October is National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
he month of October has been designated National Breast Cancer Awareness month in an attempt to educate the public
on the disease, risk factors, early detection and treatment options. Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the
most common cancer diagnosis in women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately
270,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and 210,000 of these were invasive tumors. For all age groups,
approximately 40,400 women died from the disease last year.
What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is a group of cells in the breast which change from normal tissue to tissue
that grows without control forming a tumor. There are many different types depending on the actual tissue of origin.
Some remain confined which are called in situ cancers, others invade local structures and have a chance of spreading
to lymph nodes or throughout the body which are called invasive cancers.
There are many defined factors which increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Some of these include women
at older ages, a family history or personal history of breast cancer, early age at menarche (a woman’s first
period), late menopause, and obesity. Besides being female (men can also develop breast cancer), a woman’s
age is the most important. Approximately, 13.2% of U.S. women will develop breast cancer throughout their lifetime;
this is equivalent to 1 in 8 women.
There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, but through early detection the treatment is much more successful.
Most breast cancer treatment involves some form of surgery and sometimes a multi-disciplinary approach using surgery,
radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The trend in modern breast surgery is for conservation, i.e., a lumpectomy (a
partial removal of the breast) instead of a complete removal of the breast, i.e., a mastectomy. Some patients will
require a sampling of the lymph nodes draining the breast to evaluate for spread of the tumor. Also, the trend in
modern breast surgery is a less invasive approach via sentinel lymph node biopsy which removes the first lymph node
draining the breast instead of a complete removal of the lymph nodes. In women who opt for a mastectomy, there are
options for reconstruction .
Breast reconstruction has become an important part of the treatment of breast cancer. The options for reconstruction
depend on the cancer treatment which you and your general surgeon select. There are reconstructive options for all
types of breast cancer treatment. The options may depend on whether a woman receives chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy usually does not have an effect on the choices for reconstruction but may affect the timing of the surgery.
On the other hand, radiation therapy does effect reconstructive options and should be fully discussed with your plastic
surgeon beforehand.
It is difficult for many women to deal with the diagnosis of breast cancer. With modern reconstructive techniques,
restoration of the breast to a very natural shape, size, and feel can be accomplished. A consultation with a board
certified plastic surgeon experienced in breast reconstruction can offer a woman several options to restore this
femininity and aid in recovery at this difficult time.
Daniel A. Mullis, M.D., is a general surgeon with Coastal Carolina Surgical Associates, P.A. with offices in Beaufort, Bluffton, Hampton, and Hardeeville. Please contact the office in Hardeeville, (843) 784.8320, for more information about breast screening, surgical options, and their annual free examination to be held on October 17th, 2006.
Brendan E. Smith, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon with Lowcountry Plastic Surgery with offices in Bluffton and Beaufort. He has a special interest in breast surgery including breast reconstruction. Please contact Dr. Smith at (843) 705-8940 for more information on breast surgery including reconstruction.
Armed With Information: My fight against breast cancer
by Carol Ann Coolidge, M.D.
Twenty years of working with patients through medical school, residency, and private practice could not prepare me for the message my doctor was about to deliver.
“You have breast cancer.”
With more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S. every year, I shouldn’t have been
so surprised. But I was. As a plastic surgeon, I had always been on the other side of the physician-patient relationship.
For the first time, I realized I had little control.
The oncologist and surgeon reassured me that the cancer had been caught early. The small lump would be treatable
with a 6-week course of radiation. As I had in medical school, I gathered as much information about breast cancer
treatment, survival rates, and success stories as I possibly could.
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
My theory: arming myself with information and positive thinking would be the first step to beating my cancer. As
with any medical condition, the more you know, the more you feel in control. I wanted to ask the right questions,
understand the answers, and work with the physicians and nurses who would provide my care. It’s advice I would
give ANY woman facing ANY medical challenge.
What diagnostic testing is involved—how long will it take to get the results?
What treatment options are available—are there side effects that I should know about before choosing one over
the other?
What is the treating physician’s experience and success rate?
Should I think about getting a second opinion?
One of the most important things I tell patients of my current practice—is that I want them to have ALL of
their questions answered before we make any decisions on a course of action.
INFORMATION IS POWER!
Whether it’s cancer, diabetes, or heart disease—the Internet has countless options for finding information on a given topic. These websites offer direct, easy-to-understand resources:
www.healthywomen.org Check out “Health Topics A-Z,” info on more than 100 women’s health issues.
www.womenshealth.gov Great resource for official government statistics.
www.komen.org The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s official site includes thorough information for
patients and their families, including online support groups.
PATH TO A HEALTHY FUTURE
The fight with breast cancer zapped every ounce of my energy—more than I anticipated. Now back at work after an 18-month leave of absence, I’m feeling happier and stronger than before. My new schedule now includes fewer work hours, more exercise, as well as regular mammograms and clinical breast exams. I’ll remain vigilant for the rest of my life—watching for lumps, ready to alert my physician if anything changes. Equipped with the tools of information and experience, I will have an easier time asking the right questions—a confident partner in my own future health.
Dr. Carol Ann Coolidge is a board-certified plastic surgeon affiliated with Coastal Carolina
Medical Center. Dr. Coolidge specializes in breast surgery (reconstructive & cosmetic) and body contouring
(liposuction & tummy tucks). For more information about Dr. Coolidge’s practice, please call (843) 208-2808.
