Berkley College Breast Cancer Education Paper

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
The importance of prevention and early detection of breast cancer?
o Include data of successful recovery from patients who were diagnosed at early
stage compared to those at a later stage.
Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast
cancer have no symptoms.
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What can I do to prevent breast cancer?
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Limit alcohol
Maintain healthy weight?
Exercise
Breastfeed
Reduce postmenopausal hormone therapy
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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.
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Monthly self-breast exam on how to look for any changes in breast tissue and
symmetry.
o When and how often should you ask your physician about any changes you
observe.
o What is a mammogram?
o What is Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
o Resource on free or low-cost breast cancer screening for low-income and
disadvantaged population.
Breast cancer during pregnancy?
o Education on the significant changes of hormone levels in pregnant women.
o The importance of breastfeeding after pregnancy.