Abreast in a boat - breast cancer survivor dragon boat team
Breast Cancer survivors dragon boat team
Dragon boat racing is one of the unique sports we are fortunate enough to have in British Columbia. It can also teach us a lot about breast cancer.
“A woman has a one in eight lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. “ This statistic is often quoted, and is part of the reason that the threat of breast cancer holds such terror for women. But the truth is not quite that grim.
What this really means is that by age 80 one in eight women would have had breast cancer had some time. To put this perspective, women are still many times more likely to die of a heart attack than of breast cancer. (Incidentally, one in eight is also the chances of males dying of prostate cancer by age 80. Although nearly 80% of men of this age have prostate cancer - they just are not all dying of it.)
“A woman has a one in eight lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. “ This statistic is often quoted, and is part of the reason that the threat of breast cancer holds such terror for women. But the truth is not quite that grim.
What this really means is that by age 80 one in eight women would have had breast cancer had some time. To put this perspective, women are still many times more likely to die of a heart attack than of breast cancer. (Incidentally, one in eight is also the chances of males dying of prostate cancer by age 80. Although nearly 80% of men of this age have prostate cancer - they just are not all dying of it.)
Breast Cancer
Advanced breast cancer !
But nothing strikes fear into the heart of women like the thought of breast cancer. Possibly this is because it is so unpredictable and affects a woman’s self image so directly. Yet there are risk factors that can be modified to increase the odds that all women will live to a ripe old age in robust good health.
One of the most important risk factors is the family you are born into. A woman’s risk is increased if people related to her have had breast cancer. The more of these she has, and the more closely related they are , then the higher the chances of breast cancer.
We have even discovered two genes that seem to cause hereditary breast cancer. The genes are called the Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) and the Breast Cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene. We can now test some women for the presence of this gene. If it is present, the woman is almost certain to develop breast cancer. Coincidentally, the BRCA1 gene also increases the risk of prostate cancer. (But only in men!)
One of the most important risk factors is the family you are born into. A woman’s risk is increased if people related to her have had breast cancer. The more of these she has, and the more closely related they are , then the higher the chances of breast cancer.
We have even discovered two genes that seem to cause hereditary breast cancer. The genes are called the Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) and the Breast Cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene. We can now test some women for the presence of this gene. If it is present, the woman is almost certain to develop breast cancer. Coincidentally, the BRCA1 gene also increases the risk of prostate cancer. (But only in men!)
Mammograms
Mammograms (code word for 'breasts in a vice' ) are a great help to diagnose breast cancers, but are not foolproof. Out of every eighty breast cancers diagnosed through a mammogram, another 20 are missed. Some stats say that mammograms cost about $400,ooo for every breast cancer they pick up !
British Columbia is one of the most aggressive places in the world for advocating mammograms. But lately the official guidelines here have been relaxed. Because too many mammograms can cause too many "false positive" results, with all the resultant anxiety and trauma.
British Columbia is one of the most aggressive places in the world for advocating mammograms. But lately the official guidelines here have been relaxed. Because too many mammograms can cause too many "false positive" results, with all the resultant anxiety and trauma.
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Computerized mammograms
About half of these missed cancers may be due to human error in interpreting the mammograms. But soon there may be a computerized system that double checks a woman's mammogram -- providing a backup in case the X-ray doctor misses a suspicious spot. There is a new computerized scanner called the Imagechecker.
Mammograms are converted to a digital computer signal, which then allows specialized computer software to inspect the images for the most common signs of cancer. Since machines are very good at doing repetitive tasks, once they become widespread Imagechecker's will be a great help to doctors and patients alike. M. R. I. ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging ) is also becoming a helpful way of diagnosing breast lumps. It has the advantage that it does not use radiation with, and it is not affected by women who have very dense breasts, which are currently difficult to interpret on a mammogram.
Yet another new technique can help distinguish between benign and malignant lumps prior to doing a biopsy. Britain's Imperial Cancer Research Fund has been studying a device similar to an electrocardiogram, but for diagnosing breast cancers. Electrical disturbances caused by cancerous cells can be measured at the skin surface. Eighty percent of biopsies can be avoided by the use of this gadget. Removing the ovaries can decrease breast-cancer risk by removing estrogen, a hormone that stimulates breast-cancer growth.
The anti-estrogen drug Tamoxifen can also do the same thing hormonally. Currently most women in BC receive five years of Tamoxifen after their cancer surgeries to try and prevent recurrences. Tamoxifen also can prevent the initial breast cancer if taken prophylacticly. Unfortunately it has many side effects, including doubling the chances of cancer of the uterus, and tripling a woman’s chances of having a blood clot to her lungs. For this reason it is not suitable for all people, but only those women at significantly increased risk for breast cancer.
A new drug just on the horizon is Raloxifene, and it may get around some of these side effects. Diet and exercise seem to be of benefit for most medical conditions. We're hoping this is also the case for breast cancer. The current evidence is still controversial, but a group of women who have decided to think positively call themselves “Abreast in a Boat”. They are a dragon boat racing team with a difference - they are all breast cancer survivors. Yet in spite of this they train aggressively and compete internationally. Their example of courage, healthy living, and a positive attitude should be an inspiration to us all !
Mammograms are converted to a digital computer signal, which then allows specialized computer software to inspect the images for the most common signs of cancer. Since machines are very good at doing repetitive tasks, once they become widespread Imagechecker's will be a great help to doctors and patients alike. M. R. I. ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging ) is also becoming a helpful way of diagnosing breast lumps. It has the advantage that it does not use radiation with, and it is not affected by women who have very dense breasts, which are currently difficult to interpret on a mammogram.
Yet another new technique can help distinguish between benign and malignant lumps prior to doing a biopsy. Britain's Imperial Cancer Research Fund has been studying a device similar to an electrocardiogram, but for diagnosing breast cancers. Electrical disturbances caused by cancerous cells can be measured at the skin surface. Eighty percent of biopsies can be avoided by the use of this gadget. Removing the ovaries can decrease breast-cancer risk by removing estrogen, a hormone that stimulates breast-cancer growth.
The anti-estrogen drug Tamoxifen can also do the same thing hormonally. Currently most women in BC receive five years of Tamoxifen after their cancer surgeries to try and prevent recurrences. Tamoxifen also can prevent the initial breast cancer if taken prophylacticly. Unfortunately it has many side effects, including doubling the chances of cancer of the uterus, and tripling a woman’s chances of having a blood clot to her lungs. For this reason it is not suitable for all people, but only those women at significantly increased risk for breast cancer.
A new drug just on the horizon is Raloxifene, and it may get around some of these side effects. Diet and exercise seem to be of benefit for most medical conditions. We're hoping this is also the case for breast cancer. The current evidence is still controversial, but a group of women who have decided to think positively call themselves “Abreast in a Boat”. They are a dragon boat racing team with a difference - they are all breast cancer survivors. Yet in spite of this they train aggressively and compete internationally. Their example of courage, healthy living, and a positive attitude should be an inspiration to us all !
