Monday, September 29, 2008

A Different Kind of Breast Cancer

We get hit with cancer this and cancer that it seems every day of the week. So when I was shocked by an email a friend sent me several weeks ago, I thought it'd be a good idea to bring it to everyone's attention.

It about about a different type of breast cancer. It's rare, but I'd never heard of it. It's called inflammatory breast cancer, IBC, and is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there today. There's no lump involved and mammograms don't help with detection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s9_UrVtc6c


And here's more information from the National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/ibc

What's so devastating about this type of cancer is that the symptoms are so wildly different than what we're taught to look for in other forms of breast cancer. The initial indications that something could be wrong are as simple as redness, swelling or warmth in the breast.

So watch the video and then tell your daughters, friends, mothers, and neighbors. Awareness might saves lives.

I'm toying with the idea of doing some type of health service announcements occasionally on my blog days. It's something I'm really interested in and read about a lot. As readers, you guys interested? Yay or nay?

Helen

16 comments:

Cindy Gerard said...

Hey Miss Helen
Great info. I have a vague recollection of hearing about this type of breast cancer - so vague that I never would have been looking for the symptoms had I not viewed the video. Thanks for the heads up. And I like the idea of a health update now and then. We can all benefit for a little more awareness

Playground Monitor said...

I've heard of this too. But thanks for the reminder.

I think the occasional announcement about health would be great. I mean, we women have to look out for each other, don't we? And what better way than nagging... er... reminding about various health issues. Or even stuff about our menfolk would be great -- like making sure they get a PSA test to check for prostate cancer.

Marilyn

Kathleen Eagle said...

Absolutely, Helen. Thanks so much for the link. Sending it on.

Unknown said...

I've been reading more and more about plastics being linked to cancer...and practically every other health problem. They're saying now that babies shouldn't use plastic bottles, so I'm thinking none of us should use plastic anything.

Thanks for the update, Helen. I think we can all use a little medical knowledge now and then.

Unknown said...

Hadn't heard of this kind of BC, Helen. Thanks!

I'm off to learn more about it!

Helen Brenna said...

Oh, the plastics thing is getting a lot of press. The #2 (like milk jugs),4 (plastic wraps and bags) and 5 ( like syrup and yogurt containers) are the healthiest.

Plastic to avoid are 3 (meat wraps),6 (styrofoam) and 7 (baby bottles, 5 gallon water bottled, water cooler bottles, epoxy lining in cans).

Anonymous said...

Well, since I wasn't aware of either of these issues, I'm thinking I could use the health updates... even if no one else could!

Thanks for the info Helen!

Helen Brenna said...

You're more than welcome, Diane!

Keri Ford said...

Cancer is such a scary thing. It's at a high rate in my area and I too am thinking it's somethign to do with plastics. I rarely heat anything in plastic in the microwave and whenever I decided to bring along baby #2, the first thing I'm going look at is glass bottles.

thanks for the headsup.

Helen Brenna said...

Glad to be helpful, Keri.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Is it dangerous to nuke in plastic? How about plastic leftover containers, like Glad?

How about Tupperware?

Oh for the good ol' days when almost everything we drank came in glass bottles.

Although...I've just gotten hooked on "Mad Men." Lots of reminders of the unhealthy habits of the good ol' days, like smoking everywhere. And littering! Watch and cringe.

Fedora said...

Wow, thanks for the info, Helen--I don't think I'd heard much about this before!

Debra Dixon said...

I love health updates with links.

I did know about IBC but I have no problem at all with being reminded about health issues! And I love getting links that may have more up-to-date information than my last update.

Thanks, Helen!

Estella said...

Great idea Helen!

Helen Brenna said...

Kathy, just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't microwave in anything but glass.

Welcome, flchen, Deb, and Estella!

Maybe what I'll do is compile things each month and put a summary up. That might be interesting for everyone.

Melinda said...

My mother is being treated for this type of breast cancer. Hers began as just a discolored area on her nipple, fortunately she had it checked out immediately, but even her Doctor misdiagnosed it as a skin infection at first. She began chemo in January, had a masectomy in April and should finish followup chemo in January.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Save 2nd base!