Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cathy Snowball
  • 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  October kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign to increase awareness and raise funds for research into the cause, prevention and cure of breast cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and National Institute of Health, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, other than skin cancer. Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer.

"The 48th Medical Group offers mammography services," said Maj. Cathy Snowball, 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight commander. "If you are active duty military or a dependent, the mammogram is free of charge. For patients with private health insurance companies, Health Maintenance Organization, Medicaid, or Medicare, most will pay for part or all of the cost of mammograms. Check with your plan for details."

Breast cancer can be divided into two main categories -- noninvasive and invasive. If noninvasive breast cancer is not treated, it may progress to invasive cancer. Invasive or infiltrating breast cancer can penetrate through normal breast tissue and invade surrounding tissues and organs. It is more serious than noninvasive cancer because it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs and brain.

"Breast cancer changes each one of us," said Maj. Kristi Norcross, 48th Medical Surgical Squadron certified nurse-midwife. "My Aunt Joy, from Hazel, S.D., initially found out she had breast cancer back in 2002. Treatment involved: chemotherapy, radiation, pills, intravenous medications, experimental studies and research, traveling to N.Y. weekly, lymphedema, remission, a recurrence and metastasis (spread of cancer) to her brain. Her story doesn't end there, she recently underwent stereo tactical brain radiation and then whole brain radiation and continues with treatment. Aunt Joy never let her diagnosis control her. Today there are no masses in her brain, and the masses in her lungs are smaller or gone."

Here are some ways to lower your risk for breast and other cancers:

· Control your weight and exercise. Make healthy choices in the foods you eat and the kinds of drinks you have each day. Stay active.

· Know your family history of breast cancer. If you have a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer, ask your doctor what is your risk of getting breast cancer and how you can lower your risk.

· Find out the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Talk to your doctor to determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

· Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Men are also urged to perform self-exams. Although breast cancer is rarer in men, the lifetime risk of men getting breast cancer is about one in 1,000. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 about 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 440 men will die from breast cancer in the United States.

The Health and Wellness Centers on RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall have numerous programs to help lower the risk of cancer. Contact them for a full listing of class schedules at 01638 547 161 on RAF Mildenhall and 01638 522 710 on RAF Lakenheath.