Thoughts about October and "Breast Cancer Awareness"

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So I had this big idea that I would write something about breast cancer and my diagnosis every day in October. We are nearing the end of the month and I haven't written anything. I found myself stuck as soon as this place to write was created. I had so many thoughts. Where to start. What to write. How personal. What was I thinking. It's a big deal apparently. Since I tend to like to do things easily the hard way, I've come to a place where I can start. After all, I have to start somewhere and it can be a small start.

Like many people living with or having experienced breast cancer treatment, I have come to dislike the pink messaging that happens in October. "Breast cancer awareness" has been presented with sexy pink messaging. Marketers use pink ribbons and pink products to make money off this deadly disease. They say they are donating to breast cancer "causes". Generally only a very small fraction of the profits they make go to any legitimate breast cancer research or program. They just get richer. For more information check this documentary Pink Ribbons Inc

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. 1 in 3 of those will be or become metastatic. Only 5% of funds raised for breast cancer goes to research on metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We are aware. We need better research and treatments. A cure would be nice.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2019. I knew what it was as soon as I discovered the mass. This lead me on a year long journey of intense and harsh treatments. I am still taking medications. Breast cancer is not pink or fluffy. It is most definitely not sexy.

My plan is to share some of my journey with breast cancer. Feel free to ask questions. I'll answer as best I can.

This isn't my shirt. :) (one day I'll get this)

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Waterfall said:
A digital mammogram will tell you what your breast category is for density, every woman who has dense breasts should know this.
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Why? Why bother with the extra radiation? When breast cancer was a possible reason for the 'metastatic cancer' they just sent me for an ultrasound due to my age.
 
ChemGal said:
Why? Why bother with the extra radiation? When breast cancer was a possible reason for the 'metastatic cancer' they just sent me for an ultrasound due to my age.
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I cant answer for your doctors reasons you should talk to him/her.
Ultrasound can be used for dense breasts or to find out if a cyst is fluid filled or a solid tumor, but I'm reading it shouldnt be used as a substitute for a mammogram because it may miss some early signs of cancer.
 
It is interesting people are talking about family history and breast cancer. Hereditary cancer is only one factor and might not be the most important. Of course it's important if your family has a lot of cancer. It's not though, a reason to believe you are safe if you don't have a family history of cancer.

One thing I've come to believe through this is that there is a lot of crap shoot involved. Sure, there are various risk factors. I know I have some. I have been part of mostly FB support groups through this. They have been remarkably helpful. They have similarities to in person groups in that you get a variety of women with different stories and sometimes different levels of credibility. I've learned about the women like @chansen described - fit, healthy, eating well, etc who are diagnosed. I've learned of women on the other end of the spectrum and everything in between.

Ultrasound is one diagnostic tool for discovering breast cancer. There are times when it will be the first imaging done. It will give information that will help doctors decide if more tests are needed.
 
Waterfall said:
I cant answer for your doctors reasons you should talk to him/her.
Ultrasound can be used for dense breasts or to find out if a cyst is fluid filled or a solid tumor, but I'm reading it shouldnt be used as a substitute for a mammogram because it may miss some early signs of cancer.
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I agree, it's not a substitute for a mammogram, but a mammogram also isn't a substitute for an ultrasound, there are different situations where they are used.

What I am asking you is why you think all women should know if their breasts are dense or not. Being exposed to radiation simply to find that out doesn't seem to have a great reward:risk payoff.
 
My experiences with breast cancer seem to be similar to other cancers. It is random sometimes, and unpredictable in some cases. My partner's cousin died of what started as breast cancer while she had four school age kids. When diagnosed it had spread to many sites and she chose - "keep me reasonably comfortable as long as is practical and then let me die". She didn't want her last months with her family to be spent in hospitals and taking treatments that weren't going to fix the problem.
Interestingly her two brothers both died of prostate cancer that they chose to not medicate beyond pain killers.
I had a suspicious mammogram, further testing and a biopsy and was declared breast cancer free some years back.
 
ChemGal said:
I agree, it's not a substitute for a mammogram, but a mammogram also isn't a substitute for an ultrasound, there are different situations where they are used.

What I am asking you is why you think all women should know if their breasts are dense or not. Being exposed to radiation simply to find that out doesn't seem to have a great reward:risk payoff.
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I'm saying if you've found out you have dense breasts, you should know what category they fall under.
 
Waterfall said:
I'm saying if you've found out you have dense breasts, you should know what category they fall under.
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Yeah, I think women who have had a mammogram in general should know which denseness category they fall into.
 
ChemGal said:
Yeah, I think women who have had a mammogram in general should know which denseness category they fall into.
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In some Canadian jurisdictions it's very rare the doctor tells the patient their breast density category because it's not required unless the patient asks, although that has changed since 2019 in some provinces. Do you know yours?

Edit:Had to change some info as some info from 2019.
 
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Waterfall said:
In most Canadian jurisdictions it's very rare the doctor tells the patient their breast density category unless the patient asks. Do you know yours?
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No, I haven't had a mammogram. I think women should be informed though, unless they really do not want to know (can be an issue for some with an anxiety disorder). In general, I am against keeping medical information away from people. I really think it was access to my results that saved me from ending up with something like a ruptured tumour (life threatening).
 
Waterfall said:
Scroll down to where it says, How To Find Your Breast Density.
It will tell you what is currently done in each province.

densebreastscanada.ca

Home | Dense Breasts Canada | Your Breast Health Matters.

Dense breasts can decrease the effectiveness of mammography and increase your risk for breast cancer. Learn how you can minimize your risk.
densebreastscanada.ca densebreastscanada.ca
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It's automatically give here which is good to see. Not sure when I personally would go though. I would have additional risks from a mammogram, will have to discuss options at some point. Now isn't the time.
 
Thank you Northwind for sharing your knowledge and experience with us here - not always easy to do. I too am no fan of the 'pink washing' and really think we need to be focusing more research money on prevention measures.

I have a few friends who have had breast cancer - one in her 40s, and two in their 50s, a neighbour in her 60s when diagnosed. In all four cases the women themselves discovered the existance of breast abnormality & went to the doc for investigation. So we do need to be alert for changes in our bodies & not over-reliant on technology or tests. Three were luckily in earlier stages, but one was stage 4. She had aggressive treatment & here we are about 25 years later - but in the past year or so she has been experiencing a likely recurrence or 'continuance' as she apty states.

And my brother-in-law has recently been treated for breast cancer too. I guess he's in that 1% that Northwind mentioned.
 
Carolla said:
I too am no fan of the 'pink washing' and really think we need to be focusing more research money on prevention measures.
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While that would be good, putting more money into research for treatment of metastatic breast cancer would have a bigger impact. Only 5% of money raised goes there. MBC is what kills.

Carolla said:
hree were luckily in earlier stages, but one was stage 4. She had aggressive treatment & here we are about 25 years later - but in the past year or so she has been experiencing a likely recurrence or 'continuance'
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Stage 4 for 25 years? That's awesome.
 
Thanks for sharing Northwind. One of the reasons I haven’t responded is I find I’m scared of this topic. Feels like political and social and economic pressures are already trying to do me in when I’m not sick with a serious illness - I’m trying to do my part to help stop this legal/ systemic exploitation of those who are not dying and need help, without much support for myself - and fear I wouldn’t be able to handle finding out that I was really sick, or keep that other necessary fight going. So I’ve stayed pretty single issue focused.

But this isn’t about me it’s about you. That’s why I’ve stayed quiet. Just so you know, I appreciate you. I value you.
 
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Kimmio Laughterlove said:
Thanks for sharing Northwind. One of the reasons I haven’t responded is I find I’m scared of this topic. Feels like political and social and economic pressures are already trying to do me in when I’m not sick with a serious illness - I’m trying to do my part to help stop this legal/ systemic exploitation of those who are not dying and need help, without much support for myself - and fear I wouldn’t be able to handle finding out that I was really sick, or keep that other necessary fight going. So I’ve stayed pretty single issue focused.

But this isn’t about me it’s about you. That’s why I’ve stayed quiet. Just so you know, I appreciate you. I value you.
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It is mental illness ... those that don't get the concept believe that all "others" are insane about wealth ... claimed to be commonwealth ... but perhaps a misnomer to advertise the lies ... so a few could collect the vaster benefits! Expect equalization to fail as a mass doesn't do their part ... administering Eire? Said to be a touché ... a bad topic ... nonetheless golden?

Is money diabolical or just the devil to understand its function adequately for the greater good? Individualism comes in as independence daze ... it struck DJT a great blow ... and he is stunned by the effect! Read intuit ... the closed circle thing ...
 
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