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Tips for Preventing or Earlier Finding
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer usually has no symptoms, which makes detecting it early - when it's most treatable - very important. Thankfully, there have been significant advances in detecting and treating breast cancers over the last few decades. There is also greater awareness overall and many more programs to support women before, during and after their treatment.
Still, many women don’t know their family history, what to look for, or when to start breast cancer screenings.
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Breast Cancer by the Numbers
- 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
- Nearly 1 out of 3 cancer cases in women are breast cancer. It’s the most common cancer in women after skin cancer.
- Brest cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death for women, behind lung cancer.
- Nearly 311,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Plus 2,790 cases in males.
- 85% of breast cancers are not tied to a family history of the disease, so early detection is important.
- Breast cancer death rates are 40% higher in Black women compared to white women.
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Finding Breast Cancer Early
To find breast cancer early on, make a plan to keep up with:
- Once yearly breast exams by your doctor
- Mammograms
In the early stages, breast cancer may show no symptoms at all. Mammogram screenings are important as these X-rays can detect tumors and deposits of calcium that cannot be felt.
Among women who find breast cancer early – when it's less likely to have spread beyond the breast tissue to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body – a majority (99%) are alive 5 years later.
Many women skip mammograms because of other life demands, cost, thinking they are healthy or too young to get breast cancer, because it’s not in their family, or because it’s uncomfortable or painful. It’s important to not delay.
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Taking Steps to Prevent Breast Cancer
- Talk openly with your care team about any updates to your personal or family health history and factors that make breast cancer more likely. If breast cancer runs in your family, ask about genetic screening and testing. For some women, certain medications can help prevent breast cancer. Others at very high risk may elect to have preventive surgery to remove the breast tissue or their ovaries.
- Take steps to help lower the chance of getting breast cancer.
For example:- Build in time each day to be active and move your body
- Keep a healthy weight
- Choose a healthy, fiber-rich rainbow of foods
- Limit or avoid alcohol; any amount is unhealthy
- Get good sleep
- Limit exposure to pollution or radiation
- Breastfeed your babies, if you can
- Don’t use tobacco, and steer clear of other people’s smoke too
- Find ways to destress
- Ask if hormone therapy is right for you. Many breast cancers can be fueled by estrogen, so taking estrogen could raise the risk of breast cancer.
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Invision Diagnostics Mobile Mammography
Ralph Lauren is partnering with Invision Diagnostics to host a mammogram screening event.
HPD: October 7, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
NC66: October 9, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Things to know:
- Women ages 40+ are covered for one screening per calendar year.
- Women ages 35-39 are covered for one baseline mammogram.
- To get a mammogram you cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding.
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Setting the Record Straight About ADHD
ADHD is different for everyone, but many people have difficulty concentrating, frequently forget things and/or feel easily distracted and restless. In the U.S., ADHD affects 1 in 10 children between 3 and 17 years of age and about 4% of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while males are diagnosed more than twice as often as females, females also don’t often show the same signs of hyperactivity that boys exhibit, so ADHD commonly goes unnoticed in girls and they may be diagnosed later on.
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Types of ADHD
- Having trouble paying attention (inattention)
- Being overly active or unable to control impulsive behaviors (hyperactive-impulsive)
- A combination of the two
What are the symptoms?
It varies by person and the type of ADHD, but many kids and adults struggle with:
- Focusing their attention, especially on the right things or details
- Finishing tasks
- Listening to or following instructions
- Being organized
- Being easily distracted
- Not being able to sit still, feeling fidgety
- Acting too quickly, not controlling their actions and words
- Interrupting others, grabbing things or not waiting their turn
How is it found?
There is no single test for ADHD. A thorough exam and medical history is important. The doctor often will use a checklist or questionnaire to better gauge behaviors, as well as the person’s lifestyle and environment. This helps rule out other possible conditions or major life stressors that might be to blame instead.
For parents and teachers, it’s helpful to watch and report how a child behaves across different settings, including home, school, work, or when they are with their peers. Write things down. For example, whether they are always falling behind on assignments or having trouble following directions or completing tasks.
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What are the treatments?
Treatment often includes a combination of medication, therapy or counseling and individualized education plans:
- Medications, including stimulants and some nonstimulant medications used at the lowest dose possible. These medicines work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. These chemicals affect a person's attention and concentration and can help “messengers” called neurotransmitters work better. Sadly, some of these medicines are sought after by others for inappropriate use, so be careful to keep them secure and out of others’ reach.
- Behavioral therapy/counseling to give people the coping skills and tools to manage symptoms and not feel so alone
- Education or training for parents and teachers to give them the skills and strategies to help the child
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including being active, getting restful sleep, lowering stress levels, and eating healthy foods can be helpful; so can providing more routine, structure and clear expectations for activities or tasks.
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Setting the record straight
In general, ADHD is poorly understood and it can also greatly affect family and social relationships. If you or someone you know has ADHD it’s important to remember:
- ADHD is a brain condition that affects someone’s ability to manage their own emotions, thinking and actions. It is NOT due to laziness, lack of effort, being a difficult child or poor parenting.
- Not everyone with ADHD is hyperactive. Many adults and children may have more subtle symptoms, perhaps appearing to daydream or be easily bored or uninterested in certain tasks.
- Adults have ADHD too. Many children and adolescents enter adulthood with persisting symptoms of ADHD and many people aren’t diagnosed until later in life as ADHD can be easy to miss.
- There is no quick fix for ADHD and it’s different for everyone. Therapy and peer or group support can be helpful to learn coping skills and strategies for living well with ADHD.
- ADHD affects someone across different parts of their life – whether it’s at school, at home, play or in relationships. We all forget things or feel distracted from time to time, but ADHD is more extensive.
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It’s time to get your flu shot!
Each year, millions of people are hospitalized or even die from the flu. The flu vaccine can help keep you safe.
- The flu vaccine is FREE
- Remember that it takes about two weeks after getting your shot for your body to build up protection, so don’t wait for flu cases to spike to get vaccinated.
- You cannot get the flu from the vaccine.
- Even though you can still get the flu once vaccinated, any illness will be milder and not last as long
- Anyone ages 6 months and up can get vaccinated.
- If you are over 65 or have certain health conditions, it is especially important for you to get vaccinated. Talk with your on-site clinic provider to learn more about when and how you should get vaccinated.
FREE Flu Vaccine Events
EVENT DETAILS
NC66: Wednesday, October 9, 2 – 4 p.m.
HPD: Thursday, October 10, 2 – 4 p.m.
Alternate appointment times are available by calling the clinic at 336-893-0013.
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Care Conversations Webinar
Tuesday, October 15, noon
Caring for your children, aging parents, or even both can be tough. Join this free webinar with customized tips that you can put into practice no matter how overwhelmed you are.
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Exploring Joint, Bone and Muscle Conditions Webinar
Thursday, October 10, 1 p.m.
Living with joint and muscle pain in your back, knees, hips and shoulders can have a big impact on your quality of life and daily routines. Knowledge about symptoms and treatment options helps you make informed health care decisions. Join for a comprehensive overview of the most common and impactful joint and muscle conditions.
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