Breast Cancer Scares Me to Death

Despite the fact that I surely know better -- far, far better, actually -- I have to admit that the thought of breast cancer scares me to death. And the thought of a breast self exam -- and actually FINDING something, does the same.

I remember as if it were yesterday when my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not once. Twice. In the end it's probably not what she succumbed to. But, as a teenager standing with her in the hallway of her suburban hospital while she attempted to do her post-mastectomy exercise of climbing her fingers itsy-bitsy-spider-style up the wall, I was literally scared to death.

What scared me even more was the reality of seeing her scar. After all, this was a woman who loved her jewelry -- wearing ALL of it frankly -- and at the same time!

It turns out I'm not the only woman out there dreading the diagnosis of breast cancer. On the iVillage Breast Cancer Support board, women report that they're "worried to the point of tears," "nervous" about finding a lump, scared about their scheduled lumpectomy. Still other iVillagers have triumphed over breast cancer as you can see in our survivors' photo gallery.

The American Cancer Society reports that the number of women getting routine mammograms has fallen 2%, which means that fewer women are being diagnosed. A recent iVillage Index poll reveals that 63% of respondents answer "yes" to having ever skipped a yearly mammogram. Why are women not getting screened? Past research indicates they're unaware they should start screening at age 40, they don't have the funds or access to health centers that screen and they feel it "won't happen to them."

When asked in a national poll about the influence of lifestyle choices on preventing heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, breast cancer and depression, the majority of women feels that breast cancer is more the result of "luck of the draw" vs. lifestyle choices that they make.

While there are no known ways to PREVENT breast cancer, there are ways to reduce the risk of the disease advancing to a stage that's incurable. I urge you to:

- Have a clinical breast exam every three years (if you are under the age of 40)

- Get a mammogram every one to two years after age 40 (or possibly sooner or more often if you're at higher risk for developing breast cancer)

I'm no longer the traumatized young teen in the hallway outside my grandmother's hospital room. I'm now a wife, mother, executive, aunt, philanthropist. I've had my own share of health scares. I'm religious about mammograms and sonograms, and I hope you are too. After all, there's much to be said for catching breast cancer before it develops into a full-blown disease. Just adding routine tests to your yearly doctors' visits can make a difference.

My kids are the ones who motivate me to get screened. My younger guy asks me periodically if a newscast triggers the thought, "hey mom, did you get the boob-o-gram?"

"Yes, Jake." Indeed I did.

Love, mom

P.S. Be sure to check out our five steps to healthier breasts.

Comments

[Zeje]

I have breast cancer. It is not the end of the world. I had a mastectomy. My husband still loves me, we still make love. I'm 62. I just got back from the gym. I run on the treadmill 3 miles at 12 minutes/mile. I'm still on chemo, but I didn't lose my hair. It's a drag, yes, but it is not the end of the world. Believe me, it is not the end of the world.

[olivine]

I suggest www.preventcancer.com. This is Dr. Samuel Epstein's website- he is professor Emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the School of Public Health in Chicago, and he has written numerous articles and books about the prevention of cancer, how we should all boycott the American Cancer Society, how mammograms once a year for premenopausal women can raise your risk of breast cancer by 10% by age 50...and how special interests groups (including the ACS) are destroying our health and the environment's for profit.Also, www.newstarget.com is a good site.

[NABNYC]

Me too. In recent years, the statistics make it appear that if you live long enough, you'll get it.

Or maybe not.

What if there was research done as to the cause of breast cancer. We know early detection is critical for long-term survival. But wouldn't it be better if we just didn't get it at all?

I keep waiting for the massive class-action lawsuit on behalf of all women who have taken hormones because they were shoved down their throats by the drug pushers and doctors in recent decades. I mean, it was not negotiable. I know women in the 70s who have been taking them for decades. Their doctors told them they must. Hormones (and all the other ridiculous drugs they push) will prevent heart disease, bone fractures, whatever.

But when it turns out that was completely wrong, and these drugs actually cause breast cancer and heart disease ... silence. Why? Aren't there thousands of women out there who dutifully took the drugs their doctors pushed, and got the cancer and the heart disease? Or are they all dead already?

I'm a big fan of mammograms, self-awareness, treatment, all of it. But I would really like to see more research and honesty with the public about what is causing this fairly radical increase in breast cancer over recent decades. What if it's some common household items. Isn't it worth finding out?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

We have become VICTIMS of the main stream media, selling us a lifestyel of convenience, but is your life really worth the price?

I too want to clean less, spend more time with my family or have some time to myself. None of these will be of any use to me if I am ill....none! Isn't it worth the extra effort to stay alive?

I love junk food...but stay away as often as I can. I want convenience...but know my health will pay the price. I don't want to scrub a pan for 5 minutes but I know it's better for my family's health. I like my makeup but use alternatives as often as I can.

Are all these things worth it?

Do not forget, you ARE what you eat....and your greatest asset... is your life. Without it... nothing else matters.

[emerywood]

Indeed, the only way nowadays to cure cancer is early diagnosis and treatment ! Most early cancers are curable, including breast cancer before a certain size and it's ability to spread. Not only do we need an annual mammogram ; in fact, if one has a family history, even a semi-annual mammmogram may not be a bad idea in order to catch it at the smallest size.

[olivine]

Hello! Emerywood-you need to read about the risks of non-ionizing radiation in mammograms!Click on the website I mentioned www.preventcancer.comncer.com. Even the NIH has backed away from the yearly mammogram advice for premenopausal women because of the risks inherent.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

We are ALL afraid Deborah.

I don't mean to be redundant...but I'm gonna post this again...because it's not said enough.

I am really getting "sick" of this constant, "check your breasts and that'll help you live longer" preaching. Sure, it's true. Is that ALL we can offer women?

Isn't it time we started preaching PREVENTATIVE lifestyles... rather than what you can do after the cancer has attacked your body? Isn't it time to warn women of the dangers of under arm deodorant containing aluminum? There's no proof you say? When MY friend was diagnosed at age 33 (all the lymph nodes in her armpits were infected), the FIRST thing her doctor told her was STOP using deodorant with aluminum in it. Proof enough for me. Salt rocks are an excellent alternative...YES, you will have to reapply it 3X a day...but isn't your life worth it? Why is that not echoing in the "cure cancer now" crowd? Why is it not being taught to young women everywhere? At least they would be educated, warned and given the choice to use or not use this product.

How about we start informing women of the dangers of cooking with Teflon all the time? How it releases carcinogens when it is heated up to 450 degrees (not a difficult thing to do); 650 degrees and the toxins can kill a bird. How about we start telling them that cooking in plastic releases carcinogens into your food? How about telling them that soft metals like aluminum release lots of toxins into foods when we cook with it? And who doesn't? It's the convenience metal... and it's makers tout "less mess; less cleaning." Well, you won't be doig any cleaning when you're dying of cancer either.

How about telling women that nitrates and nitrites are carcinogens, as well as parabens (found in most beauty products)?

Why are we not telling women that most junk food contains carcinogens? Why are cancer fighting diets not taught nor published more often or recommended by doctors? They ARE out there.

TO BE CONTINUED