Breast Cancer Month: Lesbians and Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and since some researchers and health care professionals believe that lesbians may be at greater risk for breast cancer then heterosexual women, I thought it would be appropriate to get some facts out to the lesbian community.

First of all, let me start by saying that just because your a lesbian does not mean that you are automatically at a higher risk for breast cancer.

However, having one or more of the risk factors below might put you in that category. A lesbian without the risk factors is at no greater risk than a heterosexual woman for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors include:

Family History
Women whose mothers, grandmothers or sisters have had breast cancer are two to three times more likely to develop breast cancer. However, greater numbers of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

First childbirth
The risks are higher among women who have never had (and breastfed) a baby or whose first childbirth occurred after the age of thirty.
The risk is reduced by as much as 50 percent for women who have had one child in countries such as the US.

Menstrual history
Early first period (before age 11) and late menopause (after age 52) both increase risk.
DietHigh-fat, low-fiber diet increases the risk of Breast Cancer. The risk also increases with women who are overweight.

Age
Risk increases with age. This disease is rare in women under the age of thirty. Women over fifty make up a larger number of breast cancer cases.

Alcohol
Women who consume two to five alcoholic drinks a day have a higher risk of breast cancer than do non-drinkers. (Research has not shown that lesbians drink more than the general population, however, they do have a greater history of problems with alcohol.)

Smoking
Research has shown that women who smoke have a 30% higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who have never smoked. Research has also shown that 25% of lesbians said they were smokers compared to 19% of heterosexual women in a 2007 Harris Interactive survey.

Genetic Alterations
Specific alterations in certain genes, such as those in the breast cancer genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2), make women more susceptible to breast cancer.

Hormone Replacement Therapy
Recent evidence suggests that menopausal women who have long-term exposure (greater than 10 years) to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Socio-economic Factors
In the United States, white women from upper-socioeconomic classes living in urban areas are more at risk for breast cancer than other women, for reasons researchers do not yet understand.

Environmental Factors
Research has not yet proven whether there are breast cancer risk risks involved in a number of environmental exposures, including radiation, UV rays in sunlight, artificial sweeteners, pesticides and electromagnetic fields that surround electronic devices like microwave ovens and cell phones.

Health Care
Another issue that lead researchers to believe that Lesbians are at a higher risk is due to the fact that lesbians are less likely to seek routine health care because of the discomfort of coming out to their health care providers and less access to health insurance. With fewer doctor visits, lesbian are less likely to have mammograms and professional breast exams. Studies also show that lesbian women are less likely to perform breast self-exam regularly. For these reasons, lesbians women may be less likely to have cancers detected at earlier, more treatable, stages.

Click here for related posts: 

LEADING VOICE ON CANCER IN THE SAME GENDER LOVING COMMUNITY PASSES

BREAST CANCER MONTH: A JAMAICAN LESBIAN’S SURVIVAL STORY …………….

BREAST CANCER, CANCER AND BLACK WOMEN 2009

CONTINUING BREAST CANCER MONTH POSTS

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER MONTH – MALE BREAST CANCER 2009

Jamaica Cancer Society Page

How to reduce your risk for breast cancer:

http://www.breastcancer.org./

Peace & tolerance

H

Breast Cancer Month: A Jamaican Lesbian's survival story ................

REPOST from GLBTQJA on Wordpress

(WARNING - some photos contained may be unsettling)

On the evening of October 19, 2011 at the now defunct Couture Oasis bar's Open Mic Open Soul Wednesday night discussions series we were asked to invoke the presence of a Jamaican same gender loving breast cancer survivor who from the moment she opened her presentation had all wondering if she was really going through this struggle and complications with this awful disease. The picture of doom and gloom mixed with uncertainty and doubt as often marketed with cancer victims of all sorts was clearly missing from this vibrant soul. Her resilience had audience members in awe and deep appreciation and other stories from the transfixed persons came flying out as well at some points leaving many in the small air conditioned room teary eyed.

   

 "Judy" as I shall call her for purposes of this post is in her late twenties or early thirties from as early as 2010 said she started to notice strange things happening with her right breast and especially at or around the nipple. There were leakages at some points with what appeared to be water and blood as the residue from it and this she thought was maybe she had scratched her nipple area. After seeing this for some time she decided to have a check up done but doing the tests including a mammogram nothing was found , she had repeated tests over time but still there was neither any lumps or any blots on her X-Ray results to indicate there was trouble or via self examination the few times she attempted them. It was not until a new doctor she consulted went further than just the breast itself and focused also by her underarm to her lymph-nodes and realised that her nodes had overgrown onto her breast tissue, it was then she was finally diagnosed on November 26, 2010 after repeated calls from the doctor's office up to her due checkup date that she had Breast carcinoma, For solid tumors, stages I-IV are actually defined in terms of a more detailed staging system called the "TNM" system. N classifies the amount of regional lymph node involvement. It is important to understand that only the lymph nodes draining the area of the primary tumor are considered in this classification. Involvement of distant lymph nodes is considered to be metastatic disease. 

The definition of just which lymph nodes are regional depends on the type of cancer. N0 means no lymph node involvement while N4 means extensive involvement. In general more extensive involvement means some combination of more nodes involved, greater enlargement of the involved nodes, and more distant (But still regional) node involvement. M: Metastasis M is either M0 if there are no metastases or M1 if there are metastases. As with the other system, the exact definitions for T and N are different for each different kind of cancer. As you can see, the TNM system is more precise than the I through IV system and certainly has a lot more categories. The two systems are actually related. The I through IV groupings are actually defined using the TNM system. For example, stage II non-small cell lung cancer means a T1 or T2 primary tumor with N1 lymph node involvement, and no metastases (M0).  

She was kind to provide me with some photos of the courses of treatment she underwent. 

(photos published with permission)

short time after surgery and stitching

 

Herceptin treatment course

day 1 of draining

 

day 2 of draining to remove excess liquid around the area

She took it in strides much to the surprise of her family, close friends and then partner while they in turn had great difficulty emotionally in dealing with the news, many were surprised how she was calm and in control which in the long run made the road to recovery easier for all in knowledge of her illness and drew on her strength. Her mother and father in particular were deeply affected by the news according to her. Surgery was the next move and in preparation for that she dove into attending as much entertainment gigs as possible just weeks before going under the knife then came the faithful day of December 9, 2010 where she underwent her single mastectomy and a new set of problems presented themselves almost from the get go post the breast removal, the LMA - Laryngeal mask airway was apparently absent during the session so she was not fully drained the remaining tissue area where the breast was before leaving the hospital, as in most surgeries of this nature there is the issue of liquid gathering around the area where the tissues were and she had to make repetitive visits to do the drainage procedures with some side effects such as numbness, pain from where the needles were implanted and some lethargy but the nurses and medical team again expressed surprise and some elation at how she took it, she was even considered as a model patient to others who were also doing their own courses of treatment. In April 1, 2011 she commenced chemotherapy as of course one of the first things to go was her hair but one wouldn't recognize that it was the fault of cancer or chemo but more just her natural style. 

Her personality superceeds all other underlined issues  thus helping her to cope. At this point economic factors to navigate the sessions presented themselves as she required 17 injected doses of a particular treatment known as Herceptin HER2 test to determine if your cancer is HER2-positive before taking Herceptin, as benefit has only been shown in patients whose tumors are HER2-positive and there was some concern about other side effects such as the hardening of her veins and repetitive phlebotomy exercises leaving her skin marked and difficult to find new areas to puncture. Worsening of low white blood cell counts to serious and life-threatening levels and associated fever were higher in patients taking Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy when compared with those who received chemotherapy alone. The likelihood that a patient will die from infection was similar among patients who received Herceptin and those who did not.  Herceptin treatment can also result in heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure). The risk and seriousness of these heart problems were highest in people who received both Herceptin and a certain type of chemotherapy (anthracycline). 

Because she was diagnosed with a form of Metastatic Breast Cancer here are some quick facts about the drug/treatment/side effects.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Herceptin has 2 approved uses in metastatic breast cancer:

• Herceptin in combination with the chemotherapy drug Taxol^® (paclitaxel) is approved for the first line treatment of Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer
• Herceptin alone is approved for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer in patients who have received one or more chemotherapy courses for metastatic disease

Taxol is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Some Infusion Reactions include

• Some patients have had serious infusion reactions and lung problems; infusion reactions leading to death have been reported
• Symptoms usually happen during or within 24 hours of taking Herceptin
• Your infusion should be temporarily stopped if you experience shortness of breath or very low blood pressure
• Your doctor should monitor you until these symptoms completely go away
• Your doctor may have you completely stop Herceptin treatment if you have:
  • A severe allergic reaction
  • Swelling
  • Lung problems
  • Swelling of the lungs
  • Severe shortness of breath
• Infusion reaction symptoms consist of:

• Fever and chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain (in some cases at tumor sites)
• Headache

• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Very low blood pressure
• Rash
• Lack of energy and strength

One other issue she faced was her own constant movements during some of her sessions as this can auger negatively for any patient and can lead to punctured or damaged skin that may itch or get infected if not properly monitored. She now does her Herceptin treatment every three weeks and has subsidized the costs through insurance and other state healthcare benefits under the National Health Fund and some help from Jamaica Reach to Recovery. Treatment can run in the millions literally locally as her initial run was budgeted for over $2M. Her type of cancer as you may have gleaned is rare as her family history does not have many persons who have or had the disease, she was alone on this front. 

Four other members of the audience expressed their own stories of losing loved ones and are presently under pain from some sort of cancer, but mostly that of the breast, clearly there are issues of closure for some persons with cancer of any sort. Judy's case however is a testament to survival and proof that strong will and determination can help to overcome the odds, her sister who was present in the discussion paid testament to that as she said she sometimes draws strength from Judy even though it is Judy who is ailing and she still wonders how does she do it?. Applause rang from the audience and commendations as to how she dealt with the whole ordeal and for openly sharing the information the audience ended the session which was followed by the floor opened to poetry. 

Her mother was recently diagnosed with the disease as well unfortunately and other friends have been surrounding her with love and support.

God Bless Judy. 

Peace and tolerance 

 H

October is LGBT History Month, Breast Cancer Awareness & also Coming out day ............

Coming Out Day is an internationally-observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. It is observed by members of the LGBT communities and their supporters (often referred to as "allies") on October 11 every year originally in the US but spreading wordwide, or October 12 in the United Kingdom.

Coming out / being "open"

NCOD founders Rob Eichberg, Ph.D. and Jean O'Leary encouraged all people, of all sexual orientations, to "take your next step" in living openly and powerfully on October 11th.
It is highly encouraged for participants on this day to wear gay pride symbols, such as the pink triangle (gay men), the black triangle (lesbians), the Greek letter lambda, and rainbows in jewelry and on clothing.

History

The day was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary in 1988,acting on behalf of their organizations, The Experience (www.ExperienceYourPower.com) and National Gay Rights Advocates in celebration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights one year earlier, in which 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, United States, for gay and lesbian equality. National Coming Out Day events are aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community among the general populace in an effort to give a familiar face to the LGBT rights movement.

Multi-national observance

In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign manages the event under the National Coming Out Project, offering resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents and children, as well as straight friends and relatives, to promote awareness of LGBT families living honest and open lives. Candace Gingrich became the spokesperson for the day in April 1995.

Despite its name, National Coming Out Day (so called because it originated as an event in the United States) is in fact observed in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Poland and the United Kingdom (in the UK it is celebrated on October 12). As of 2008, the Netherlands also has Coming Out Day on October 11.

For Jamaicans here on the rock that may not be so easy given the sensitivities involved and our active homophobia, one could maybe come out to close family members and friends and hope they keep it close to their chests or if one resides overseas and can literally insulate themselves dependent on the social class they are in as homophobia is far more pronounced in lower socio economic circles.

If you feel you want to observe this day in your life please be cautious and review the information so expertly provided out there.

Also it is LGBT History Month for all of October more posts to come on that in the meantime see the LGBT History tab below this post or go to GLBTQJA Wordpress

CLICK HERE for posts from GLBTQ Jamaica and scroll down.

or HERE for previous entries on Gay Jamaica Watch's blog

Here is an older audio commentary I had done back in the day

 LGBT History Month Jamaica 

It was earlier this year our local diva Diana King came out to the world.

See more here: Diva Diana King Comes Out or HERE where she further spoke to her decision.

Breast Cancer Awareness month is also recognized and here is a post from 2011 where a Jamaican lesbian shared her struggle with the disease and overcoming some of the challenges.

See: Breast Cancer Month: A Jamaican Lesbian’s survival story …………….

also

Male Breast Cancer 

Additional listening on the happenings of the Club Heavens rebirth earlier this year making it the longest serving club until the recent raid by cops supposedly looking for lotto scammers. It is hoped it may reopen soon to continue the tradition of serving wonderful events.

 Club Heavens The Rebirth 12.02.12  

And an old post on some of the historic happenings locally

 LGBT History Month Jamaica 

Peace and tolerance

H

October - LGBT History, Breast Cancer Month & Coming Out Day (Oct 11th)

Coming Out Day is an internationally-observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. It is observed by members of the LGBT communities and their supporters (often referred to as "allies") on October 11 every year, or October 12 in the United Kingdom.


Coming out / being "open"


NCOD founders Rob Eichberg, Ph.D. and Jean O'Leary encouraged all people, of all sexual orientations, to "take your next step" in living openly and powerfully on October 11th.
It is highly encouraged for participants on this day to wear gay pride symbols, such as the pink triangle (gay men), the black triangle (lesbians), the Greek letter lambda, and rainbows in jewelry and on clothing.


History


The day was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary in 1988,acting on behalf of their organizations, The Experience (www.ExperienceYourPower.com) and National Gay Rights Advocates,[citation needed] in celebration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights one year earlier, in which 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, United States, for gay and lesbian equality. National Coming Out Day events are aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community among the general populace in an effort to give a familiar face to the LGBT rights movement.


Multi-national observance

last years montage .........................


In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign manages the event under the National Coming Out Project, offering resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents and children, as well as straight friends and relatives, to promote awareness of LGBT families living honest and open lives. Candace Gingrich became the spokesperson for the day in April 1995.


Despite its name, National Coming Out Day (so called because it originated as an event in the United States) is in fact observed in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Poland and the United Kingdom (in the UK it is celebrated on October 12). As of 2008, the Netherlands also has Coming Out Day on October 11.

For Jamaicans here on the rock that may not be so easy given the sensitivities involved and our active homophobia, one could maybe come out to close family members and friends and hope they keep it close to their chests.

If you feel you want to observe this day in your life please be cautious and review the information so expertly provided by my friend over at Gay Jamaicans United's Page

Also it is LGBT History Month for all of October more posts to come on that in the meantime see the LGBT History tab below this post or go HERE from GLBTQJA Wordpress

CLICK HERE for posts from GLBTQ Jamaica

or HERE for previous entries on this blog

 LGBT History Month Jamaica by glbtqja5 

Peace and tolerance


H

'Jamaica Lacks Breast-Cancer Screening Policy'

THE ABSENCE of a national policy on breast-cancer screening is hampering the island's fight against the disease, say officials at the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS).

Speaking at a symposium at the Mona Visitors' Lodge yesterday, Carol Blair, administrative director at the JCS, said although her organisation had recorded increasing numbers of women being screened for the disease, the drafting of an official, cohesive policy on breastcancer screening would be a game changer.

The Cancer Society facilitated 8,000 screenings in 2009, a 33.3 per cent improvement on the 6,000 who underwent testing in 2008.

Dr Deria Cornwall, president of the Jamaica Association of Radiologists, said nations like the United Kingdom have had an official policy as the fulcrum of its programmes for years, and argued that the war against breast cancer in Jamaica was compromised because women have not been engaged on a national level.

"We need a national breast-cancer screening service that invites women, when they reach a certain age, to come in and be screened," Cornwall said.

"In the UK, when women are born, they enter a national system, they are sensitised from an early age."

She also criticised the one-size-fits-all model suggested by a report from the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a group that focuses on mitigating diseases.

The task force's report has recommended that breast-cancer testing start at 50 years old, but Cornwall said Jamaican women, who are mainly of African descent, are more susceptible to earlier cases of breast cancer.

Said she: "Black women, due to genetic and other unknown factors, are more likely to develop breast cancer at an earlier age, as well as to get a triple negative cancer."

Triple negative cancer case is a particularly highly developed cancer stage which often leads to death.

The island's earliest report of breast cancer is 18 years old. There have also been reports of women as young as 23 developing the disease.

"So many of the reasons black women develop breast cancer early is unknown, which is why we need to promote early screening and this needs to be facilitated through a programme not only for Jamaica, but for the rest of the Caribbean," she said.

The JCS has been operating primarily on the kindness of corporate Jamaica, membership fees, volunteers and other private sponsors.

According to Blair, the Cancer Society's mobile screening programme is being threatened by a dwindling funding pool.

"We want to go on the road and take the screening to women in the rural communities but we are not able to help enough women due to resource limitations," said Blair.

patrina.pink@gleanerjm.com

Improved Diagnosis & Detection Of Breast Cancer

X-Ray and Diagnostic Ultrasound Consultants (XDUCL) recently launched a new weapon in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer - The Dilon 6800 which allows for Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI).

"We have been aware of the limitations of mammography and have been looking for an alternative for a while," noted Dr Winston Clarke, consultant radiologist at XDUCL at the launch at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel recently.

Mammographies miss approximately 15 per cent of breast cancer. BSGI is a procedure which differentiates between cancerous and non-cancerous cells using an image similar to an MRI. Mammograms, on the other hand, are X-rays which reflect tissue densities.

Not a replacement
The diagnostic test is not meant to be a replacement for mammograms, but is ideal when mammograms are inconclusive and further evaluation is needed. It is particularly useful for patients with dense breast tissue, implants, multiple suspicious lesions, clusters or micro-calcifications, palpable lesions not detected by mammography or ultrasound or post-surgical/post-therapeutic masses. It is also useful for those who have taken hormone replacement therapy.

"You can never undermine the value of a negative result," said Professor Douglas Kieper, director of clinical research and education at Dilon Technologies. He explained that women who get inconclusive results often worry about that grey area and this technology helps to clarify that.

It is also useful for surgery and treatment options, so it is recommended for persons with a breast cancer diagnosis before they get treatment.

45-minute procedure
The procedure lasts between 45 minutes to an hour and is said to be more comfortable than a mammogram as less pressure is required to stabilise the breasts. A small dose of radioactive isotope, which acts as a tracing agent, is injected in the breasts. Once the cells absorb this, they emit gamma rays which are detected and translated into a digital image of the breast using the machine.

Because cancerous cells have a higher level of metabolic activity, they will emit a greater amount of isotope than other tissues.

The procedure costs approximately $40-$45,000 per treatment. Dr Clarke noted that one of the company's challenges is that everything used in the process is imported so that contributes to the cost. He explained that they are waiting for indications from insurance companies that they will cover it.

According to the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester, 433 breast cancer cases (men and women) were reported in public hospitals in 2007 and 454 in 2008.

Lesbians and Breast Cancer ....

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and since some researchers and health care professionals believe that lesbians may be at greater risk for breast cancer then heterosexual women, I thought it would be appropriate to get some facts out to the lesbian community.

First of all, let me start by saying that just because your a lesbian does not mean that you are automatically at a higher risk for breast cancer.

However, having one or more of the risk factors below might put you in that catagory. A lesbian without the risk factors is at no greater risk than a heterosexual woman for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors include:Family History

Women whose mothers, grandmothers or sisters have had breast cancer are two to three times more likely to develop breast cancer. However, 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

First childbirth

The risks are higher among women who have never had (and breastfed) a baby or whose first childbirth occurred after the age of thirty.

The risk is reduced by as much as 50 percent for women who have had one child.

Menstrual history

Early first period (before age 11) and late menopause (after age 52) both increase risk.
DietHigh-fat, low-fiber diet increases the risk of Breast Cancer. The risk also increases with women who are overweight. (Nearly 30 percent of lesbians are obese, compared to 20 percent for women overall.)

Age

Risk increases with age. This disease is rare in women under the age of thirty. Women over fifty make up 77% of breast cancer cases.

Alcohol

Women who consume two to five alcoholic drinks a day have a higher risk of breast cancer than do non-drinkers. (Research has not shown that lesbians drink more than the general population, however, they do have a greater history of problems with alcohol.)

Smoking

Research has shown that women who smoke have a 30% higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who have never smoked. Research has also shown that 25% of lesbians said they were smokers compared to 19% of heterosexual women in a 2007 Harris Interactive survey.

Genetic Alterations

Specific alterations in certain genes, such as those in the breast cancer genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2), make women more susceptible to breast cancer.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Recent evidence suggests that menopausal women who have long-term exposure (greater than 10 years) to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Socioeconomic Factors

In the United States, white women from upper-socioeconomic classes living in urban areas are more at risk for breast cancer than other women, for reasons researchers do not yet understand.

Environmental Factors

Research has not yet proven whether there are breast cancer risk risks involved in a number of environmental exposures, including radiation, UV rays in sunlight, artificial sweeteners, pesticides and electromagnetic fields that surround electronic devices like microwave ovens and cell phones.

Health Care

Another issue that lead researchers to believe that Lesbians are at a higher risk is due to the fact that lesbians are less likely to seek routine health care because of the discomfort of coming out to their health care providers and less access to health insurance. With fewer doctor visits, lesbian are less likely to have mammograms and professional breast exams. Studies also show that lesbian women are less likely to perform breast self-exam regularly. For these reasons, lesbians women may be less likely to have cancers detected at earlier, more treatable, stages.

Click here for: How to reduce your risk for breast cancer:

http://www.breastcancer.org./

Low sex drive? It could be a hormone thing

Dr Jacqueline E. Campbell

HORMONE levels may begin to change in your 30s, as you enter perimenopause, the interval in which your body begins its transition into menopause. In the years leading up to menopause, small hormonal imbalances can exist, so by the time menopause begins, you may have already experienced close to 20 years of hormonal imbalance.

Perimenopause and menopause hormone imbalance can be marked by a variety of symptoms — weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, anxiety, depression, foggy thinking, memory changes, headaches, menstrual irregularities, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, dry skin, and fatigue.

These symptoms of hormone imbalance are caused primarily by an incorrect relationship between the two main female hormones — progesterone and oestrogen — in the body. They, along with other hormones, DHEA and testosterone, exist in a delicate balance, each performing a unique biological function. Variations in that balance can have a dramatic effect on your health, resulting in symptoms of hormone imbalance. The amounts of these hormones produced by your body can vary depending on factors such as stress, nutrition, exercise and ovulation.

When the balance between oestrogen and progesterone is thrown off in favour of oestrogen, a woman may become "oestrogen dominant". This condition is associated with a number of conditions, including endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovaries, and breast cancer. Oestrogen dominance can occur in any woman, but perimenopausal women, who typically experience a more rapid decline in progesterone than in oestrogen, are especially at risk.

Lifestyle changes

Your lifestyle has a direct effect on your hormones. Your health and hormones can be balanced through lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, exercising on a regular basis, getting adequate sleep, reducing stress and when necessary, using hormone replacement therapy.

Nutrition

Food is fuel for your body. If you eat junk, you cannot expect your body to operate normally. As you age, you may notice that you just cannot eat the way you used to without feeling bloated or gaining weight. Excess calories will get stored as fat -- literally "from the lips to the hips and belly". Your diet should include soybeans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables which contain natural phytoestrogens (plant-based oestrogens) , healthy proteins and small amounts of carbohydrates.

Exercise

Exercise is part of the complete and total package for good health. Regular physical exercise increases your metabolic rate, burns calories and improves fitness. Exercise reduces your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, breast cancer, osteoarthritis, and depression.

Sleep

At night during sleep, hormones rebalance. Sleep problems can affect women at different times, but are especially common in the perimenopausal and menopausal periods. Stress, anxiety, depression, medications, and hormone imbalances can cause sleep disturbances.

Stress management

Manage stress. High stress levels increase the production of cortisol -- a stress hormone -- affecting other hormones and throwing them off balance.

Bioidentical hormones

Women should begin to monitor and, if necessary, correct hormone imbalances long before menopause, when there is still time to restore youthful hormone levels. Among younger women, it may be possible to balance oestrogen and progesterone levels with natural hormones, such as phytoestrogens. Menopausal and postmenopausal women who have dramatically reduced levels of hormones, may find it necessary to use specially formulated hormones that are bioidentical and supplied in approximately the same ratio found in the body. These bioidentical hormones are manufactured in a laboratory by using different types of plants and they have the same molecular structure as hormones made by the body. They are often used in conjunction with supplements that have been shown to reduce the side effects of menopause. Any type of hormone replacement therapy needs to be tailored to your needs as what worked for your friend may not work for you.

Every aspect of your lifestyle can affect hormone balance and just as importantly, hormone balance can profoundly influence every aspect of your life. Restoring hormone balance can be the key to feeling your best and alleviating health problems.

Dr Jacqueline E Campbell is a family physician and the author of the book A Patient's Duide to the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.

Tips for breast cancer prevention

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/ nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services.

We are convinced that genetics play a significant role in breast cancer risk but there is also evidence that risk is impacted by factors such as food and nutrition and physical activity. A report published by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund on food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer provides some recommendations for cancer prevention based on a meta-analysis of existing research.

The recommendations are:

1. Be as lean as possible. Body fat should be maintained at the lower end of body mass index or BMI for age throughout childhood and adolescence and within the normal range after age 21. Weight gain and increase in waist circumference should be avoided in adulthood.

2. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods. Avoid sugary drinks and consume soft drinks sparingly.

3. Eat mostly foods of plant origin. Eat at least five portions/servings (that is, at least 400 g or 14 oz) of a variety of non-starchy vegetables and fruits every day. Eat relatively unprocessed cereals (grains) and/or pulses (legumes) with every meal. Limit refined starchy foods. People who consume starchy roots or tubers as staples should eat enough non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and pulses (legumes).

4. Limit the intake of red meats and avoid processed meats. People who eat red meat should consume less than 500 g 

(18 oz) a week and very little of it, if any, should be processed.

5. Limit alcoholic drinks. If alcoholic drinks are consumed, limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.

6. Limit consumption of salts and avoid mouldy cereals and legumes. Avoid salt-preserved, salted or salty foods and preserve foods without using salt. Limit consumption of processed foods with added salt to help control salt intake to less than 6g (2.4g sodium) a day. Do not eat mouldy cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes).

7. Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone. Dietary supplements are not recommended for cancer prevention.

8. Aim to breastfeed infants exclusively up to six months.

9. Be physically active every day. Moderate physical activity, equivalent to brisk walking for at least 30 minutes every day is recommended. As fitness improves, aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate activity, or for 30 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity every day. Limit sedentary habits such as watching television.

Continuing Breast Cancer Month Posts

Frequently Asked Questions from the Jamaica Cancer Society, visit their website for more useful information.

Here you will find some answers to the most often asked questions relating to cancer and cancer treatment. Hopefully you will find an answer to your question below.
If you do not see your question here or on their website(click image), email JCS at: mail@jamaicacancersociety.org and they will post your question and the answer there. Your privacy will be maintained of course.

Q. What Is A Pap Smear ?

A. The Pap smear, or cervical smear, is an early warning test, which shows whether there are any changes in the cervix, which might develop
into cancer (precancerous changes), as well as detecting cancer of the cervix if it is already present.

Q. What Causes Cervical Cancer ?

A. It is now known that the human papilloma virus (HPV) is found in nearly all cases of cervical cancer and is therefore the primary risk factor.
There are over 100 types of HPV, most of which do not cause cancer, however some HPV are high risk and associated with cervical cancer.

Q. What Are The First Signs Of Cervical Cancer ?

A. The first identifiable symptoms are:
Watery or bloody vagina discharge
Post Coital Bleeding (bleeding after intercourse)
Bleeding between periods or after menopause

Causes of the cancer are linked to sexually transmitted viral infection, such as, genital herpes or human papilloma virus (HPV) that often causes genital warts. Women are likely to develop dysplasia or cervical cancer if they:
had sexual intercourse before 18
had multiple sex partners
had several multiple full term pregnancies
had sexually transmitted diseases
smoke
Most cases of cervical cancer are cured or controlled if caught at an early stage. That is why screening is so important. Every woman over 18 years should have an annual Pap smear.

Q. What Is Chemotherapy ?

A. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The drugs are often called "anticancer" drugs.

Q. What Chemotherapy Achieves ?

A. Depending on the type of cancer and its stage of development, chemotherapy can be used to:

cure cancer
keep the cancer spreading;
slow the cancer’s growth;
relieve symptoms that may be caused by cancer.
Chemotherapy is a very effective cancer treatment. Even when chemotherapy cannot cure the disease, it can help people live longer and more comfortably.

Q. What Causes Side Effects?

A. Because cancer cells grow and divide rapidly, anticancer drugs are made to kill faster growing cells. But certain normal, healthy cells also multiply quickly, and chemotherapy can affect these cells, too. When it does, side effects may result. The fast-growing, normal cells most likely to be affected are blood cells forming in the bone marrow and cells in the digestive tract, reproductive system, and hair follicles. Anticancer drugs can also damage cells of the heart, kidney, bladder, lungs, and nervous system. The most common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and fatigue.
Most normal cells recover quickly when chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually disappear after treatment ends and the healthy cells have a chance to grow normally. The time it takes to get over some side effects and regain energy varies from person to person. How soon you will feel better depends on many factors, including your overall health and the kinds of drugs you have been taking.

While many side effects go away fairly rapidly, certain ones may take months or years to disappear completely. Sometimes, the side effects can last a lifetime, as when chemotherapy causes permanent damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or reproductive organs.
It is important to remember that many people have no long-term problems due to chemotherapy. It is also reassuring to know that doctors are making great progress in preventing some of chemotherapy’s more serious side effects.

Disclaimer
(image and parts of the information herein are owned by the JCS and is no way affilliated with GLBTQ Jamaica or my allies)

How breast-aware are you?

BREAST cancer does not develop overnight. In most cases it's detected by women who notice that something is not right whether through self-examination or because they have taken the time to do a mammogram.

Unfortunately some women are too laid back and remain unaware as they don't take the time to monitor their bodies. Take our quiz to find out which category you fall in.

1. When it comes to Breast Self Exam (BSE) you do that:
a. Once every month
b. Never
c. Maybe twice for the year

2. You think mammograms are:.
a. Very important and ensure you do it once per year
b. For old women
c. You plan on doing it 'sometime in the future'

3. When it comes to informing yourself about the risk of breast cancer you:
a. Read everything you can get your hands on.
b. Figure what's the use? It's not in your family anyway
c. Make a mental note to start researching soon

4. If you looked at your breasts would you would be able to:
a. Detect the slightest change.
b. You couldn't tell if anything was amiss
c. You would need a few more days to tell

5. Do you know the earliest signs of breast cancer?
a. Definitely
b. Don't have a clue
c. Have some vague idea

Scoring

Mostly A's
Congratulations, you are a real health police when it comes on to your body. You are one of those persons who will detect the slightest change and act quickly on it.

Mostly B's
Wake up! You need to be more vigilant about your breasts. You don't want to be caught off guard do you?

Mostly C's
You are on the brink of getting careless about your health...but it's not too late for you. Stop putting off for tomorrow what can be done today.

- Cecelia Campbell-Livingston

Breast cancer, cancer and Black women

In essence women of African ancestry are at a greater disposition to have Breast or other cancers.
Do your examination ladies and see your doctor if you find any unusual lumps or raised areas on or around the breast(s)

Peace

H