Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog are not related to any medical institution.
Of course this being Easter weekend, is good news! This is my favorite time of the year and new beginnings but as I look at this good news I realize that we also have good news with breast cancer. No, not that having breast cancer is good news but the fact that we have new treatment and new methods of finding the cancer and that we are dramatically reducing the mortality rates in almost all cancers but specifically in breast cancer. The breakthroughs we have experienced are making a greater impact on survival rates and that is good news. Early detection is one of our best tools and the exciting news that we have clearer screening mechanisms which then means earlier detection is good news. The American Cancer Society recommends that all high-risk women age 40 and older be screened annually with both mammography and MRI. We also now have tougher drugs and I was a recipient of one of the new class drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. Since my cancer was fed by estrogen, and this tells the cancer cells to grow and in postmenopausal women some enzymes in the breast convert other hormones to estrogen. This new drug blocks that conversion and therefore no growth. We also have better biopsies which reduces pain, scarring and the all important time factor. Another good news item is that adults have stem cells and these cells tell cancer to grow but we have and are working on drugs that target and kill those stem cells. The final good news is that we have genetics which is not limited to just looking at the patient's genes but now the genetic information of the cancer cells to determine the best treatment or individualized treatment to your type of cancer. I often say you may have breast cancer but there as many aspect to breast cancer as there are to all the cars in the parking lot at Wal-Mart. They are all cars but there are different sizes, shapes, color, accessories and more and that is the same for breast cancer. All of this that is coming together is GOOD NEWS! So this weekend as we celebrate the good news of the Easter weekend, I also ask you to think of the good news in our fight against all cancers and specifically breast cancer. Making it a great day! Happy Easter and may all your eggs be brightly colored! S
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog are not related to any medical institution.
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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
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