Skills to Conquer Breast Cancer

Some of the most important skills I have come across while researching weren't always "technical" skills.  They are everything from beauty to stress management.  I feel in order for one to take help from others they first need to be willing to help and care for themselves. Here are some of the most powerful skills that I found useful.

Stress Management:

This is a skill that can help you be less stressed, avoid stressors, and live more positively.

• Be aware of your personal limits
• Ask for help
• Concentrate on things you can control
• Exercise
• Be social
• Meditate
• Journal
• Sleep and eat well
• Visualize positivity (Managing Stress, 2015)

Beauty and Self Confidence:

The "You are Not Defined by your Hair" Campaign is affiliated with the company Good Hair Day. This campaign is designed to give breast cancer patients access to tutorials for things like, wig help and head scarf styling to make up tips and styling your hair while going through chemo.  I feel like these tutorials will help women with the confidence they need when they are feeling the affects mental and physical of chemotherapy. 

Self Breast Examinations:

Self breast examinations are your first line of defense in detecting breast cancer and it's easy to do at home.  Below is a diagram and video of an easy, at home breast examination.

(Touch, 2015)

 

(Youtube, 2014)

Links

Below is the link to the beauty tutorials through the "You Are Not Defined by Your Hair" campaign. It has great links and videos for those struggling looking well on the outside.

https://mic.com/articles/152901/you-are-not-defined-by-your-hair-campaign-offers-tutorials-for-breast-cancer-survivors#.6oaggcG4F

This site is great for managing stress techniques as well as reducing stressors.

http://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/managing-emotions/managing-stress

References

How to Properly Perform a Breast Self-Exam - Dr. Lisa Cassileth. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://youtu.be/L7xjiqGwhW4

 

Managing Stress. (2015). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/managing-emotions/managing-stress 

Touch Those Boobs for Healthy Breasts. (2015). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://hubpages.com/health/Touch_Those_Boobs_for_Healthy_Breasts 

Questions and Topics Breast Cancer Patients Discuss with their Physicians

An Open Relationship:

Patients should be encouraged to speak freely and openly to their physicians and medical staff.  A lot of new information will be given out during these meetings with your doctor.  It may be even wise to have a close confidant come with you in order to discuss and understand things better in the future. Throughout your journey, this may be hard for some patients.  Being open about such a sensitive topic is uncomfortable and occasionally physicians don't have the best bed side manner or they talk with such medical jargon they can be hard to comprehend.  Here are some ways to make conversing and understanding your physician effortless.

• Write down questions you have before hand.  This way you can stay focused during the conversation.
• Take notes during your appointment.  It can help jog your memory, remember important issues, and create new questions for the future.
• Be prepared.  Do your own research and be ready to discuss the things you have learned.
• Tell YOUR story.  No doubt, your physician has other patients.  Don't be afraid to ask for time to discuss your particular story, issues, and concerns.  
• Don't be afraid to speak up if you don't understand a concept.  Understanding issues and procedures is key to being successful (The Doctor Patient Relationship, 2014).

Below is a video of what a medical oncologist believes you should look for in a physician.

(YouTube, 2014)

Links

The Susan G. Komen website has great tips and suggestions for other websites for talking with your oncologist.

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/TalkingWithYourDoctor.html

The Cancer Advocacy website has tips for talking to your physician and also what your physician wished you knew.

http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/communicating-with-your-doctor/understanding-how-to-talk-to-your-doctor/

References

Questions Breast Cancer Patients Should Ask Their Oncologist. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://youtu.be/K6i2wigVkIA 

Talking to Your Health Care Provider about Breast Cancer | Susan G. Komen®. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/TalkingWithYourDoctor.html 

The Doctor-Patient Relationship. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourdiagnosis/talkingaboutcancer/the-doctor-patient-relationship 

Help and Information for Family Members of Breast Cancer Patients

Female Family Members with a History of Breast Cancer:

Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.  In fact, only about 13% of women diagnosed have a first-degree female relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer.  A woman who has one first-degree female relative with breast cancer has almost twice the risk of a woman without a family history (Komen, 2016).  The breast cancer risk linked to family history may be due to inherited gene mutations or shared lifestyle factors that increase risk.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 Genes:

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce tumor suppressor proteins. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and play a role in ensuring the stability of the cell’s genetic material. Specific inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of female breast and ovarian cancers.  Together, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations account for about 20 to 25 percent of hereditary breast cancers and about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers (BRCA Risk, 2016).

(BRCA, 2015)

Family Support: Loved Ones Who are Diagnosed

It can be scary to learn that a relative or a loved one has breast cancer.  You may be wondering what you can do to help or to make things easier on them.  

• Be an advocate for them, knowledge is power. 
• Ask friends and family members to pitch in with meals, cleaning the house, rides to appointments, etc.
• Be prepared for changes in mood and behavior.  Your loved one is going through a lot (Tips, 2016)!

Links:

There are many helpful websites for family support and information.

WebMD has tips for comforting and making life easier for friends and family members who are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Support

The National Cancer Institute has a guide and fact sheet about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.

BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 Guide

References:

BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing. (2015). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet 

How Family History relates to Breast Cancer Risk. (2016). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FamilyHistoryofBreastOvarianorProstateCancer.html 

Tips for Helping a Loved One Who Has Breast Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-cancer-tips-family 

What Are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes? (2015). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://www.preventovariancancer.ca/what-are-the-brca1-brca2-genes 

Breast Cancer and Day to Day Self Management

After a diagnosis, many are confused or depressed about how to live their every day life. However, if detected early, breast cancer has a 98% survival rate.  Depending on severity, your life will incorporate breast cancer and your daily habits will indeed change.  However, there will always be time for you and to do things that make you feel cancer free.

Lifestyle Changes:

There is no single right way to heal, to feel better, to cope or to change one's life. What seems to be important is to spend some time learning about which ways of healing are good for each individual.  Here are some self-care questions you can ask your self in order to manage your own wellness better:

• What are my self-care skills? Do I take care of myself last? What advice would I give myself if I were my best friend, sibling or child?
• How is my diet? And am I drinking enough water?
• Am I getting enough quality sleep?
• What are my life stressors that I can help reduce?
• Can I find a pass time where I enjoy exercising?
• What do I love?  What gives my life meaning? How can I make more time for these things in my life  (Breast Cancer, 2016) ?

A lifestyle change is a dynamic process and it can be every changing.  The most important thing is to care about yourself and care and wellness you give to yourself.

Below is a video excerpt of a breast cancer diary of woman named Victoria Derbyshire. She records her every day life while coping with breast cancer.  This is her first chemotherapy session using a cold cap and how she feels days after.  A cold cap helps reduce blood flow to the head which reduces the chemotherapy in the region, and therefore conserving hair in a process in which you usually lose hair.

(BBC, 2015)

Links:

Living with Breast Cancer

Living with breast cancer offers support, blogs, events, and helplines for people who are going though all of the stages of breast cancer.

References:

Breast Cancer Self-Care and Recovery: Nutrition. (2016). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/breast_cancer_self-care_and_recovery/nutrition/ 

Victoria Derbyshire's breast cancer video diary: Chemotherapy - BBC News. (2015). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://youtu.be/qSHStzxEa_4 

Breast Cancer: An Introduction

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is when the cells in the breast begin to grow out of control due to a genetic abnormality.  These growing cells usually form a tumor that can be seen by x-ray or felt as a lump by physical examination.  A tumor is considered malignant (cancerous) if the cells grow and invade to surrounding tissues or metastasize (spread) to other areas of the body (What is Breast Cancer, 2016). Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, however, men can be diagnosed as well.

How it Starts:

Most breast cancers begin in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. Some start in the glands that make breast milk. A small number of cancers start in other tissues in the breast. These types of cancers are called lymphomas and sarcomas and are not usually thought of as "traditional" breast cancer (What is Breast Cancer, 2016).

Signs and Symptoms:

Regular, self examinations are an important process to determining and finding breast cancer. Knowing how your breasts feel and how they are shaped can help diagnose breast cancer early.  An early diagnosis gives you a better chance of a successful treatment.  Regular mammograms and other screenings are imperative to finding and treating breast cancer early.  The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can often be tender, soft, rounded, or even painful. Any new mass should be assessed by a medical professional.  Usually they will take a biopsy of the lump and surrounding fluid to be examined (Signs and Symptoms, 2016). Other symptoms of breast cancer include, swelling, skin irritation, breast/nipple pain, and nipple discharge.

(2013)

Treatment:

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you and your medical team will come up with a customized treatment plan that may include removal surgery, radiation (shrinks/destroys tumors) therapy, chemotherapy (slows the growth of cells), or even hormone therapy (How is Breast Cancer Treated, 2016) .  

Helpful Links

BreastCancer.org
The BreastCancer.org Website has many helpful and knowledgable links and information regarding topics from symptoms to risk factors and everyday questions and concerns.

Cancer.org offers detailed information on breast cancer, treatments, and symptoms.
Cancer.org

If you are seeking male breast cancer advice, cancer.org offers a detailed guide.
Breast Cancer in Males

References:

C. (2013). Breast cancer - Symptoms and treatment. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsviAPGfPUo

How is breast cancer treated? (2016, September 13). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-treating-general-info 

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer. (2016, September 19). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-signs-symptoms 

What is breast cancer? (2016, September 13). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-what-is-breast-cancer