s
On a personal note, this was a busy week! I actually was out and did the Senior Fest on Tuesday, and then went to Cochranton High School on Wednesday and Thursday and Wednesday evening did a program for Catholic Daughters of America and then attended the Looking Ahead Breast Cancer Support Group. Thursday night was a dinner meeting in Erie and that brings us to today. Catch up and regroup for the next week! Keep in mind, I am still seeing patients and working with my counterpart from the hospital. The weekend will be catch up and rest up and I plan on reading a book or two and watching the river roll by. Down time is important for all of us and a little breather is in store. WE all run the rat race everyday and when was the last time you stopped to smell the roses? I am promoting you be your own best advocate (that is me preaching to the choir and I best keep in mind, physician heal thyself) ! I love seeing the trees start popping with green, the flowers filling out and the spring smells and grass being cut. Time for cook outs, and friends and family gathering. I have several graduations and more than several weddings and celebrations. Always something to look forward too and a son coming home from Italy and moving to Idaho to continue his career in the military and another son moving overseas and eventually traveling the world for the next several years. I just saw a saying I just love, " Grant me patience to deal with my blessings". That certainly applies in my life. I will be connecting with all my family at various times in the summer but especially for Grandma Camp when the majority are home and we have campfires and kayaking trips and fishing and more. They are my blessings and I am happiest when I can be with them all and we laugh. In the meantime, each day brings new challenges and new opportunities and for this week ... I will make them good days. Enjoy your weekend and I will be back to health related writing next week, Promise!
s
0 Comments
Drinking (Lots of) Coffee May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer
Women who drink a substantial amount of coffee each day may lower their risk for developing a particular type of breast cancer, Swedish researchers say. Their study linked consumption of five or more cups of coffee a day to a relatively marked reduction in the non-hormone-responsive disease known as ER-negative breast cancer. However, coffee consumption did not appear to lower the risk for developing ER-positive breast cancer. Daily consumption of coffee may protect against the most aggressive type of breast cancer, ER-negative, said study co-author Dr. Per Hal, a professor in the medical epidemiology and biostatistics department at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. "Now, we don't have all the details," he cautioned. "We don't know, for example, what specific type of coffee we're talking about here. But what we do know is that the protective effect is quite striking and remains even after adjusting for a lot of other factors that have the potential to play a protective role." The study, reported online May 11 in Breast Cancer Research, involved 5,929 Swedish women, aged 50 to 74. About half of the women had breast cancer. Women who drank five cups of coffee a day had a 33 percent to 57 percent lower risk for ER-negative cancer than did those who drank less than one cup a day. "The next step is to find out what chemical factors in coffee cause the decreased rate of cancer and then attempt to see if these same chemicals can be used to treat a patient once they are already diagnosed with cancer," researchers said. (HealthDay News) We all have heard that if you have a history of breast or ovarian cancer in your family that you may have an inherited risk in for your family. We all have certain traits that run in the family and passed on, for my side of the family it is red hair and blue eyes and noses and ears alike ( I won't comment on the size). In breast and ovarian cancer there may be an altered gene that is passed on from parent to child. You actually inherit a higher risk of developing cancer, not that you will inherit cancer. It may be important to learn more about what patterns do run in your family and what can you do about it. Early detection has been shown to reduce cancer risk and save lives. We know that if either parent carries a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation that we, in fact, may carry it too. BRCA1 and BRCA2 normally stop abnormal cell growth but if there are alterations in these genes then there is a loss of control regarding cell growth and may lead to the development of cancer. We do know that BRCA gene mutations are most often associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer we also know there are other genetic causes of these cancers too. Having BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations increases your risk for breast and ovarian cancers. It also means if you carry that gene that you are at a higher risk for developing a second cancer. Certain mutations of the BRCA gene are more common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (from Central or Eastern Europe). Half of all women with a hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancers inherited the risk from their father and not their mothers. BRCA mutations also increase the risk for other cancers in both men and women. Women with BRCA mutation also have up to a 50% risk of developing breast cancer by age 50 and up to 87% risk by age 70. Also have up to 44% risk of developing ovarian cancer by age 70. With this type of technology also comes the need for genetic counseling and I would advise anyone seeking BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 testing to seek genetic counseling and learn ways to reduce your risk including monthly self-breast exams by 18-21 and annual clinical breast exams from 25-35 and annual mammograms and/or MRI beginning at age 25-35. (Please note this are different guidelines related to you carrying the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation). It is also advised to do annual transvaginal ultrasound and a CA -125 to test for ovarian cancer beginning at age 25. Preventive Drug Therapy could also include tamoxifen for high-risk women and oral contraceptives can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Preventive surgery could include preventive mastectomy to reduce the risk of breast cancer and preventive removal of ovaries for reducing the risk of ovarian cancer and may also reduce the risk of breast cancer. This test is not for the general public but specifically for individuals thought to be at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer. The test only requires a small blood sample for analysis. Be aware this test does not tell you whether or not you have cancer but helps to estimate the risk for breast or ovarian cancer. This is a means to manage your health in a more effective manner. Having said all this, I am giving you the information and asking you to take a closer look at your family history to first determine if you are at risk and then with genetic counseling, detemine your need to pursue BRCA analysis. Knowing your risk and being pro-active and doing everything you can to lower your risk could make a big difference for you and your family. First and foremost, consult your healthcare provider to review your information and look at your individual risks and conditions.
Having said all this, this is an important step in your healthcare plan and education is a key component in the step. Make it a great day! S DISCLAIMER: All information is Wow, did I get a surprise at the end of my workday yesterday! As I was sitting working at my desk, I saw two people at my door as I looked up, there was my daughter from Florida and her best friend. I sat there with no words coming out and thinking is this real or was this a year ago and is my health worse than I think? She had surprised me and came home for Mother's Day, add to that a homemade card from my son in Italy that said all the things that you hope you hear from your children. Then two of my other sons called to check on my status and a granddaughter and daughter-in-law called to tell me they hoped I was feeling better. I also received some tulips and candy in the mail. It isn't even mothers day yet and I have been blessed. It is with great gratitude that I am thankful for the blessings of family and friends at mother's day and all year through. It is something I treasure and don't we all just want to know that we are loved and cared about and hopefully are important part of others? I know that each morning I am thankful for what I have and ask for guidance in what I am doing and that I do those things throughout the day without malice and that I try my best despite the misgivings that may happen along the way. Whether I am helping a friend, writing a blog, or work, my goal is to reach out and do my best and the rest is out of my hands. Now I am not so naive to think that everyone has the same goals in mind but I can only do what I can do and hope for others along the way that what is meant to be will be... Faith! Such a small and beautiful word and yet many avoid it and are afraid of it and forget to reach out for it whether in their daily lives or in times of crisis. I hope today that you are surrounded by faith, demonstrate faith and feel the love that faith can give you for whatever trials and tribulations, joys and celebration you are experiencing and through faith- have a great day!
Sincerely and with great love a Happy Mother's Day to all as we are all mothers in some form or another to those around us... S Hmmmm, would I like to sleep in, breakfast in bed, a massage, a dinner out, flowers, candy or all of those mentioned. I will say, I am much simpler than that. It is not hard as the first thing that comes to mind - my kids. My ultimate would be to have them all with me and just having fun for the day, the next best would be phone calls and included in that is a wish list for each one. This wish list would include: Health, Happiness, Enough for life-be it money or any number of things in life just so that it is enough and Fullfillment in what they do and want to accomplish in Life, Laughter, Family connection and Dedication, and a world with peace and true love for mankind. Wow, sounds like if I could do that, I could fix the world but isn't that what every mother wants for her kids? That is my Mother's Day wish! In the meantime, I will settle for whatever they are willing to share with their mom and will sit by the phone all day so that I don't miss anyone's call since I have them all over the world. My heart is full with the love I have for all five of them and just the memories of crazy, wild, happy and some not so happy times come flooding in. What memories will they cherish of their childhoods and what will they pass on to their own children? I know that I was sure I would be a better mother than my mother as I would learn and do differently, now at this age, I only hope I was as close to the mother she was in what I did for my kids. My life is full and I am happy and blessed, so what do I want for Mother's Day... I think I already have it, my kids! Having a great day! Love, MOM/ SUE
I actually got some comments recently and it is great to hear from someone on the other end. Today, I regress though. I have hit a little blip on my radar screen and am going through some tests and have nothing to tell you at this time. My optimistic scale is up though and I am predicting smooth sailing soon. With this little bump, as you can all guess I am in and out of the office and still trying to stay the course with all my commitments and in fact keep filling the schedule if I can. I am best when I am out helping others and trying to catch me is like trying to hold a tornado tail until I crash and burn, and well I do just that. I was in bed at 7 and didn't stir much till 6 this am. According to my normal sleep pattern I should now be good till June. Actually I was watching the deer going through my back yard last night and a rabbit outside my window and looking at the two story playhouse in the back yard that used to be filled with kids, a volleyball net, a trampoline that has now been taken away and zip line that everyone loved. I hear the laughters and the silliness and some nights we would even have a small fire and cook marshmellows and listen to the animal life in our back yard ( which is in fact- in the City limits). I have seen bear numerous times, heard coyote, seen skunk, raccoon, possum, ruffled grouse, turkey, and of course my precious deer that I love to watch. I have sat on a picnic table and had them within 6 feet of me. My dogs don't even bark when they are there. When I look at nature and the rebirth and regrowth, I know that all will be right with my world as that is the only place I can be involved in or have an impact. I can only make it better in my surroundings. Now that does not mean limited to the road I live on or just friends and family but all that I do and places I come in contact with. I watch world news occasionaly as it is so sad to see what we are doing to ourselves and each other. I pray alot and hope that if I do something good here it will be like a ripple in the river and will move on down the line and pass on to others and they in turn do the same. Today, I can only handle what I can for this day and I will do my best. This isn't about cancer, but about life and what I am facing and how I am facing it. FULL SPEED ahead with a smile and laughter. Anyone that knows me, knows that is my key mechanism for survival, then chocolate and sleep( of course faith and family are at the top of that list as well.) Don't panic or worry, I will handle that part of this if needed but for now I am just trying to think of a funny joke for the meeting I will be directing in 30 short minutes. This will be a great day and I will get back to CA i
After a quick trip to NC to see my grandkids, I am back and as usual running around crazy. Spring is a busy time and everyone is ready to get out and enjoy the outdoors. I think I become winterized like everyone else and was content to hibernate for part of the winter after work. I do know that I feel better when I do exercise and even a 20 minute walk helps. So at this point it is nurse heal thyself, haha! It seems like there just have been too many things on my plate and that is a poor excuse. Just to get some fresh air and look at all the green and not white is refreshing.It is interesting to see even with a break in the rain, people are out and moving.
I have spent a little time down at WOMEN's CARE at the hospital and Amy and I work closely together to make sure we are meeting the needs of our patients. I continue to get prayer shawls in and it seems like for every two I give out on any given day, I will get one more in. I would love to hear from you out there as to what your needs are. Education is still on the top of my plate along with working with those that are dealing with breast health issues. I also guard against complacency not only for myself but also for others. We are in a time and place that we need to be pro-active in our health and care. Understanding your body is where it starts and acknowledging that we do have some insight as to what needs we have. Did you know that the average size of a lump found by breast self exam is the size of a quarter and that mammograms can detect lumps the size of a pencil eraser. One method does not delete the other but rather emphaszies the importance of doing all checks and follow throughs as prevention and early detection are key. Spring is sprung and now it is time to reactivate! Get up, get out, and enjoy and |
AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
Categories |