Breast cancer awareness and advice

By Jenna Moore

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Breast cancer is still the most common cancer in Australian and women. But the good news is, in the last decade the survival rate has improved by 25 per cent − so more women are beating the disease than ever before.

Ever since the early 1990s breast cancer has had a growing profile. It began to gain prominence when Mrs Evelyn Lauder, daughter-in-law of Estée, introduced the Pink Ribbon to raise awareness and funds for the disease on Estée Lauder counters around 1993. Since then, those humble ribbons have grown to encompass wristbands, brooches, T-shirts and all manner of items including painting the world pink by lighting up iconic buildings throughout October, the official breast cancer month.

Breast cancer is a hugely important issue because it affects so many of us – friends, family and colleagues. Whether that awareness has come about through friends and family being diagnosed or high-profile cases such as Kylie Minogue, Sheryl Crow or the beloved Belinda Emmett, we all know of someone who has been touched by breast cancer.

Experts believe awareness and the introduction of screening programs are leading to
more incidences of breast cancer being found. The positive outcome of that is tumours are being found earlier, are therefore more treatable, and the risk of dying is lessened.

Breast awareness

While we’ve come a long way in terms of finding and treating breast cancer, we still don’t have a way of preventing it. For this reason it’s important for us to become familiar with our breasts, so you’ll notice if there is a change.

Getting to know the normal look and feel of your breasts is as easy as taking note of them as you shower, dress, put on moisturiser and look in the mirror. Knowing what is normal for you will help you to detect any new changes.

“Women know their own breasts best, so if you do find a change, act on it,” says Dr Luxford.

Click here for a self examination guide

What if I find something unusual? First of all, try not to jump to conclusions. Nine out of 10 breast lumps, indentations and other changes are completely harmless. Lumpiness is particularly common around menstruation and it’s not uncommon to see hormone-related lumps, cysts, enlarged glands, as well as breast pain.

It’s still important to make an appointment with your doctor and get them checked out. A doctor usually uses what is known as a ‘triple test’ to try to ascertain the cause of the breast change. This may include a clinical examination, imaging (mammogram and ultrasound) and, if they feel it’s necessary, a non-surgical biopsy (fine needle aspiration or core biopsy).

According to the National Breast Cancer Centre, none of these tests will be able to detect all cancers on their own. However, using all of the tests in combination will find more than 99.6 per cent of cancers.

What is a mammogram? A mammogram is a breast x-ray. It’s not the most pleasant experience as it involves squashing your breasts between two plates like a sandwich. Most operators are sensitive to this and will make you feel as comfortable as possible. It is still the most reliable method we have to detect breast cancer, although it is by no means perfect. A mammogram can miss 10-15 per cent of cancers and they don’t work well on women under 40. This is because breast tissue is denser in younger women and can camouflage a tumour. As we age, breast density turns to fat. A tumour appears white on a mammogram film, as does dense breast tissue, but fat shows up black. So as we age, breast tissue shows more and more black on a mammogram.

Tip: Avoid having a mammogram just prior to and around the time of your period when your breasts will be more sensitive. Also, avoid deodorant, talcum powder and fragrance as their residue can interfere with the film.

Note: If you are over 50, or have a family history of breast cancer, it is recommended you have a mammogram every two years. These are provided as a free health service from age 50 to 69 in and 45 to 69 in.

(In the breast screening service is primarily aimed at 50 to 69 year olds, but if you are aged from 40-49 or 70-plus you are still able to attend. In , if you have a strong family history you may also still be eligible outside the age perimeters.)

What is an ultrasound? As previously mentioned, dense breast tissue and tumours show white on a mammogram, which means looking for a tumour in younger women or those with dense breasts can be like looking for a polar bear in a snowstorm. Ultrasound imaging can be very useful in this scenario, as breast density shows up white and abnormalities show up black. Ultrasound works by using high-frequency sound waves – like the ultrasound used in pregnancy. The sound waves go through the breast and echo back converting to an image on a computer.

What is a biopsy? A biopsy is an examination of a sample of tissue extracted from a suspicious area by needle. The specimen is then smeared on to a glass slide to be read by a pathologist under a microscope.

For fine aspiration, a very, very fine needle is used and a small amount of fluid and cells are drawn out. During a core biopsy, a slightly bigger needle extracts a tiny cylinder of tissue. This is sliced finely and placed on a slide.

Breast cancer facts

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among Australian and women.
It is the most common cause of female cancer deaths in Australasia .
One in eight Australian women and one in 10 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Nine out of 10 women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
Each year 13,000 Australian women and over 2,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
This disease is most common in women over 50 years of age although younger women and men are not immune either.
In younger women breast cancers are likely to be larger and more aggressive than in older women.
About one per cent of those who are diagnosed with breast cancer are men.

Take control

A study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (June 2007) has shown a healthy diet combined with regular exercise can increase your wellness chances after treatment for breast cancer. Evidence for the long-term survival benefits of a healthy lifestyle before, during and after a diagnosis of breast cancer has been growing steadily for several years.

This study showed women who followed a healthy diet and moderate exercise program after treatment were 44 per cent more likely to beat the disease during the 10-year follow-up period than women who didn’t exercise and eat well. Five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily and at least a 30-minute brisk walk six days a week were optimum. Interestingly, a good diet alone or exercise on its own didn’t show the same benefits.

For more information or advice about breast cancer call The Cancer Council’s Helpline on 13 11 20 or visit here.

Pink power

October is breast cancer awareness month and across the globe famous icons are bathed in pink light. In Australasia these include the Sydney Opera House, Kings Park in Perth , Brisbane City Hall , Auckland ’s Sky Tower , Wellington ’s Michael Fowler Centre, and Christchurch Cathedral Read more here.

Alternatively, organise a breakfast to coincide with Pink Ribbon Day on Monday 27 October. Theme it pink and raise funds while you have fun. International and Australian chefs have created special breakfast recipes for you to try – visit www.pinkribbonbreakfast.org.au or phone 1800 000 118.

Bonds, M assuers, Llandro candles, ghd and the TimTam 'Pink Wish' are among the companies that have created special pink products, which help raise funds for breast cancer charities.