Breast cancer remains the 2nd leading cause of death in women, and there is mounting concern that there will be no cure in the immediate future. The month of October spotlights this disease in an effort to bring more attention to the subject and educate the public. When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 100%*. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical exams and mammograms. Those with a familial history of breast cancer are encouraged to begin annual mammograms at younger ages as their chances may be greater.
Cancer – Understanding the Disease and the Risks.
The word ‘cancer’ is thrown around quite a bit these days. If you haven’t been diagnosed with a form of cancer yourself, chances are, you know someone who has. But do you know what cancer is? Cancer is a broad word to describe diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer, in particular, starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Everyone is born with cells and tissue that have the potential to develop into cancer, but there is no known cause as to why some develop into breast cancer. A woman born today has about a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. On the other hand, the chance that she will never have breast cancer is more than 87 percent**.
Healthcare Professionals Play a Major Role in Breast Cancer Awareness, Education and Prevention.
Medical Assistants, Practical Nurses and Patient Care Technicians are the liaisons between patients and physicians. It is their role to provide not only information and guidance, but emotional support. We know how crucial these positions are to the well-being of women all across the country. At Lincoln Tech, we’re proud to offer the training needed to pursue one of these careers and to know that many of our graduates are out there right now – on the front lines, helping to fight this life-threatening disease.
During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, make sure you take care of yourself by doing a breast exam, and getting a mammogram. Don’t forget to reach out to all the women you love to encourage them to do the same!
*http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/early-detection-of-breast-cancer ** https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/risk-fact-sheet
