By Vanessa Cort
CELEBRATED annually in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is devoted to increasing public awareness of the disease and coming up with creative strategies and treatments to combat this debilitating and life-threatening illness.

And this month I am reminded of two friends – sisters – who lost their fight against breast cancer. Their mother died decades earlier of uterine cancer. So, in their case, the words of Professor Helen Krontiras, MD, of the University of Atlanta rang true when she said: “It is important to ask questions about family history because having a family history of breast cancer and some other cancer does increase the risk of cancer.”

Dr. Krontiras, who is the Director of the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at the university’s School of Medicine, urged early screening for those with cancer in their family history, but also pointed out that, “All people who have breasts should participate in breast self-awareness.” This means that men are not immune from the disease, though only about one per cent of breast cancers diagnosed are male.

However, everyone is encouraged to self-examine their breasts and notify a physician of any changes, such as lumps, skin alteration, nipple discharge and even nipple inversion.

Although my friends were able to detect their breast cancer relatively early, the cancer metastasised rapidly. While one sister opted for a double mastectomy (removal of the breasts), the other one was reluctant to do so and even went out of the country for consultations. She, however, succumbed after a period of treatment but lived longer than her sibling with the disease.

I wondered at the older sister’s reluctance to have the mastecomy done, thinking it would be the safer option, until I learned of the shock those with the disease experienced when given the diagnosis, the considerable side effects and the worries about a recurrence.

Recent research also indicates she may have been on the right track as the type of surgery young women with early-stage breast cancer opt for may affect the quality of their lives for many years.

One study suggests that women who choose surgery to remove just the tumour and some healthy tissue nearby, may enjoy a better quality of life than those who had one or both breasts removed.

Laura Dominici, MD, and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, observed that, “…surgical choices that women with breast cancer make can have an impact on their long-term quality of life.” Hence, she urged clinicians to “have conversations” with patients about the various surgical options available to them.

Results from the study show that certain surgical treatments, aimed at breast-conserving, are effective and less risky than having the breasts removed.

Monica Morrow, a surgical oncologist with a practice dedicated to the treatment of breast cancer, pointed out that women with early-stage breast cancer have a low risk of developing cancer in the other breast. She however noted that the majority of women are still choosing mastectomies. She recommended that information on surgical options should be conveyed to women along with, “…the lack of survival benefit and higher risk of surgical complications with mastectomy.”

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, nationally recognised in 1985, the aim was originally to increase early detection of the disease by urging women to have mammograms. Since then it has risen in popularity and more attention is now being paid to this issue.

According to Community Health of Central Washington, “Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide” and the goal of the Month is to “get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support life-saving research and life-changing support.”

The organisation noted that there is currently not enough knowledge on what causes breast cancer so early detection of the disease, “…remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.”

The colour pink has been chosen to represent breast cancer awareness and many choose to wear a pink ribbon pinned to their clothing or perhaps an item in pink.

And as Dr Krontiras summed it up, “Despite excellent treatment options, we want to get to the point where we don’t have to treat cancer – where people don’t get cancer to begin with.”