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The Real "Survivors": Breast Cancer Consciousness
by Joann Natalia Aquino

"...We are in this fight together. Hope continues to grow. Hope never fades."

One does not have to endure the wilderness of the Australian outback to be called a "survivor." Nonetheless, the real "survivors" are truly the individuals and their families that challenged diseases, such as breast cancer, and overcame the obstacles together.

Breast cancer does affect the Filipina/Asian and Pacific Islander community. It affects me, and it also affects you, one way or another. As individuals, we were probably touched and transformed with the issue of cancer, either from our own experience, our family, close friends, and/or other loved-ones. Nevertheless, it is a disease that people can survive and have survived in the past, and we have women and men in our community who can tell you their own personal testimony and how they fought to live.

Breast cancer is characterized as a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. According to American Cancer Society, it is estimated that nearly 175,000 women and 1,300 men in America are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. Additionally, based on the reports from World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide each year. Regardless of a person's ethnic background and age, all women (and also men) are at risk for developing breast cancer. Statistics show that breast cancer is the most common and the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer.) On the contrary, the fatality rate from breast cancer has decreased in recent years due to a broadened emphasis on early detection, education, awareness, and effective treatment.

There are some common myths, misconceptions, and false reports about breast cancer. To uncover a few of these tales: it is true that both women and men can get breast cancer, not only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk, breast cancer is not primarily a genetic disease, older women are not more likely to get breast cancer than younger women, a mammogram does not prevent cancer, breast cancer is not contagious, flat-chested women can get breast cancer, drinking coffee cannot increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, breast feeding does not cause breast cancer, oral contraceptives do not promote cancer, and in spite of the forwarded e-mail messages around, antiperspirants/ deodorants have not been scientifically proven to generate breast cancer.

Medical practitioners and scientists are still not certain about how breast cancer actually originates. Consequently, there are no general guidelines that women can follow to prevent this disease. The American Cancer Society indicates that while a family history of breast cancer can sometimes imply that a woman is at higher than average risk of developing breast cancer, more than 80% of the women diagnosed have no identified risk factors for this disease. However, researchers have classified several contributing dynamics, some "controllable" and others "uncontrollable" that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Some commonly accepted risk factors for breast cancer are age, genetics, family history, previous breast biopsy showing benign conditions, menstruation beginning at an early age, menstruation continuing past the age 50, not having children, and mutation of the genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2). Other aspects such as nutrition, obesity and weight, and also a woman's childbearing age (having a first child after the age 30 has higher risk), may be "controlled" to help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumptions have also been linked to higher occurrence of breast cancer in women.

Early detection and sufficient treatment may be the key to survival. Breast self-exams (BSE), clinical breast-exams (CBE), and screening mammography are essential in recognizing breast cancer at an early stage, when the chances for successful treatment and survival are the greatest. While a mammogram cannot prevent breast cancer, it is an excellent and quite accurate tool to screen and detect the disease at a premature stage. Mammography detects about 85%- 90% of all breast cancers. While the annual screening of mammograms will determine the vast majority of breast cancer, some cancers are extremely aggressive and can spread to other areas of the body before they are detected by mammogram. Generally, breast cancer has a slow growth rate. It may take 6-8 years for breast cancer to develop from one cell to grow to the size of one centimeter. This extensive growth period allows adequate time for aggressive cancers to spread into blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and beyond the breast.

Beginning at age 20, every woman should exercise monthly breast self-exams (BSE). As a woman ages, her risk of breast cancer also increases. Additionally, women 20-39 years of age should also have a clinical breast exam (CBE) at least every 3 years. Women 40 years and older should also practice obtaining monthly BSE, have CBE performed by a medical practitioner, and have an annual mammogram. However, women who are at high-risk of breast cancer, or individuals whose mother/sister (first-degree) have/have had breast cancer should consult their physician about starting their yearly mammograms 10 years prior to the age of diagnosis of their relative (may be as early as 25 years old.)

We remain hopeful for the future generation. According to American Cancer Society, there are currently many new investigations in prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. Scientists, researchers, and medical practitioners are presently administering tests, evaluations, and studies on topics such as comparing the effectiveness of certain medications in reducing breast cancer incidence in post-menopausal women at high-risk, new screening technologies, chemotherapeutic agents which are believed to be more effective and less toxic than the current treatment, immunotheraphy are also being tested to determine if they can help a woman's immune system to recognize and attack breast cancer cells more effectively, and also the development of new medications which may stop cancer growth and spread by preventing the formation of blood vessels.

There are also new investigations and analysis in other probable risk factors for breast cancer. For instance, spontaneous and induced abortions, silicone breast implants, the continuous investigation of the relationship of breast cancer risk and nutrition, and studies on the conflicting information on breast cancer risk and pesticide exposure, are currently examined as other breast cancer risk agents.

Information is available on the internet. Websites include: American Cancer Society www.cancer.org, Susan G. Komen Foundation www.komen.org, Natl. Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion www.cdc.gov/cancer, and Natl. Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations www.nabco.org.

Linda S., 39 year-old Filipina, a wife, and a mother of 2 young boys, is a walking testimony of a breast cancer survivor. "This experience has changed my life. I stopped seeking the questions that didn't have any answers, and instead I lived each moment to its fullest and celebrated living. I am thankful to be here yet another day, so that I may enjoy the simple pleasures and blessings in life that brings me tremendous joy: my children's laughter and watching them grow, and also having my husband holding my hand along the way. I'm still looking forward to growing old with him. I look forward to watching our children get married and also to witness and take care of my grandchildren. There is hope. My faith keeps me alive and strong. I am determined to survive." Linda stated.

Awareness, education, prevention, early detection, and effective treatment; along with determination, strong will power, and the desire to live, will be the essentials in surviving breast cancer. To the real "survivors" (of cancer and other diseases), your strength, courage, and conviction are deeply admired and well commended. You are not alone; we are in this fight together. Hope continues to grow. Hope never fades.

(Republished with permission from the author and Asian American Journal: International Examiner, article originally published at Asian American Journal: International Examiner on April- May 2001.)

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About the author:: Ms. Joann Natalia Aquino is a freelance professional writer/ journalist, and a Legislative Liaison working on public policy development and legislative affairs for the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs for the State of Washington. In her spare time, she is also an Editor for a few publications (print and online), and is currently writing her first book "The Re-awakening of the Babaylan: Her Story," along with other shelved writing projects, she vows to finish sometime in her lifetime. At the moment, she juggles her time traveling between Seattle and New York, the places she both calls her "home."

To reach the author, please e-mail: joannnatalia@newfilipina.com or editor@newfilipina.com .

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