Med-Info | June/July 1999 Special Issue
Past Issues

INSIDE

Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure

Taking a Beauty Break

"Focus on Healing Through Movement and Dance" Update

Breast Cancer Facts

Tips for Good Breast Health

Thanks to our Partners


Facts about Breast Cancer
  • Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Over a woman's lifetime (to age 95 or older), she has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer, and a one in 28 risk of dying from breast cancer.
  • According to the American Cancer Society, more than 175,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, and 43,300 will die from the disease.
  • Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women ages 35 to 54. Among African-American women, it is the single greatest cause of cancer-related death. Breast cancer among men is relatively rare, with 1,400 cases diagnosed in the U.S. annually.
  • The five year survival rate following early diagnosis and treatment is 96%. There are more than 1.6 million breast cancer survivors in America today.
  • About 77% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50.
  • Treatment of breast cancer varies depending on the stage of the disease, but generally includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and in some cases, reconstructive surgery.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your physician immediately:
  • A lump or thickening in the breast, with our without pain.
  • Skin dimpling or puckering on either breast.
  • Any changes in the shape, texture or color of the skin.
  • A nipple that has become inverted, or looks pushed in.
  • Discharge from one or both nipples.
  • Localized breast pain, not related to the hormonal cycle.

Past Issues
· June, 1999
Screening Helps Detect Colon Cancer

· April, 1999
Remodel Planned for Award-Winning Childbirth Center

· January, 1999
Special Issue
Toys for Growth

· November, 1998
Special Issue
Promising Research Results for Prostate Cancer Announced by Northwest Hospital

· September, 1998
Special Issue
Tips for Preventing Accidents

· July, 1998
Special Issue
New Open Heart program Launched at Northwest

· June, 1998
Special Issue
Northwest Hospital and Its Partners Fund Crucial Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

· March, 1998
Volume 13 | Number 1
Tips for Surviving a Brain Attack


Med-Info

Comments and suggestions from readers are encouraged. Write to Med-Info Newsletter, public relations department, Northwest Hospital, 1550 N. 115th Street, Seattle, WA 98133 or call 368-1739 during office hours.

Marsha Rule, Editor

Hospital operator: 206-364-0500

 

Message from KOMO ABC 4 TV
KOMO ABC 4 is pleased to be part of Northwest Hospital's efforts to heighten awareness of the need for early detection and treatment of breast cancer during the month of June and beyond. Please visit our web site at www.komotv.com to link with other sponsor web sites.

 

Making a Difference

We're able to do more with your support. It is acknowledged that early detection helps save lives. A contribution to the Seattle Breast Center enables us to continue educating the community about good breast health, conduct cancer research, and purchase state-of-the-art equipment for our facilities.

Individuals are encouraged to make tax-deductible contributions to the Northwest Hospital Foundation through a variety of programs including estate planning, memorial and tribute gifts, and special project grants.

To learn how you can help, please contact the Foundation office at (206) 368-1647 or visit the Northwest Hospital Foundation page.

Northwest Hospital Teams Up With Sponsors to Launch 1999 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Thanks to sponsorship from local and national businesses, Northwest Hospital's Seattle Breast Center launches an important breast cancer awareness campaign this month.

The campaign focuses on explaining why women should seek early detection of breast cancer and urges women to undergo screening.

"Early detection and treatment saves lives," said Marita Acheson, MD, Medical Director of Imaging, Seattle Breast Center. "There are more than 1.6 million breast cancer survivors in America today and the five year survival rate following early diagnosis and treatment is 96%."

Each year in America, more than 170,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 43,300 women die each year from breast cancer and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women ages 35 to 54.

Biopsys, Reed McClure, KOMO ABC 4 and the Seattle Breast Center at Northwest Hospital are sponsors of the campaign which includes educational vignettes, public service announcements and local programming on the topic of breast cancer.

The campaign concludes with a luncheon for breast cancer patients, hosted at Northwest Hospital. Dr. Marita Acheson will discuss the importance of early detection and treatment. There will also be demonstrations by local vendors, specifically for women with cancer, on preparing headwraps, makeup and fashion tips and other health care information.

"We are very excited to sponsor and participate in this vital community education program again this year," said Dr. Acheson. "We know that a woman has a better chance of fighting breast cancer if she understands the risk factors, how to detect the disease, and the options for treatment."

The multidisciplinary team of physicians at the Seattle Breast Center recommends a three-step program to fight breast cancer by finding it early. This program includes clinical breast exams, annual mammograms (for women 40 and over), and monthly breast self-exams.

For additional information about breast cancer, visit our web site at www.seattlebreastcenter.org.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

The Race for the Cure is a unique nation-wide event conceived, designed and implemented by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to promote positive awareness, education and early detection of breast cancer.

The Race series is an emotionally charged event which attracts many walkers and first-time recreational runners, as well as those already in training. The 1999 Puget Sound Race for the Cure is currently set for Sunday, September 12th, beginning at Husky Stadium. 

The Race for the Cure" raises funds to provide positive awareness, education, and early detection of breast cancer for women in our community. It also helps fund the Komen Foundation's National Grant Program. Seventy-five percent of the money raised from the Puget Sound Race remains in Western Washington to fund local projects such as breast cancer support groups, educational programs, and mammography. The remaining 25% of the funds raised support national research grants awarded by the Komen Foundation.

 More information on participating in the 1999 Race for the Cure is available online at www.seattleraceforthecure.org or by calling 1-800-IM-AWARE.

Time To Take a Beauty Break

Many patients undergoing cancer treatment deal with the daily questions of how they can address the appearance-related side effects that sometimes occur as a result of their cancer therapy. Here are some practical tips to help you cope with changes to your skin, hair and nails. 

Skin, Makeup and Nails

  • Because skin often becomes dry and sensitive during cancer therapy, use mild cleansers, alcohol-free toners and gentle moisturizers on your skin. 
  • Wear sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) when you are outside to protect your skin. 
  • Use makeup that is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic and labeled "for sensitive skin." 
  • Make your skin look softer by using more neutral colors. Avoid yellows and greens and stronger frosted colors such as dark purple or blue. 
  • Use opaque nail polish shades and acetone-free nail polish removers. Try to avoid artificial nails.
  • Recreate or fill-in thinning eyebrows by using an eyebrow pencil that matches your hair color. 

Hair, Wigs and Headwraps 

  • Save a lock of your hair from different areas of your head. This enables you to match the color if you decide to get a wig. 
  • Protect your scalp and hair when you are out in the sun. Some shampoos and styling products now contain sunscreens to aid in this protection. 
  • The most affordable type of wig is synthetic. It is also comfortable and easy to take care of. Natural hair wigs, which are more expensive, are also an option. Please keep in mind, wigs require the same amount of care that natural hair does. 
  • A 26 or 28 inch square scarf makes a good headwrap. Check out the remnants counter at your local fabric store. A square piece up to 48 inches can work well and makes an instant scarf.

"Focus on Healing Through Movement and Dance" Update

From February through June of this year, the Seattle Breast Center hosted a unique program of exercise and movement for breast cancer survivors and people affected by chronic fatigue called "Focus on Healing through Movement and Dance."

The classes are coordinated by Seattle resident Sherry Lebed Davis --the program founder, a professional dancer and a breast cancer survivor. Ms. Davis and her brothers (both surgeons) developed the program as a result of their own mother's breast cancer surgery. Their mother, a professional dancer also, was unable to move her arms well and became depressed at the prospect of not being able to dance again.

Sherry and her brothers developed a set of exercises done to music that were easy to do and more fun than the traditional stretches and reaches recommended. The uniqueness of the experience proved to reach beyond the classes, as women took away a new set of fun exercises that they could do in their own homes.

During the most recent sessions, held at Northwest Hospital and taught by instructor Susan Picatti-McLean, participants in the exercise class were taught how to increase their range of motion, reduce the risk of swelling, improve their self-image, have fun and feel better!

"I enjoyed the classes," said Janet Martin, class participant. "The best part was being in a class with other women in the same situation."

Plans are currently in the works to bring back the program this Fall. Please watch for news in upcoming issues of MED-INFO or check our web site at www.nwhospital.org for updates.

Three Essential Tips for Good Breast Health

For women age 40 and older, the American Cancer Society and the Seattle Breast Center at Northwest Hospital recommend the following three-step breast health program:

1. Clinical Examinations

For women under 40, an annual clinical examination is the most significant tool for fighting breast cancer. A primary care provider or a women's health care provider does the clinic breast exam. Women age 20-40 should have a clinical breast exam every three years, and women over the age of 40 should have one annually. During the exam, the provider must look at the breasts to determine whether there is any change in size or shape and any dimpling or discoloration of the skin. The provider will also palpate the breasts, chest and armpits searching for any lumps.

2. Monthly Breast Self-Exams

A monthly breast self-exam is a tool women of all ages should use to detect breast cancer early.

How to Do a Breast Self-Exam

There are two main components to the breast self-exam - visual inspection and palpation.

How to do the visual inspection:

  1. Stand facing a mirror. With your arms down at your sides, turn side to side. Inspect both breasts for any changes in the skin or nipples. 
  2. Raise you hands above your head and turn side to side while watching closely in the mirror and inspect each breast. 
  3. Place hands palm to palm and press together so that you can feel your chest muscles tighten. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts. 
  4. Next, with your hands firmly on your hips, bow slightly toward the mirror as you pull your shoulders and elbows forward. Again, look for changes in the shape or contour.

How to do palpation, lying down:

To be effective, palpation must be done both lying down and standing up. When palpating, you are feeling for a lump that stands out, one you've never felt before. If you find a new lump or change in your breast, call your health care provider for a clinical breast exam.

  1. Lie flat on your back with your left arm raised over your head and a pillow or folded towel under your left shoulder. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to examine.
  2. Use the pads of your middle three fingers of your right hand to explore your left breast. Firmly roll the breast tissue between your fingers and ribs. Using lotion may help your fingers glide more easily.
  3. Using either the circular, vertical or wedge examination method, palpate outward from the nipple. Choose the method with which you are most comfortable and use it consistently each month.
  4. Repeat first three steps on right breast.

How to do palpation, standing:

  1. Use either the vertical, circular or wedge examination method on your left breast while in a standing position. 
  2. Repeat examination on your right breast.

Images demonstrating how to perform a self-exam can be located on the Northwest Hospital web site at www.nwhospital.org.

3. Mammograms 

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer (first degree relative or more than one second degree relative) should begin mammography screening before the age of 40 and seek a detailed risk assessment and care management plan.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts. It is the single best method for early detection of breast cancer while the disease is at its most curable stage. A mammogram takes just a few minutes and can detect breast cancer early, before it can be discovered through palpation (touch).

In mammography, images are taken of each breast. In order to get the most detailed image, while also diminishing the amount of direct x-ray exposure, the breast tissue must be compressed. This is accomplished by compressing each breast between two plastic plates for a few seconds. For most women, this is not an uncomfortable process. Some mild discomfort may be experienced when a woman's breasts are sensitive. This can be minimized by scheduling the mammogram just after the menstrual period ends, and by avoiding caffeinated foods and beverages one to two weeks prior to the examination.

Mammograms are performed on specialized equipment, allowing extremely low radiation exposure. The theoretical health risk from radiation is considerably less than the odds of developing breast cancer over your lifetime.

In order to maximize the Seattle Breast Center's ability to detect breast cancer, all mammograms are read individually by two radiologists. If the mammogram reveals a lump or lesion in the breast, the next step is further analysis through more specialized imaging and/or ultrasound. A biopsy may then be performed for further diagnosis, if necessary.

Thanks to Our Partners

Thanks to the generous support of these companies, Northwest Hospital's Seattle Breast Center and KOMO ABC 4 are able to inform women about breast cancer to help save lives.


Three community services of Northwest Hospital: 

www.seattlebreastcenter.org 

a great source for breast cancer information and

 1-800-MED-INFO (633-4636) 

for physician referral or to speak to a nurse.

 Interpreter/Translation Services Available.
 

Cancer Support Groups

All support groups hosted by Northwest Hospital are offered free of charge. Donations in support of administrative costs are appreciated.

Breast Cancer Support Group, a group for women during their diagnosis, treatment and recovery phases of breast cancer. For more information, call Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Liz White, RN at 206- 368-1299.

A Healing Place, a group for women facing advanced breast cancer. Call Elizabeth Landrum, Ph.D. at 425-778-8775 for a brief interview prior to joining.

Conquering Cancer Forums (for patients, their family, and friends), education and support forums with education offerings on the first Tuesday and discussion group on the third Tuesday of every month. All educational and support forums are held in the Transitional Care Unit Auditorium, Northwest Hospital Campus. For more information on the forums, please call 206-368-1606.

For more information about support groups at Northwest Hospital, call 206-368-1606 or visit our web site at www.nwhospital.org.

 
Seattle Breast Center Selected as Safeway Charity of Choice  

Safeway stores has selected the Seattle Breast Center as a Charity of Choice for July 1999. The campaign, which includes fundraising canisters at Safeway store check-out counters, will be running in Washington, Montana, Idaho and Alaska. 

All funds that are raised through the generous support of Safeway customers are returned to the community they are raised in, and used to edcuate women about early detection of breast cancer and continue to provide state-of-the-art technology and services for each community.



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