Keywords:

breast cancer, cancer, breasts cancer, woman cancer

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These days almost every worthy cause finds itself a proper ribbon, without getting into the debate about the use of ribbons and how people use them, there are not many ribbons that I know of that are more important than the breast cancer ribbon.

Breast cancer is a dangerous enemy, while it is true that the awareness to its risks and the understanding of the prevention measures that need to be taken on a regular basis has increased over the years and had probably saved many lives, some people are still not aware of breast cancer and others prefer to live in some sort of denial.

So why is it important to use the pink ribbon and join the fight against breast cancer? First of all it shows the most important thing a person can show, it shows that you care, its shows that you are willing to give a little of your time or energy to try and educate more people, to warn some others and to maybe, just by doing this very small action contribute to saving a life. This is not a joke, sometimes awareness is all that separates the ill from the healthy and the dead from the living, we are at an age where people are learning of new dangers every day, and with all these upcoming potential dangers of terrorism and natural disasters breast cancer has been here long enough and has cause so much pain and suffering that it certainly deserves to be treated as something we should all remember, even on a daily basis.

Every October is the international breast cancer awareness month, this is the time to try and do the most to increase the public awareness of this disease, and educate woman about the ways they can fight breast cancer, this month is also dedicated to raising money for the many different organizations and foundations that are working all year round on helping victims of breast cancer, some of these patients have no money and no funds they can use to try and treat the cancer, and these organizations help them get the support that they need.

So all you got to do is just place one of these pink ribbons on your shirt of jacket, and show the solidarity you have with the breast cancer patients, the victims and the family and friends of those who have been effected by this terrible disease. Remember that you do not have to limit yourself only to the month of October, and that it is enough for only one person to ask you about this ribbon – once a year to make a huge difference, think about hundreds, if not thousands of people like you doing the same thing every day, and each one of these people is approached by an uneducated person, how many lives can be speared.

Lets hope that in the future the fight against breast cancer, as the fight against all kinds of cancer, will achieve its goals and that this disease will claim less victims, that modern medicine and science will find cures and that more and more people around the world will live healthier and happier lives.

Ms. Hammons is associated with a nationally renown company providing natural vitamins and supplements to those in the United States, Canada, and Austraiia.

The types of tumors that do spread throughout the body and invade the tissues around the breast are considered to be cancer and have been given the name “malignant tumors”. It is said that any type of tissue in the breast can form some type of cancer, but it mostly comes from either ducts or glands.

It can take months or even years for a tumor to get large enough for someone to actually feel it in their breast. Therefore, women are encouraged to be screened for tumors by a mammogram. Mammograms are designed to detect any type of disease before a person even begins to feel it.

Breast cancer is the most common “malignancy” that affects women in America and throughout Europe. The American Cancer Society anticipates about 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women will be diagnosed and that about 57,650 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be found (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). The ACS also estimates that about 39,520 deaths from breast cancer (women) will occur. Breast cancer is the second highest cause, behind lung cancer, of cancer deaths among women in North America.

The types of risk factors for breast cancer are divided into two types: those you can’t change and those you can change. The factors associated with increasing your risk of breast cancer that your can’t change include: just being a woman, getting older, or having some type of family history or a relative with breast cancer. Other risk factors are having your menopause late, having children past the age of thirty, or contracting a genetic mutation that would somehow increase your risk.

Certain types of risk factors that you can change are: (1) avoiding hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which means that long term uses of estrogen for menopause symptoms does in fact slightly increase your risk, and (2) stopping the use of birth control pills, because it is noted that ten years following the cessation of The Pill, a woman’s risk of breast cancer goes back to what it would have been if she had not used this form of birth control.

However, neither of these risks are as significant as the ones that are associated with your gender, age, and family history.

All the factors are based on probabilities which means that a person without any of those mentioned is still subject to developing breast cancer and the best way to be sure is to get the proper screening and detection for breast cancer development.

The most important step for a woman to be aware of a tendency towards breast cancer is to schedule regular checkups, screenings and mammograms, learn how to perform her own exams, and also to acquire all the information she can about the subject. A woman should see her doctor regularly to schedule screenings and discuss this topic of breast cancer and other women’s health issues.

Ms. Hammons is associated with a nationally renown company providing natural vitamins and supplements to those in the United States, Canada, and Austraiia.

When the breast reconstruction is performed at the same setting as the mastectomy it is referred to as “immediate” reconstruction. The biggest advantage of immediate reconstruction is that the patient wakes up from the surgery still “whole” and completely avoids having to live without a breast. Other advantages include shorter scars and, generally speaking, a better cosmetic result.

Some patients do not have access to a reconstructive surgeon at the time of the mastectomy. Other patients are advised to avoid immediate reconstruction because radiation therapy is likely after the mastectomy. In these cases, the reconstruction can be performed some time after the mastectomy. This is known as “delayed reconstruction”.

The most common breast reconstruction procedure performed by American plastic surgeons utilizes implants to restore the breast shape and form. These can be either saline or silicone. Implant reconstruction is typically performed as two separate surgeries. The first involves placing a tissue expander (temporary implant) under the skin and pectoral muscle. This is used to expand the skin to the required size. The expander is later replaced by the permanent implant at a second surgery. A few surgeons prefer using a one-stage approach and place the permanent implant at the same time as the mastectomy. While not all patients are candidates, this is a very attractive option for many women because they avoid the entire tissue expander phase of the reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction with implants can provide excellent cosmetic results. However, the long term risk of complications is much higher than in women who have cosmetic breast enhancement with implants. The most common risks include contracture (hardening of the new breast), and implant ripples that can be felt and seen through the breast skin. These risks are increased if the patient has to undergo radiation as part of the cancer treatment.

The Latissimus procedure uses muscle (latissimus dorsi), fat and skin from the back (below the shoulder blade) that is brought around to the chest to create a new breast. Many patients also need an expander or implant to obtain a satisfactory result in terms of size. Patients typically have a scar on their back that can be seen with some low-cut clothing. Women who are very active in sports may notice some strength loss with activities like golf, climbing, or tennis.

TRAM flap surgery is a common procedure that uses skin, fat and varying amounts of the sit-up muscle (rectus abdominis) from the lower abdomen. The tissue (or flap) is then relocated to the chest to create the new breast. This procedure also results in a tightening of the lower abdomen, or a “tummy tuck”. Unfortunately, sacrifice of all or part of the abdominal muscle can result in bulging (or “pooching”) of the abdomen and even a hernia.

The DIEP flap is the latest evolution of the TRAM flap. It provides all the advantages of the TRAM while decreasing the risks. Like the TRAM, it provides a very natural breast reconstruction which is warm and soft and ages with the patient. However, the DIEP preserves all the abdominal musculature so is associated with a lower rate of abdominal bulging and hernia. Since the muscle are preserved, recovery is also easier and abdominal strength is maintained long term.

There are a handful of other tissue options available for women who are not candidates or prefer to avoid using their abdominal tissue. These include the inner, upper thigh (TUG flap), lower buttock crease (IGAP), and upper buttock (SGAP). The best tissue option will depend on a number of factors, primarily the patient’s body habitus.

Microsurgical breast reconstruction procedures like the DIEP, TUG and GAP flaps are not offered routinely by many American plastic surgeons. There are many reasons for this, primarily the complexity of the surgery and the need for additional training. Unfortunately most patients seeking one of these advanced breast reconstruction options after mastectomy will be forced to travel to highly specialized centers for their surgery.

Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in advanced breast reconstruction, particularly DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Over 500 DIEP flaps per year. In-Network for most US insurance plans. (800) 692-5565. Are you a Facebook fan? Connect with others touched by breast cancer in our FB breast cancer reconstruction community!