it all
GATHER
A GATEHOUSE MEDIA A publication of xxxxxxxxxxxxxx REGIONAL PUBLICATION
YOUR TEAM A support system can make the difference
2 Paint It Pink
Friday, October 27, 2017
AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE
THE
KNOw fACTs Study finds many double mastectomies unnecessary
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#
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
W
omen with earlystage cancer in one breast are increasingly choosing double mastectomies — even if they are at low risk of developing breast cancer in the other, healthy breast, a new study published in JAMA found. Nearly half of women with early-stage breast cancer consider having a double mastectomy, and one in six received it. “That one in six breast cancer patients chose bilateral mastectomy is really striking. We knew it was increasing, but I don’t think many of us realized just how frequent this is,” said study author Dr. Reshma Jagsi, professor and deputy chair of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan. Myths and facts The procedure is known as contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, in which the healthy breast is removed
“For a woman with average risk of developing a breast cancer in the second breast, a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy does not increase survival rates.” Susan Brown, Susan G. Komen
along with the cancerous breast. It’s an aggressive form of treatment that is recommended for women “who are at a very high risk of developing a new breast cancer” such as those with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations, family history or other risk factors, said Susan Brown, senior director of education and patient support for Susan G. Komen. Especially concerning is the lack of knowledge about the procedure and its benefits, Brown said. Many women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer decide on the most aggressive treatment with the belief that it will increase their rate of survival, Brown said. “For a woman with average risk of developing a breast cancer in the second breast, a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy does not increase survival rates,” Brown said.
Among patients who considered double mastectomy, only 38 percent knew it does not improve survival for all women with breast cancer, the study found. Other misinformation muddies the decision-making process. For example, some patients think having a mastectomy on a healthy breast will stop them from having to undergo chemotherapy or other targeted therapies, but that is not true, Brown said. “Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy will only reduce the risk of breast cancer developing in the healthy breast, but it doesn’t reduce the risk of breast cancer returning in the original breast or coming back later in another part of the body,” Brown said. What you need to know “Every surgery we perform can have potential
complications. These need to be discussed and need to be taken into account carefully before decisions are made,” said Dr. Virginia Kaklamani, a medical oncologist and head of the breast cancer program at University of Texas Health San Antonio. It’s important to understand the risks and benefits of treatment and how likely treatment is to positively affect survival rates, Brown said. There may also be post-operative complications, additional costs, and issues related to long-term suffering and quality of life, Brown said. In the study, almost all patients said peace of mind motivated them to choose double mastectomy. “They are afraid of another breast cancer, of more biopsies of going through this again,” Kaklamani said. In these circumstances, a double mastectomy “can avoid years of anxiety and ongoing fears. For some women that’s a great benefit,” Brown said.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Paint It Pink 3
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Friday, October 27, 2017
Carolyn Slaughter: A survivor and a fighter Breast cancer has affected generations of her family
By Celinda Hawkins Managing Editor Runnels County Register
BALLINGER - For Carolyn Slaughter, breast cancer has been not only a personal battle, but one that generations of her family has fought. Slaughter is a 23 year survivor of breast cancer and attributes her success to early detection, prayer and support. Slaughter, who is a retired teacher and co-owner of Curiosities in Ballinger, discovered a lump in August of 1994. “It was tiny,” she said. “But doctors were watching it closely.” The then 47 year-old wife, mother, teacher and wife of Ballinger Coach Danny Slaughter, remembered that years before, in 1951, her grandmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had her right breast removed in a mastectomy. Recalling that early battle of her grandmother, Ruth Patton of Paint Rock at only 54, who would live to 88,
she made a firm decision on her future. Doctors had encouraged her to have a lumpectomy, but she did not want a recurrence so she opted for a mastectomy of her right breast. She vividly remembers the lack of treatment options available to her grandmother, who had to seek treatment at Scott & White Hospital, where she underwent a mastectomy. So she followed her lead. “That was the mentality that I had,” she said. Slaughter, was told by doctors that her breast cancer was “estrogen fed.” She never had chemo therapy but would take Tamoxifen for several years. Today, after her surgery which included the removal of 22 lymph nodes in right arm, she is cancer free. Five years after her diagnosis, her mother Mary Jim Currie, was diagnosed at the age of 77. She opted for a lumpectomy. And then in 2012, her daughter, Kim-
berly Dreschler, who was only 41, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a more aggressive form of the disease and underwent a double mastectomy and chemo. She encourages women to get regular mammograms, because that is how her daughter’s cancer was detected. Her daughter is now healthy and doing well she said. She attributes prayer and support to the her recovery and that of her loved ones. On the date of her surgery, Aug. 11, 1994, she remembers many members of First Baptist Church and other fellow teachers and friends coming to the hospital. The women of the church also prayed over her and church members prayed for her recovery. She would be in the hospital for a day, and would return to school the day after Labor Day that year. “I consider myself very lucky,” Slaughter said. “And I’m thankful every day.”
PHOTO BY CELINDA HAWKINS Carolyn Slaughter is a 23-year breast cancer survivor, but generations of her family have fought the battle.
Yearly mammograms recommended to detect, defeat breast cancer By Graham Dudley gdudley@brownwoodbulletin.com
PHOTO BY GRAHAM DUDLEY
Tracy Ledbetter (left) and Teresa Morris pose with their mammography machine at the Outpatient Imaging & Breast Center in Brownwood.
BROWNWOOD — Every October, America celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month in an effort to raise the public consciousness about a disease that has impacted millions among us. Just this month Julia LouisDreyfus, star of “Seinfeld” and “Veep,” announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. In Brown County, “Pink Out” football games and fundraisers bring attention to local survivors and fighters. But at the Brownwood Regional Medical Center Outpatient Imaging & Breast Center, Tracy Ledbetter and Teresa Morris have been working for years to promote and perform yearly mammograms for all women over 40,
no matter the month. Ledbetter serves as the center’s office supervisor, and Morris is the lead mammographer. Morris said when it comes to mammograms, her job involves “everything from A to Z.” “We start with scheduling the patients, and we go through and get all their history,” she said. “Once we do the mammogram it gets read, we check the reports and send them a letter with the results.” Ledbetter said the center sends a results letter, in “plain language,” to every patient who has a mammogram regardless of the result. They also follow up with patients, especially those with abnormalities, to make sure they follow through on the next steps.
She said the center handles both routine screenings and diagnostics, which happen after a possible symptom or sign has been discovered. “With those, the doctor’s waiting and he looks at the films as we take them,” Morris said. “We usually have an answer before they leave.” The key to breast cancer treatment, the women said, is to catch the disease in its early stages. They recommend yearly screenings for all women over 40, as well as monthly selfexaminations. “If we find them early enough, we can save their breasts and save their life,” Ledbetter said. “We don’t want to wait until the patient is actually feeling something. We can
SEE MAMMOGRAMS, 16
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Paint It Pink 5
AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE
A FRIENDS
&
fAMILY PLAN
“When patients are diagnosed with cancer, there’s this rush to get through the treatment process. But for patients with early-stage breast cancer, they have some time to decide on their treatment choice.”
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Dr. Lauren P. Wallner, University of Michigan
How you can help Offer to go with to an appointment and take notes. “It is incredibly helpful to have another set of eyes and ears,” Wallner said. By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
W
hen facing a breast cancer diagnosis, there’s strength in numbers. A new study finds that half of women relied on three or more people to help them process breast cancer treatment options. “The big takeaway is that most women with early-stage breast cancer are involving multiple people — not just a spouse or partner — but other family, friends and colleagues to help them make informed decisions,” said Dr. Lauren P. Wallner, assistant professor of general medicine and epidemiology at the University of Michigan and lead author of the paper, published in the journal Cancer. The size of a woman’s support network matters. “People faced with a new cancer diagnosis are still processing the
information. They are often scared and overwhelmed. They are not able to grasp all the details. It’s helpful to have support, someone with them who can help weigh the pros and cons of what the doctor is saying and the different treatment options,” Wallner said. Larger support networks were associated with more deliberation about treatment, which is critical as treatment options become more complex, Wallner said. More deliberation suggests patients are thinking through pros and cons, discussing it with others and weighing the decision carefully. The more people a woman has supporting her, the better her decisions are, Wallner said. “When patients are diagnosed with cancer, there’s this rush to get through the treatment process. But for patients with early-stage breast cancer, they have some time to decide on their treatment choice,” Wallner said. “The idea that women are
discussing their options more with their family and friends and potentially thinking through that decision more carefully is reassuring. Engaging these informal support networks could be a way to prevent women from rushing into something.” The study found that only 10 percent of women said they had no personal decision support network. Nearly three-quarters said their support network talked with them about their treatment options and frequently attended their appointments. African-American and Latina women reported larger networks than did white women. Women who were married or partnered also reported more support. Even among women without a partner or spouse, many had large support networks. Women reported children, friends, siblings, parents and other relatives were involved in their decision-making.
Help with research “If you’re internet-savvy, help do research and track down information,” Wallner said. Just be there “On a basic level, just being present lets the patient know she is not alone,” Wallner said. Doctors need to involve others “Physicians should be aware that women want to include others in their treatment decisions,” Wallner said. A woman without a support network may need extra help or information during the decision process. “It starts with something as simple as physicians asking patients who is helping them make their treatment decisions. That can then guide the conversation, such as the amount of resources the physician provides and to whom they communicate that information,” she said.
6 Paint It Pink
Friday, October 27, 2017
Walker Cancer Center has been providing quality cancer care since 1994. Advanced cancer care, closer to home‌ When the diagnosis is cancer, you want a team that has the experience to explore options and works with you every step of the way. The Walker Cancer Center team at Brownwood Regional Medical Center fosters a supportive environment to help you and your family feel as comfortable as possible during treatment in a relaxed setting. Our Cancer Care Team includes experienced Oncologists Victor Hirsch, MD, Medical Hematology Oncology, Allan Cass, MD Radiation Oncology, experienced chemotherapy nurses, radiation therapists and support staff, all working together to develop a treatment plan unique to you. We are here for you!
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AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE #Friday, October 27, 2017
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MOVING fORwARd It can be difficult, but exercise is key during cancer fight
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
E
A focus group study from Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin found that 95 percent of patients surveyed felt they benefited from exercise during treatment, but only three of the 20 patients recalled being instructed to exercise. recommendations. The results indicated that exercise is perceived as important to patients with cancer, but physicians are reluctant to consistently include recommendations for physical activity in patient discussions, said Dr. Agnes Smaradottir, medical oncologist and lead investigator of the focus group study, which was published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in May. A key finding was that physicians expressed concerns about asking patients to be more
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xercise helps keep a body healthy and lowers risk of some diseases. For women with cancer, physical activity can do many things, including control weight, improve mood, boost energy, increase sleep, and be fun and social — as long as exercise is done safely. It is well-documented that physical activity benefits patients with cancer, both during and after treatment. Exercise helps patients combat physical and psychological impacts of cancer treatment, giving them a sense of well-being, control, stress reduction and empowerment. So why aren’t more oncologists discussing exercise with their patients? A focus group study from Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin found that 95 percent of patients surveyed felt they benefited from exercise during treatment, but only three of the 20 patients recalled being instructed to exercise. The investigators interviewed nine practitioners plus 20 patients 45 and older with two kinds of cancer: non-metastatic cancer after adjuvant therapy and metastatic disease undergoing palliative treatment, both across multiple tumor types. While the sample size is small, the study provides an understanding of how the group as a whole has the potential to influence the practice of physical activity
physically active while undergoing arduous cancer treatments. “Regular exercise has been a part of the breast cancer treatment plan for years,” Smaradottir said. “Exercise regularly from the day you are diagnosed and beyond and have exercise be an important part of your life. Carve out time for exercise at least every other day. It is that important.” For breast cancer patients, Smaradottir’s recommendations for exercise are: • 150 minutes a week (30 minutes a day, five days a week) of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. • In addition, two to three sessions per week of strength training that includes major muscle groups and stretching. • For women who have never
exercised, start slower, working up to the goal of 150 minutes a week. • For women already exercising, continue the exercise plan with adjustments during chemotherapy and radiation. Before starting an exercise regime, talk to your doctor about weight loss, weight management and what types of exercise are safe for you to do. Walking is probably the simplest, easiest and the most inexpensive way to remain fit. Studies presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference reported that just 25 minutes of brisk walking every day not only cuts the risk of cancer but also helps people battling the disease. For moderate exercise, try walking briskly at a pace where you are able to talk but not sing,
8 Paint It Pink ##
Shining through
AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE
Friday, October 27, 2017
Helping women learn new beauty tricks during chemo By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK.COM
osing your hair is a common side effect of chemotherapy, yet it can be incredibly traumatic. There are beautiful ways to cope. Hair should grow back after treatments are done, said Linda Whitehurst, a 28-year volunteer with Look Good Feel Better, a program that provides beauty workshops to improve self-esteem and quality of life for women undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments. Teaching women how to cover their heads with colorful scarves is one way to help them build their confidence and self-esteem. “It’s all about the transformation and finding normalcy,” Whitehurst said. Women going through a difficult time “don’t want to stand out. They want to fit in,” said Deborah Flynn, manager of the Friends’ Place at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Whether done in a workshop, by watching YouTube videos or simply by practicing in front of a mirror, there are endless possibilities to creatively manage the effects of hair loss. Scarves are a trendy alternative to wigs and hats, Flynn said. “Wigs can be hot, and hats are not for everyone. Scarves are fashionable,” Flynn said. They can be intimidating to someone who is not used to wearing them. Here are some of the experts’ tips for how to tie, drape, twist and wrap a headscarf, as well as how to pick what’s right for you.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Paint It Pink 9 AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE
Start square Take a 30-by-30-inch square scarf. Fold it into triangle. Pull the front of the scarf over the forehead and knot the ends over the point in the triangle. Pull a bit of excess fabric above the knot to achieve a fuller look. You can also add a pair of socks to make it look like there’s hair underneath, Flynn said. Feeling rosy Once your tried a basic babushka, try the rosette turban. Use a large square or oblong scarf folded into a triangle. Place scarf on head with both ends to one ear and knot. Twist one end tightly and wind around knot. Tuck in the end and repeat with other end. If need be, hold ends in place with bobby pins. Stay stable Cotton scarves stay in place better than silky ones, Flynn said. “For even more traction, wear a cotton beanie under the scarf to keep it in place,” she said. Good choices Scarves made of crinkled fabric are also good because they don’t wrinkle, Whitehurst said. Other popular choices include tie-dyed or batik scarves with lots of color. Not too far down When placing a scarf on the forehead, avoid putting it too far down or else you’ll end up with “the Cabbage Patch look,” Whitehurst said. Instead place it up near the hairline. Scrunch the look “It’s hard to look at a beautiful scarf laid out flat and see what it will look like on. Take the scarf and roll it around in your hand. Scrunch it up in a coil to get a better idea of what it will look like when you’re wearing it,” Whitehurst said.
For more information Look Good Feel Better is supported by the American Cancer Society and the Professional Beauty Association. Its beauty programs are available across the United States. Visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org and type in your ZIP code to find a free program near you. Or, call 1-800-395-LOOK (5665) and get a self-help kit that includes a video with scarf-tying tips mailed to you for free.
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10 Paint It Pink
Friday, October 27, 2017
By Melissa Erickson Gatehouse Media
We proudly Support
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
In the fight for a cure for breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 get a lot of attention’ but many people don’t understand how these genes’ mutations affect their risk of developing the disease. BRCA1 and BRCA2 (short for BReast CAncer 1 and 2) are human genes that produce tumor-suppressor proteins, according to the National Institutes of Health. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and playa role in cell growth and cell division. These are genes we all have in our bodies. It’s when these genes have mutations - or mistakes - that a person’s risk rises for developing breast and other forms of cancers, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States are due to inherited gene mutations known to increase risk, according to the American Cancer Society. BRCA mutations affect men, too. Menwith BRCA2 mutations are at an increased risk for getting prostate cancer.
A new study published in JAMA reveals how much having “breast cancer genes” increases the risk of cancer. Women with genetic mutations in the “breast cancer genes” have about a 70 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetimes. The findings are based on an analysis of nearly 10,000 women with mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. The risk of developing breast cancer varies - it can double - depending on specific mutations within the genes, the study found. Having close family members with breast cancer also increased risk. Other key findings: • Among women who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer before the study, those with BRCA1 mutations faced a 72 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 80, and the BRCA2 carriers had a 69 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 80. • The rate of new breast cancer cases increased rapidly among younger women, but leveled off around ages 30 to 40 for BRCA1 carriers and 40 to 50 for BRCA2 carriers.
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Gene mutations and breast cancer
Friday, October 27, 2017
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Friday, October 27, 2017
AUTOMATIC_FOLIO_WILL_APPEAR_HERE
Some of the signs of potential breast cancer:
w Red, inflamed breast A swollen and sometimes warm, red breast should be evaluated promptly, Bevers said. Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive disease. Swelling and redness affecting one-third or more of the breast is cause for concern. Smaller changes, like the size of a half-dollar, are probably not breast cancer, “but get it diagnosed,” Bevers said.
w Peeling, scaling
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Flaky, peeling or scaling skin on the breast could be a sign of Paget’s disease, a type of breast cancer, or it could be minor skin irritation, Bevers said. Watch for whether the skin changes only occur in one breast, often starting in the nipple area, and spread from there.
w Dimpling of the skin
POTENTIAL
sIgNs
Of
BREAsT CANCER
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
F
eeling a lump in the breast is a classic sign of breast cancer, but there are other less-well-known signals that can tip off potential trouble. “The hope is that women know their own bodies and would find a mass before it becomes palpable, but the truth is that radiologists can find tumors so small — 3, 4 or 5 millimeters — that it’s rare to be able to feel a small tumor before it can be discovered by mammogram,” said Dr. Therese Bevers, medical director of the Cancer Prevention Center at MD Anderson in Houston and an expert in breast cancer screenings. Today, breast self exams are not widely recommended, but that doesn’t mean you should stop investigating your breasts, Bevers
“You know how your breasts look and feel. If something feels different, have it checked out.” Dr. Therese Bevers
said. The keywords now are “breast awareness. You know how your breasts look and feel. If something feels different, have it checked out,” Bevers said. Women themselves discover “a substantial amount of breast cancer because nobody knows a woman’s body as well as she does herself,” said Dr. Rachel Brem, director of breast imaging and intervention at The GW Medical Faculty Associates in Washington, D.C. “Women have to understand that mammograms are imperfect. Fifteen percent of breast cancers cannot be seen on mammograms. The death rate of breast cancer has decreased 35 percent in the past few decades, and mammograms are one part of that. They’re one tool in our toolbox, but there’s other things like MRIs, diagnostic ultrasounds and molecular breast imaging,” Brem said. “We have many kinds of technology; no one size fits all.”
“A dimpling on the skin of the breast like a pimple that doesn’t heal” can also be a sign of breast cancer, Brem said. The nipple may also become retracted because there’s a tumor pulling it inward, Bevers said. The dimpling might be subtle and noticeable only at certain times, for example, when you stand in front of a mirror and raise your arms to brush your hair, Bevers said.
w Nipple discharge Most nipple discharge is not breast cancer, but it is of more concern if it is spontaneous, from one breast only, or clear rather than milky or greenish, Brem said. Nipple discharge may not have a high suspicion rate, but have it checked out.
w Mass in the armpit An ancillary mass in the region, such as a lump in the armpit, could be breast cancer in the lymph nodes, Bevers said. “Not all lumps in the armpit are breast cancer. It could be an ingrown hair, but it needs to be checked out,” she said.
w A thickening If your breast feels firmer than before, that change should be evaluated by a doctor. “If it’s a change to you, it doesn’t matter what you can see or feel,” Bevers said. Use your awareness of your breasts. If something doesn’t feel normal, get it checked out.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Paint It Pink 13
Personal experience guides nurses at Brownwood’s Walker Cancer Center By Graham Dudley
gdudley@brownwoodbulletin.com
BROWNWOOD — As Brown County celebrates national Breast Cancer Awareness Month with fundraisers, pink-outs and pep rallies, the men and women of the Brownwood Regional Medical Center work every day on the front lines of the disease. Doris Wooten and Beth Pittman are nurses at the Walker Cancer Center, a specialized unit of the BRMC that focuses on a holistic approach to cancer treatment. They’ve spent years helping local cancer patients through every stage of their journey, celebrating each victory and mourning each loss along the way. But the nurses bring more than compassion and expertise to the Cancer Center — they bring the kind of empathy that can only come from other cancer survivors, which Wooten
and Pittman both are. Wooten was raised in Haskell, Texas and began her career as a schoolteacher before going back to school and moving into nursing. She has now been a nurse for 27 years, but she didn’t start at the Cancer Center. Wooten was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago, and said her experience battling the disease led her to Walker. “I’ve done just about everything on the floor,” she said of her early nursing career. “After I was diagnosed, I had all my treatment here. … They did such a good job that I started working down here on my days off.” She was eventually able to transfer to the Cancer Center full-time and has been working there for about a decade. Pittman, who emigrated to
Beth Pittman (left) and Doris Wooten are both cancer survivors and nurses at the Brownwood Regional Medical Center’s Walker Cancer Center. PHOTO BY GRAHAM DUDLEY
SEE NURSES, 17
Compassion, love and care… when you it most
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Friday, October 27, 2017
For Parrack, October is ‘about saving lives’ By Graham Dudley gdudley@brownwoodbulletin.com
BROWNWOOD — One evening in September 2016 Charlotte Parrack was sitting in her car waiting for her daughter to get out of driver’s ed. “I was just sitting there playing on my phone,” she remembers, “and I just reached up for no reason and felt this knot. I know that God did that for me. He was showing me I needed to check that out.” That fateful day began the journey that would change Parrack’s life in many ways. Through tests and trials, medications and mastectomies, Parrack has relied on support from her family and her God to find a new appreciation of each day. Parrack grew up in the Texas Panhandle following her father to various law enforcement jobs. “Being from the Panhandle, I joke and say that I was raised in a storm cellar,” she said. After graduating from high school in Abilene and attending college, Parrack got a job as a dispatcher in Abilene where she met her nowhusband, Roy, who served on the Abilene PD. Roy’s job took the couple to Brown County, where they’ve lived ever since. Roy serves as the SEE PARRACK, 19
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Friday, October 27, 2017
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Paint It Pink 15
16 Paint It Pink
Friday, October 27, 2017
MAMMOGRAMS CONTINUED FROM 4
Breast CANCER KINDRED HOSPICE SUPPORTS
AWARENESS!
Kindred Hospice Foundation’s Missions is to Support and Educate Persons and Organizations Dealing with Life Limiting Illnesses.
find it as small as a grain of salt.” Women with a family history of breast cancer are at increased risk of contracting the disease, making their screenings doubly important, they said. And despite the public perception, men can also contract it. “The very first mammogram I ever did was in 1973, and it was on a man who had breast cancer,” Morris said. Morris and Ledbetter said October is a busy time for them, as they give annual talks at Brown County locations like Hamilton’s and Walmart to promote yearly mammograms. They said public consciousness of the disease has increased dramatically since they began screenings. “The more that we talk about it, the more women will come get screened,” Morris said. “And the more women get screened, the more we can find and prevent.” The Outpatient Imaging & Breast Center can be reached at 325-6419498. It is located at 105 Streckert Dr. in Brownwood.
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Friday, October 27, 2017
Paint It Pink 17
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: PREVENTION
hile some risk factors for breast cancer come from family history and reproductive influences areconsume out ofanywhere our control, there are While some risk factors for breast cancer thatwho from two to five come from family history andmany reproductive drinks per day are 40 percent likely to risk factors that come from ourmore lifestyle influences that are out of our control, here develop breast cancer over non-drinkers. that can be personally monitored or controlled. are many risk factors that come from our The occasional drink is not a problem, lifestyle that can be personally monitored or according to some research, and is actually problem, according to some Altering, eliminating or limiting controlled. shown to lessen your risk for other illnesses research, and is actually shown to each of the following habits could and conditions. lessen your risk for other illnesses keep your risk of developing breast Altering, eliminating or limiting each of lower. On the flip side, the American Institute and conditions. cancer significantly the following habits could keep your risk for Cancer Research (AICR) and World On the flip side, thethe American Institute Cancer Research (AICR) SMOKING of developing breast cancer significantly Cancer Research Fundforpublished a report the World Cancer Research Eliminatein 2017 statingand lower. that even one alcoholic Fund published a report in 2017 If you needed yet one more readrink per day can increase the risk of breast son to quit smoking, here it is. Long- stating that even one alcoholic SMOKING term research shows that cancer by 5 percent forday pre-menopausal can increase the risk those who drink per Eliminate smoked at least 10 cigarettes women and 9 percent for post-menopausal of breast cancer by 5 percent for per women. pre-menopausal women and 9 perday for 20 years or more were 30 If you needed yet one morepercent reasonmore to likely to develop inva- cent for post-menopausal women. sive breast cancer. quit smoking, here it is. Longterm research DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DIET AND Girls who started smoking before shows that those who smoked at least 10 AlterPHYSICAL ACTIVITY age 15 were nearly 50 percent more Alter cigarettes per day for 20 years or more were Another important risk factor for likely to develop invasive breast 30 percent more likely to develop Another risk factor forAsbreast breast cancer is weight. body cancer.invasive These numbers are scary. important breast cancer. cancer weight. Asindex body mass index in-a mass increases, so does Quitting might be difficult, butis conGirls who started smokingsidering before what age 15 creases, a woman’s of developwoman’s risk of risk developing breast is at stake, there so does cancer — especiallyififthe the addiadditional of motivation to cancer were nearly 50 percent moreshould likelybe toplenty develing breast — especially weight is carried her midsection. kick the habit. op invasive breast cancer. These numbers tional weight is carried in herinmidsection. is because abdominal weight are scary. Quitting might be difficult, but This is becauseThis abdominal weight is exALCOHOL is exceptionally “metabolically considering what is at stake, there shouldLimit be ceptionally “metabolically active,” producactive,” producing hormones and plenty of motivation to kick the habit. ing hormones and other growth factors. According to the National other growth factors. Given exercise and losingand Institute on Alcohol Abuse and that vigorous Given that vigorous exercise consume losing weight also can lower the risk ALCOHOL Alcoholism, women who weight also can lower the risk of several five drinks several other diseases, including Limit anywhere from two to other diseases,ofincluding heart disease and per day are 40 percentdiabetes, more likelyittois aheart disease andtaking diabetes, it is a factor worth serious breast cancer over factor worth taking serious note of According to the National develop Institute on note of when trying to improve your overall non-drinkers. when trying to improve your overall Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women health and wellness. The occasional drink is not a health and wellness.
NURSES
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America from the Philippines in 1983, is a survivor of stomach cancer. Her experience also made her want to work with other cancer patients, and under her own doctor. “Since I was diagnosed with cancer, I feel like I needed to learn more about cancer and to share my experience,” Pittman said. Wooten said it’s valuable for cancer patients to work with health care professionals who have real-world, firsthand knowledge of the disease. “When I was going through cancer, it was so good to see someone who went through all of that and had a good outcome,” Wooten said. “I thought I could do that for somebody
else. That really reassures my patients, to have a nurse that knows what they’re going through.” At the Cancer Center, Wooten and Pittman often interact with the same patients for months and years as they go through the trials of treatment. They say it’s impossible not to become invested — even if they must put on a brave face for all their patients. “It’s challenging, because you get close to these patients,” Pittman said. “You can’t save everybody. It’s tough, but it won’t help the patients if you break down and cry.” The women recommend a monthly self-examination and a yearly mammogram for all women to detect and prevent breast cancer. It was through a self-examination that Wooten discovered her own tumor — and she encouraged other women not to ignore warning signs or symptoms. “They can talk to their doctor about
© FOTOLIA
that, and they’ll explain how to do that [self-exam],” Wooten said. “I found mine in June, and I had just had my breasts checked in January. That’s how quickly something can be found. First I said, ‘It’s nothing, I’m not going to go in.’ And then I said, ‘No, you idiot, you are going to.’” She said the experience has informed every aspect of her work today. “I have an understanding — not just a professional understanding, but a gut understanding — of what the patients are going through,” Wooten said. “Going through that really helped me to have more empathy.” The Walker Cancer Center was founded in 1994 in memory of Dr. James B. N. Walker, who served Brownwood from the 1930s through the ‘60s and died of cancer in 1989.
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PARRACK
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ty’s Constable for Precinct 3, and Charlotte sells Mary Kay products. Life was going more or less on schedule until that late-summer day. “I called my doctor the very next morning, and she got my right in,” Parrack said. “We had an appointment at Baylor Scott & White by one o’clock that very same day. I credit God for helping me find [the tumor] myself, and I credit my doctors for acting very quickly.” Parrack had mammograms and sonograms at Baylor Scott & White and found out that the cancer was not only in her right breast, where she’d found the lump, but in both. “We left there kind of in shock,” she said. Parrack began to research the disease — invasive ductal carcinoma —exhaustively. “To me, knowledge is power. I wanted to know everything about cancer.” By the time Parrack had her double mastectomy on Oct. 11, 2016, it had
been just over one month since she was diagnosed. “It’s just so fast,” she said. “You don’t have time to grieve the loss because in between there’s all this testing and needles and wires.” But the diagnosis was not a complete shock — Parrack had a family history of breast cancer, and knew she was likely to face it at some point in her life. Faced with a series of tough decisions, Parrack opted quickly for the double mastectomy and decided against reconstructive surgery afterward. “I’m perfectly comfortable living flat,” Parrack said. “I don’t think anybody ever notices, to be honest.” She also credits her extremely supportive husband with helping her “feel beautiful” again after the procedure. “He’s been my rock,” she said. “I don’t know if I could have gone through it without him.” Roy Parrack said it’s been a whirlwind year for the rest of the family, too. “It’s different, but we try to carry on as normal,” he said. “I’ve picked up more of the load around the house with cooking and cleaning
KEEP
— not because she can’t, but because I don’t want her to. It’s scary because you don’t know if or when it’s going to come back. You just make the best of every day you can.” Parrack now has a pink ribbon tattooed on her wrist to remind her of the reasons to be thankful and the battles not yet won. Through her scars and memories she will carry other reminders with her for the rest of her life, but she said it’s important to keep breast cancer in the public consciousness no matter how painful a subject it may be. “If it saves one woman, it’s worth it,” she said. “I know women who don’t like all this Pink Out stuff, who think it’s too much. But I don’t mind it at all — it’s about saving lives.” And she encouraged other women to be supportive, open and normal around their friends with breast cancer. “Just be their friend,” she said. “Breast cancer survivors have to find a new normal, because everything’s changed. But friends can be that support group and that pathway back to a fulfilled life.”
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