one person participated with me. I want to educate my fellow classmates and start a conversation but I feel that was tough to do during this module. I will continue to work hard and put a lot of thought into my next discussion question which happens to be the last Module of this course.
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Three New Definitions I Learned During this Module:
- Xenoestrogens- Environmental chemicals that mimic the effects of natural estrogen; may cause cancer.
- Cancer Susceptibility Gene- Gene responsible for familial breast cancer and genes that cause susceptibility to colon cancer; increases the risk of a person developing cancer in his or her lifetime.
- Ischemia- An insufficient supply of blood to the heart.
There has been a lot of talk recently concerning Marijuana. A lot of people want to legalize Marijuana for pleasure and California took a step towards that. Proposition 19 was included in the November 2nd ballots in California. This propostion would have legalized Marijuana for non-medical use. According to Wikipedia, 54% of Californians voted No and 46% voted Yes. Proposition 19 was ultimately defeated and I think that was a good idea. I am all for legalizing Marijuana for medical use, but not for recreational use. Fourteen states, including California, allow Marijuana to be purchased for Medical use. I decided to look more into what Marijuana can be used for medically and the challenges that can occur.
I was very surprised when I saw that the U.S Goverment had an Accountanility Office that listed the uses for medical marijuana. According to the U.S Government, these are the symptoms or diseases that marijuana can be used for:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Anorexia
- AIDS
- Arthritis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Crohn's Disease
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nausea
- Pain
- Spasticity
- Wasting Syndrome
I always hear about cancer patients who use marijuana. Marijuna decreases the symptoms of chemotherapy which includes nausea and pain. More recently, I have read about marijuana use for the disease I have, which is Interstitial Cystitis. For those that aren't in remission, the pain is terrible. It feels like someone is cutting the inside of your bladder with a knife. I always described the burning that I got as to when you pour alcohol on an open wound. When I wasn't in remission, I was taking four hydrocodone a day. It seemed that no matter how many I took, nothing worked. The only thing it did do was made me tired which was great because I knew it would help me sleep and the pain wouldn't keep me up. Well according to this website, there is a glimmer of hope that may be on the horizon, as a recent news release shows the remarkable findings of a new synthetic analog of a metabolite of TCH, which is present in a new experimental drug called IP 751. THC is the primary component in marijuana that makes it a drug , and the factor that makes it (cannabis) a pain reliever.
The powerful new drug has been shown to suppress bladder over-activity and pain in “hypersensitive” bladder conditions such as interstitial cystitis. Although I haven't heard of any of my IC sisters who have tried this therapy, it did show that it helped a Rat that had the same bladder symptoms! I truely believe this could help so many people who do not respond to other therapies. If I were desperate enough, I probably would have tried it somehow for the pain.
Even though marijuana may help you feel better, there can be side affects. According to our textbook on page 383, regular use can lead to abuse and can cause hazardous situations. Also, 7% to 10% of users do become dependent on marijuana.
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I did talk about this issue in this modules student seminar participation. I talked about the use of medical marijuana for such illnesses like cancer. I asked these questions:
- Do you agree with the legalization of medical marijuana?
- Do you agree or disagree with legalizing non-medical marijuana?
I was lucky enough to receive a response from both Salina Canning and Allison Cislarski. Both seemed like they were for the legalization of marijuana. Allison made the point that people will smoke marijuana rather it is legal or illegal. Salina was all for the legalization of marijuana for medical and non-medical use. She provided a chart that showed different drugs and there death rates.
ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS TOBACCO …………………… 400,000
ALCOHOL …………………… 100,000
ALL LEGAL DRUGS ………….20,000
ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS ……….15,000
CAFFEINE …………………….2,000
ASPIRIN ………………………500
MARIJUANA …………………. 0
I was absolutely surprised! Marijuana seems to be a decent drug that won't be bad for you or would cause death. Absolutely nobody dies from smoking marijuana. Yet, over-the-counter asprin causes 500 deaths.
No matter if you agree with the legalization or not, this topic will always remain open and there will always be different controversies.
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ParticipationI believe that I did really well when it came to posting my discussion and responding to others as well. These discussions really do teach you things that you never knew of before. I am also glad that I am improving when it comes to the discussions. I remember my first student seminar post, and it was horrible! Thanks to your feedback, I have been able to improve significatly.
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Definitions that I learned
Hashish- A resin generally smoke in a special pipe; is a highly potent derivative of marijuana plants.
Halluciogens- Physoactive substance that alter sensory processing in the brain, producing visual or auditory sensations that are not real.
LSD- A powerful halluciogenic chemical; ingestion althers brain chemistry and produces a variety of hallucinogenic and behavioral effects.
Club Drugs- Physcoactive chemicals used at parties, dances, festivals, and raves to enhance social experiences and increases sensory stimulation.
