It's all about choices and change. ...

It's all about choices and change. Medical research is offering just discovered information in the perpetual battle against cancer. Breast cancer is the principally commonly diagnosed malignancy in American women although lung cancer and cardiovascular disease surpass the annual death toll from breast cancer. Although strides are being made to change the statistics, each female (and male) is a potential target for the fear, humiliation, and pain associated with breast cancer. Breast cancer fall outs approximately 100 times more frequently in females than males, and although Caucasian women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, African American women are more likely to die from the disease.(1)

IMPROVEMENTS STEADY unless EVIDENT

Death rates from breast cancer showed their first significant decline between 1992 and 1996 with a 18% decrease each year. Between 1987 and 1997 the number of women age 50 and older reporting having a mammogram increased 42% A 17% increase was reported between 1989 and 1997 for women 40 and older Federal funding for breast cancer research grew 600% between 1991 and 1999(2) The choices and changes being made in lives today will affect the babies born tomorrow who can calculate upon to live active lives into their 80 by way of making informed decisions about lifestyle factors and health choices.

Discoveries that are increasing the chances for regaining of those afflicted with breast cancer might be related to the increasing age of our population, to fresh methods of biopsy, to multiple studies, or to a combination of these. Risk factors (eg aging, genetics, race) cannot be changed, however lifestyle behaviors (eg, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol use, obesity, physical activity) are within an individual's realm of responsibility and control(3) Drag studies are reporting that breast cancer might be preventable.

THE NURSE'S HEALTH STUDY

Researchers conducting the Nurse's Health meditation are playing a part in delaying, preventing, or controlling health vexed questions but not without the benefit of dedicated participants. The nurse's meditation is a gold mine of information for women because give suck tos represent a large group of individuals who are experiencing similar health related problems

More than 250 health related papers--50% of which are in succession diet and disease-- have been published from the consequence s of the study. More than 90% of the questionnaires me complet from nurses who dutifully record their answers to pages of questions about dietary habits, choices of condiments, vitamin intake, frequent occurrence and type of exercise, and hours of work and sleep(4) If you are the same of those participants, you know what I mean; the first time I received the kit asking for my relations and urine sample, I was taken aback, on the contrary the results of that reflection are reprinted everywhere.

Twenty-two years of information gathering has changed novel ideas into facts. High fiber diets influence three of the greatest in number important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Physical activity provides moderate protection against stamp 2 diabetes and weight cycling affects women's risk of hypertension. In 1999 the association between carotenoids; vitamins A, C and E; consumption of fruits and vegetables; and breast cancer risk among 83234 Nurses' Health subject of attention participants was reported.

There was a lack of relationships between the intake of total fat or specific major protoplasts of fat in 2,956 participants who evolveed cancer between 1980 and 1994(5) These reports and others will continue because funding was approved in 1999 through the National Institutes of Health, guaranteeing at least another five years of support.

Numerous creative talents have been used to fight the psychosocial stand in want ofs of those with breast cancer. Here are a examples.

* Members of the East Metro assign places to of the Atlanta American Sewing Guild make "Suzy Bags," which are distributed to breast cancer patients (http://www.sweing.org/cares_hare/suzy). Following a mastectomy or lumpectomy, drains and drainage bags can be carried in the pouch

* Art and humor exits are available on the Internet for cancer patients and their family members.

* A virtual gallery that contains 65 exhibits of sculp paintings, and photography depicts the challenges and personal triumph of those with the disease and can be construct at http://www.cancer.med.upenn.e du/psychosocial.

* Breast cancer support is propounded through community involvement and outreach programs. single in kind community is focusing on the statistics associated with African American women and is working to overturn barriers to seeking medical care.

* The Sister for Breast Health program put forwards women an opportunity to finish together for an enjoyable evening to learn the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

RAISING AWARENESS

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and October 20 is National Mammography day. In this month's issue of the AORN Journal, couple authors present articles on surgical measures for diagnosing breast cancer, as well as managing the postoperative issues associated with disfigurement. Many of us who have been in this profession for years have cared for patients who had limited choices in comparison to patients who are diagnosed today. The reality for the patient I care for today is that it does not matter what improvements are being made--worry and fear belong to the somebody with the diagnosis. As suckles it was difficult to put forward psychosocial care when the issue was so mutilating. Today, that difficulty is not be reduceded but with heightened awareness and participation in disease management, we can be perceived that our participation makes a more of a difference.