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We, the staff of Restored Images are committed to helping women
improve their lives with promoting early detection of breast cancer
and restoring and improving the self image after the diagnosis of
breast cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, each year 180,000 women
are told they have breast cancer with 40,000 dying from this disease
each year. Men can also develop breast cancer, however the incidence
is low (1,500 will be diagnosed this year). Breast cancer cannot
be prevented but if detected early, it is treatable with surgery,
and combination of radiation and chemotherapy. The cause and cure
for breast cancer has yet to be discovered, but with research and
education, we hope for a breakthrough in our lifetimes.
The nurses here at Restored Images believe that doing monthly self
breast exams (you will know what is normal for you), yearly breast
exams by a medical professional, and routine mammogram (after the
age of 40 unless there is a family history of breast cancer) can
detect small cancers, and save lives. If you have any questions
on doing a self-breast exam, please contact your health provider
or visit with us to learn the correct way to do an exam.
BASIC ANATOMY OF THE BREAST
BREAST SELF-EXAM
- In the shower, raise your left arm above your head and with
your right hand gently press your right breast. Move over your
breast in small circles. Do not forget to exam the tissue under
your arm because there is breast tissue there also. Repeat this
procedure with the opposite hand and breast.
- In front of a mirror, check your breasts for anything unusual
(discharge from the nipples, puckering, dimpling, or scaling of
the skin. Raise your arms above your head and look at each breast
again for anything unusual.
- Lying down with a pillow under your left shoulder, lie flat
on your back and lift your left arm over your head. Use the same
circular motion and exam every part of your left breast (including
the underarm area). Repeat with your right breast area.
WARNING SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER
- A lump in the breast.
- An unusual increase in the size of one breast.
- One breast unusually lower than the other.
- A puckering of the skin of the breast.
- A new dimpling of the nipple.
- A discharge or bleeding from the nipple.
- A change in the skin of the nipple. (An "innie" becomes
an "outie")
- An enlargement of the lymph nodes under your arm.
- An unusual swelling of the upper arm.
- Redness and/or prominent pores on the breast (Orange peel appearance).
- An increase in the size or number of veins on part or the entire
breast.
If you notice any changes in your breast, please contact your
medical provider immediately to be evaluated. A mammogram, ultrasound
or biopsy may be ordered to rule out any cancer.
BREAST CANCER
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells that can invade, damage
and destroy nearby tissues. The cancer can spread to other parts
of the body. There are several types of breast cancer. The most
common is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the lining of
the milk ducts. Lobular carcinoma begins in the lobules (where
milk is produced). Infiltrating or invasive cancer has invaded
nearby tissue. Cancer cells can break away from the malignant tumor
and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system (a network of
lymph nodes in various part of the body that remove wastes from
the surrounding areas. The lymph nodes under the arm drain the chest
and arm area).
The cause of breast cancer has not been identified. Certain genes
have been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. What is known
is that the person did not cause breast cancer, you can not catch
breast cancer from someone else, breast cancer is not caused by
an injury to the breast and most women do not have any risk factors
(family history) of breast cancer.
TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER
A biopsy of the breast lump or abnormal tissue is the only way
to be sure if it is cancer. If the biopsy is positive for cancer,
you will need treatment. There are various treatments available
and you and your doctor must decide on the best for you. Talk and
ask questions of each specialist (surgeon, radiologist, oncologist,
plastic surgeon, and many others) that will be involved in your
treatment and care. Get other opinions about your diagnosis and
treatment plans available. Talk to other breast cancer survivors
and support groups.
The treatment plans for breast cancer vary depending on the biopsy
report and other tests that you will undergo. All breast cancer
is not alike. Much will depend what the size of the tumor is, where
it is, if and where the cancer has spread, how fast the cells is
growing, your age and general health.
SURGERY
Surgery is preformed by various methods with the goal of removing
all of the cancerous cells.
- Lumpectomy procedure removes the breast cancer and some normal
tissue around the tumor. This procedure usually removes the cancer
and leaves the breast looking about the same. The surgeon removes
lymph nodes under the arm to see if the cancer has spread.
- Partial or segmental mastectomy is done to remove the cancer,
some of the breast tissue, lining over the chest muscles below
the tumor and some of the lymph nodes under the arm.
- Total or simple mastectomy removes the entire breast and some
of the lymph nodes under the arm.
- Modified radical mastectomy is the removal of the breast, some
of the lymph nodes under the arm, and the lining over the chest
muscles, and sometimes part of the chest wall muscles.
- Radical mastectomy is the removal of the breast, chest muscles,
and all the lymph nodes under the arm. This was the standard procedure
for years but now is only used when the tumor has spread to the
chest muscles.
Possible problems with any surgery are infection, poor wound healing,
bleeding or a reaction to the anesthesia.
RADIATION
The use of external radiation in breast cancer is used to kill
or shrink cancer cells. The radiologist will mark your breast and
area to be treated and you will be given a schedule of visits. External
radiation does not cause your body to be radioactive and there is
no need to avoid other people during your treatment. Side effects
may include fatigue, skin changes and loss of appetite. These side
effects can be diminished with getting plenty of rest, good nutrition
(ask if you would like to speak with a nutritionist for a balanced
diet) and by being extra kind to the skin being treated (loose,
soft clothing; do not rub or scrub your treated skin: do not use
lotion, soaps, deodorants, powder on the treated skin; protect the
area from the sun)
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy is the use of certain medicines or drugs to treat
breast cancer. Chemotherapy works throughout the body to destroy
cancer cells that may have spread or relieve symptoms caused by
the cancer. Usually combinations of chemotherapy drugs are used
together and the length of treatment varies for each patient. Some
chemotherapy drugs can be taken by month or given through an intravenous
route (given in a vein). Side effects may include fatigue, nausea
and vomiting, hair loss, infection, bleeding or clotting problems
and mouth sores. Let your doctor know of any changes or concerns
you are experiencing so your health team can help with suggestions
or other medications.
HIGH-DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY
In research, medical scientists are experimenting with high dose
chemotherapy drugs to study if these are better than the standard
doses. There are major risks involved and must be discussed in detail
with your health care provider.
HORMONAL THERAPY
Hormonal therapy is used to prevent the growth, spread or recurrence
of breast cancer. This therapy can block your body's natural hormones
from reaching the breast cancer cell. The most common drug used
is called tamoxifen. Removing the ovaries also removes natural hormones
from the body.
LYMPHEDEMA
The lymph nodes and vessels in our body are similar to our blood
vessels. The lymph system is made up of fluid and white blood cell
that fight infection. During breast cancer surgery, the surgeon
will take lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread. This disturbs
the normal flow and the body as before can not easily remove fluid
from the affected arm. Radiation therapy can also affect the flow
of the lymph drainage in the affected arm and breast area. Because
the body is unable to rid itself easily of this fluid, the fluid
builds up and the arm will become swollen. Other signs of lymphedema
are that the arm feels heavy, the skin is tight, less movement in
the hand or wrist, or clothes or jewelry feel tight.
You can do various things to reduce your chances of developing
lymphedema.
- Try to avoid infection. Have all shots, IV's, and blood drawn
from the unaffected arm. Keep your hands and cuticles soft and
moist to prevent cracks and hangnails. Wear protective gloves
when doing yard or housework. Use an electric shaver for hair
removal. Use insect repellent .
- Protect your arm from burns be using a sunscreen, oven mitts
or hot water.
- Try to avoid contriction of your affected arm by wearing loose
sleeves, gloves and jewelry. Avoid using shoulder straps on that
arm from purses, etc. Keep your bra strap so it doesn't dig into
your shoulder. Have your blood pressure take in the unaffected
arm.
- Wear a compression sleeve when traveling by air and keep your
arm elevated above the your heart. Flexing your arm frequently
will also help.
POST SURGERY OPTIONS
BREAST RECONSTRUCTION
This is done by a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon. Breast
implants (saline or silicone) may be used. The implant is placed
behind the chest wall muscle. Reconstruction of the breast may also
be achieved with the use of a tissue flap (skin, muscle and fat
from another part of the body) that is moved to the surgical site
and recreate the breast.
BREAST PROSTEHESIS
A breast prosthesis (also called a breast form) is worn externally
and closely simulates the look of the natural breast and restores
the body's balance and prevents back, neck, and posture problems.
Silicone breast forms come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors
to meet the breast cancer patient's needs.
 
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