Women ’s Health developing breast cancer than women whose first f ull-term pregnancy occurs after the age of 30. Early Detection Health experts and campaig n authorities say t hat t he bes t way t o fi gh t breas t c a ncer is t hro ug h early detection , which can be achieved in medical clinics or in the home u si ng simple self-analysis techniques. Get to know your breasts! Changes to look for include: • A new lu mp or lumpiness, especially if only in one breast • A change in the size or shape of the breast • A cha nge to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, red ness or inversion • A nipple discha rge t hat occurs without squeezing • A change i n the skin of the breast such as redness or d impling • Persistent or unusual breast pain Experiencing one or a nu mber of these symptoms does not guar antee that you have developed the cancer, but should be examined further by your doctor. How to search for changes: • View yo ur breast s i n the m i r r or a nd f e el t hem from time to time. It should only take a few minutes and could be done wh ile in the shower or bath, while d ressing, or while lying down. • Remember to feel all the breast tissue, from the collarbone to below the bra-line, and under the a rmpit. • U se t he fl at o f you r fi n gers a nd t he fi nger pa ds to feel near the surface a nd deeper in the breast. Support Those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer should consu lt ser iously with their doctor the t reatment options that are available and the lifest yle changes that should be made. pm For more information on breast cancer and nationwide services and treatments, call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm or visit any of the following websites: www.cancerqld.org.au www.cancer.org.au www.cancerscreening.gov.au www.cancerausralia.gov.au Cancer Day, you will have voiced your part in the movement. With our admirable Au stral ian spirit of commu nity and our opti mistic approach to raising awareness, October is the month in which everyone look s good in pink. G etting Involved Ho st in g or jo in ing an event t o r a is e aw a r e nes s amongst your family, f riends and com munity is not only an opportunity for reflection and u nity, but also a chance for you to get creative and create memories. A n ight of pin k champagne, an afternoon tea of pi nk coloured treats or a bike ride of pi nk bandits; the re are hund reds of great event ideas for you and your friends, workmates or neighbours to expe riment with. Also, g iven its potential for i magination i n a range of i ndoor and outdoor settings, host ing a fundraising event also g ives ladies a chance to release a little bit of their wild side! Pink Panther d ress ups and pretty-in-pin k gala balls aside, participants can opt for somethi ng more subtle like a book sale, a local tr iv ia night or pamper night at home. No matter the size or location, every event is a celebratory effort toward s getting the message out t here: that together as women and as a nation, we can beat this illness. For event ideas, go to w ww.nbcf.org.au Who is at Risk? Despite de ca des of epidemiological research on an international scale, there still is no concrete solution to reducing the prevalence of breast cancer. Due to t he laudable amount of ongoing re search , how e ve r, m a ny i nflu e nt ial fact ors o f can c e r h a ve been identified as well as impor tant warning signs, which continue to be disseminated around t he world. This same research has also reached a point at wh ich health profe ssionals can detect the likelihood t hat s ome on e w il l develo p th e can c e r. T he p r ofile of women at high risk of breast cancer conside rs t he followi ng factors: • Increasing age • A family histor y of the illness • I nheritance of genetic mutations ( BRCA1, BRCA2 or CHEK2) • Exposure t o female hor mones (naturally or t hrough use of combined hormone replacement therapy or the contrace ptive pill) • Obesity (poor diet and inadequate exercise) • Alcohol con sumption These factors are not defined as cau ses of the cancer, but rather as genetic or lifestyle element s that should be examined in thei r relation to risk and possibly altered in effort s to decrease one’s risk. In addition to these risk factors, the following have also been proven to affect the likeli hood of developing or avoiding the cancer. • Sex: Women a re 100 t imes more likely to develop breast ca ncer t han men, but that doesn’t render men completely immune to it. Of the 502 people who died from breast cancer in Queensland in 2011, three of t hem were men. T houg h the illne ss is marked as female-oriented, it is import a nt that both men a nd women check themselves regularly. • Affluence: Despite the fact that money and development generally equates to higher levels of health, breast cancer occurs more frequently i n affluent a nd wester n populat ions, including t hat of Austral ia. Th is is a direct correlation with the lifestyle factors that are more prevalent in these societies such a s overeating, lack of adequate nutrit ion, excess alcohol consumption and heightened technology u se. • C hil d b i r th: Wom en w h o ha v e t he i r fi r s t ful l- t e r m pregnancy at a younger age have a decreased risk of developing bre ast cancer, as well at those mothers who cont inue breastfeeding for a longer per iod of time. Research also shows that women who have given bir th to five or more ch ildren have half the chance of Pindara M 40 agazine Summer | 2014/15
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Three
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