Berkley College Breast Cancer Education Paper

Implement breast cancer handout.

• General breast cancer information should include the population of women with a higher mortality rate: black American women.
• The flyer should be geared toward the disadvantage communities in which are being served
• Addressing breast cancer disparities and the need and importance of clinical trials for women of color
• Long-term side effects of breast cancer – Everyone is different side effects are personal and treatment options vary around the world
• Breast Cancer Survivorship, i.e.; (most survivors have unmet needs)

One hour session for education and promotion of mammovan at mobile health fair.
Breast Cancer Prevention:
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What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are
different kinds of breast cancer depending on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
o The biology of breast cancer and the cells affected.
There are two common types:
1. Ductal carcinoma is the presence of abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the
breast.
2. Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that begins in the milkproducing glands (lobules) of the breast.
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Include the most up to date statistic of breast cancer.
o Date comparison can make great argument on how the social and physical
determinant factors play a role in making women more vulnerable to
developing breast cancer.
About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the
course of her lifetime.
About 13% (about 1 in 8) of U.S. women are going to develop invasive breast cancer in
the course of their life. In 2022, an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast
cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 51,400 new cases
of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
About 2,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in
2022. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833.
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What causes breast cancer? What are the risk factors associated with breast
cancer?
o Effects of hormone therapy.
o Effects of diet
o Effects of alcohol and smoking.
There are certain established risk factors that are associated with breast cancer that could be
genetic, environmental or both.
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Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity
Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated fat and lacking fruits and vegetables.
Being Overweight or Obese: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for breast
cancer. Your risk is increased if you have already gone through menopause.
Drinking Alcohol: Frequent consumption of alcohol can increase your risk for breast
cancer. The more alcohol you consume, the greater the risk.
Radiation to the Chest: Having radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 30
Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Taking combined hormone
replacement therapy, as prescribed for menopause, can increase your risk for breast
cancer and increases the risk that the cancer will be detected at a more advanced stage.
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What are the early symptoms and warning signs of breast cancer?
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Swelling of all or part of a breast
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened
Nipple discharge
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone
Nipple retraction
Skin dimpling
What can I do to prevent breast cancer?
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Limit alcohol
Maintain healthy weight?
Exercise
Breastfeed
Reduce postmenopausal hormone therapy
Is there a link between birth control pills and breast cancer?
There is evidence that hormonal contraception such as birth control pills and IUDs that
release hormones, increases the risk of breast cancer. According to a recent analysis by
the National Cancer Institute, women who had ever used oral contraceptives had a slight
(7%) increase in the relative risk of breast cancer compared with women who had never
used oral contraceptives.
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How is breast cancer diagnosed?
o Diagnostic mammogram- X-ray of the breast.
o Breast ultrasound- sound waves to make pictures of the breast tissue.
o Biopsy- Breast tissue and fluid are examined using a microscope.
o Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- magnetic and radio waves to take
pictures of the breast.
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What is breast cancer screening?
o When should you start screening for breast cancer regardless of symptoms.
o Breast cancer screening is the physical examination of the breast of females and
males before symptoms appear. Screening should start as early as 30 years in atrisk women.
o Women who are aged 40-49 years old should have a mammogram annually.
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Breast cancer during pregnancy?
o Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) is produced during pregnancy only.
Estrogen and progesterone are used to support healthy pregnancy. Breastfeeding
reduced lifetime exposure to excessive estrogen production, promoting cancer cell
growth.
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Prevention of Breast Cancer
o A self-breast exam is an individual’s assessment of the physical signs of breast
cancer such as lumps, and abnormal changes in breast tissues.
o A mammogram is a radiographic examination of the breast and an effective method
for the early detection of breast cancer.
o Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the use of radio waves and magnetic
fields to detect the presence of cancer cells in high-risk women.
o An annual mammogram is covered by most health insurance plans for women who
are 40 years and older without out-pocket costs. CDC’s National Breast and
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides free breast cancer
screening for low-income women and disadvantaged ones without health insurance
or with inadequate health insurance coverage.