What you need to know about breast cancer.

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• What you need to know about breast cancer.

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Print this bulletin board on pink paper and
decorate with pink awareness ribbons.
Bulletin board submitted by Ashley Voiles from
Northern Illinois University
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Dont assume it cant happen to You!

• Breast cancer impacts over 240,000 new patients a
  year in the United States alone.
• A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
  approximately every three minutes and
  approximately every 12 minutes breast cancer
  claims another life.
• 70 of breast cancer cases occur in women who
  have no identifiable risk factors.  

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Just The Facts
There is an estimated 40,600 deaths from breast
cancer for next year. Breast cancer is the
second highest cancer in women. Breast cancer
also occurs in men. No one knows what causes
some to have breast cancer and others to not.
Lifestyle, personal history, and family history
can increase your risks.
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Additional Risk Factors

• If you never have children
• If you have children when you are 30 or older
• If you have menopause at 55 or older
• If you take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Higher estrogen levels are strongly linked with
  susceptibility to breast cancer.

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ITS IMPORTANT TO DO A MONTHLY SELF EXAM
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Three Step Procedure for a Self Exam
                                      Step Number 1 In the Shower Examine your breasts during bath or shower, hands glide easier over wet skin. Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use right hand to examine left breast, left hand for right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot or thickening
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• Step Number 2 In the Mirror
• Inspect your breasts with arms at your sides.
  Next Raise your arms high overhead. Look for any
  changes in contour of each breast, a swelling,
  dimpling of skin or changes in the nipple. Then
  rest palms on hips and press down firmly to flex
  your chest muscles. Left and right breast will
  not exactly match - few women's breasts do.
  Regular inspection shows what is normal for you
  and will give you confidence in your examination.
  

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• Step Number 3 Lying Down
• To examine your right breast, put a pillow or
  folded towel under your right shoulder. Place
  right hand behind your head- this distributes
  breast tissue more evenly on the chest.
• With left hand, fingers flat, press gently in
  small circular motions around an imaginary clock
  face. Begin at outermost top of your right breast
  for 12 o'clock, then move to 1 o'clock, and
  continue around the circle back to 12. A ridge of
  firm tissue in the lower curve of each breast is
  normal. Then move in an inch, toward the nipple,
  keep circling to examine every part of your
  breast, including nipple. This requires at least
  three more circles. Now slowly repeat procedure
  on your left breast with a pillow under your left
  shoulder and left hand behind head. Notice how
  your breast structure feels.
• Finally, squeeze the nipple of each breast
  gently between thumb and index finger. Any
  discharge, clear or bloody should be reported to
  your doctor immediately.

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Other Changes to Look For

• Sores or scaly skin
• Skin discoloration or dimpling
• Discharge or puckering of the nipple

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What to Do Next

• If you find that you exhibit any
  characteristics that are abnormal or concern you
  (aside from normal menstrual lumpiness or
  retention of water), DONT MESS AROUND. Go see
  your physician immediately for a clinical breast
  exam and other tests. While some abnormalities
  are usually benign, nothing is 100 and it's good
  to keep your doctor in the loop.

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For More Information

• Womens Information Network Against Breast
  Cancer www.winabc.org/newweb/resources/Index.htm
• American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Resource
  Center
• www3.cancer.org/cancerinfo/res_home.asp?ct5
• Breast Cancer Action www.bcaction.org
• Celebrating Life Foundation www.celebratinglife.o
  rg/index.html

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More Info (Cont)

• Department of Defense Breast Cancer Decision
  Guide www.bcdg.org
• National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
  www.nabco.org
• Imaginis.net - the Breast Health Specialists
  www.imaginis.net/breasthealth

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