This post could save a life.
This post is long, but it just might save a life now or down the road, so I hope you will read and share.
People close to me will know I recently lost a friend to breast cancer that metastasized. She was 44. I have numerous other friends and family that have been effected by breast cancer and other cancers. I suspect I am not alone considering that the the statistics used to show that 1 in 4 people will have cancer in their lifetime, but are now around 1 in 2. And in the US, women of colour have a 40% breast cancer mortality rate. These are not good odds for us.
(If you want more UK statistics on breast cancer you can find them here: https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/facts-figures-and-qas/facts-and-figures/For the US you can find them here: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/statistics/index.html )
But there are things we can do.
1. Get informed.
- Breast density is a big predictor of your chance of getting breast cancer. If you have dense breasts, you will need more than just a regular mammogram, e.g., an MRI (but even this doesn't catch all cancer).
- In September in the US, a new law will come into place that every woman must be told if they have dense breasts as part of the results of a mammogram. So get yourself booked in for one!
- In the UK, we are advised to get mammogram screenings from 50+, but in the US it is advised from 40+. It also says you can stop after 74, but I believe this to be ageist and if you are in full health expecting to live beyond the next 5 years, don't stop getting screened.- Genetic testing can save lives and has advanced so much in the past number of years. The cost for this testing has also dropped significantly. Apparently, you don't even need blood drawn necessarily, which is bonus if you are queasy around needles.
- Dense breasts plus family history of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers mean you are at even higher risk, so get extra screenings, like MRIs.
2. Be your own best advocate and don't take no for an answer.
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3. Advocate for others when you can and if you are lucky enough ask someone who loves you to be your second advocate in appointments. The more educated advocates and help the better.
4. Remember that everyone, including doctors, have their own biases. Get second and third opinions, or as many as it takes to find the one with the right approach for you and your needs.
5. The earlier your diagnosis, the higher your chance of survival.
All of this was prompted not just from my recent loss, but from listening to some excellent conversations related to this on one of my favourite podcasts called We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle , Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle. Here are the episodes which I highly recommend listening to. They give you background and insight to Amanda's recent journey through a breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy as well as two episodes speaking to a doctor, Rachel Brem , about the process. It's so informative and so important. One last thing, comment below and let me know when your next screening is and encourage other women to do the same. ????
NOTE: Go straight to the last two links if you aren't interested in the back story.
Amanda's Diagnosis and What's Next parts 1 and 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0iWOi1cWWdrR7oJN2uKVDL?si=b2e463f4cc1a4aa5 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rxEnq3QOqs72a1kF3FTz8?si=7012744216da461f
Post Diagnosis Reflections from family https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YX2aG19cuKbH00YkxR0lI?si=f928cb15bb624650Amanda
Returns Post Surgery parts 1 and 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/63WveQLdCk9pIYEJgk7VuH?si= https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bbEf7v0CZUJunAg3vRhiF?si=4e135f976e744249
Early Detection, Mammogram & Breast Cancer Care with Dr. Rachel Brem https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OtsxkRgmFdRGCxZvK0AGj?si=cdad9ad88148490cExpert
Advice on Genetic Testing, Cancer Prevention & Care Disparities with Dr. Rachel Brem https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BaJfiRUph3P6nXSEmXrhs?si=c82bb3fc639c43b8
Effectiveness Facilitator | Human-Centered Organizational Change & Strategy-Culture Alignment
8 个月Appreciate you sharing this. 1 in 2, wow.
Proposal Development Specialist IV
8 个月Right on, Kelly!
Sustainable Transition, computational mechanics, material strength, product life, data analytics
8 个月I think it is important to realise that the screening programme (in the UK) is driven by statistics. It is about doing the most good with limited resources. Breast Cancer is more common post 50, and it is more detectable by mammogram post 50. Before 50, breasts are denser, and detection is harder. If you rely on being able to feel a lump, then if your breasts are big, you will only be able to feel a lump when it is big. Finally, most breast cancers are estrogen positive, meaning that they are encouraged to grow in response to estrogen. Once you reach your late 70s, your estrogen production is minimal, so your risk is low. Make me wonder if the purpose of the menopause is an evolutionary trait to protect from estrogen driven cancers?
Senior Director, PR & Research Communications, Truveta
8 个月Love this -- such great reminders and resources. Thank you for taking the time to do the research and share it with all of us. The amazing teacher she was, Jenni would be SO honored and proud that you took her loss and turned it into learnings for all of us. Thank you, dear friend! Hugs! <3
UK-China Research Partnerships & Higher Education Strategy Consultant | Founder | Speaker |
8 个月Very strongly echo point 2 - especially for women, larger people in general, minorities... there's a huge amount of evidence that your symptoms are more likely to be ignored so you need to work extra hard to be taken seriously. My aunt was put off with instructions to 'lose weight' for almost 18 months before someone finally took her complaints seriously. At which point she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died a few weeks later, aged 46.