3D Mammography like a virtual tour Breast cancer stages ...bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/aberdeennews.com/.../4/00… · 3D Mammography like a virtual tour I t’s difficult

3D Mammography like a virtual tour

It’s difficult to imag-ine anything more frightening than

being ‘called back’ after having a mammogram screening. Thanks to new technology, that scenario should happen far less. Last July, Sanford

Health in Aberdeen installed 3D software on a Hologic machine. Thus far, it’s the only one in the region. So how

does a 3D mammo-gram differ from the traditional 2D view? Heather Snell and Angie Post, both Radiologic Technol-ogists/Mammographers em-ployed at Sanford Health, explain: “It’s like a virtual tour of the breast,” said Heather. Traditional 2D ma-

chines compress the breast between two plates and the camera captures one image from the top and another from the side. With 3D mam-mography, the camera captures images of many small slices one millime-ter thick of the breast tis-sue. (Think the thickness of an average fingernail.) “The 3D image will pin-

point exactly where the object is located in the breast,” said Angie. “Es-pecially in dense breast tissue,” added Heather. Because of this, there are fewer false alarms. “Then the images go

through CAD (Com-puter Aided Detection) software,” said Heather, “which can detect ar-eas that the radiologist should pay extra atten-tion to when reading the mammogram.” “The radiologist has

to have special training to read the 3D mammo-gram,” said Angie. Other benefits to 3D

mammography: • There is a 41 percent

increase in the detection of invasive breast can-cer. • There is

a 27 percent increase in detection of all cancers. • There is

up to a 40 percent less chance that patients will be called back for ad-

ditional x-rays when 3D and 2D mammography are used together. • The procedure itself

is more comfortable than a traditional mammo-gram because the paddle compresses the breast at the natural angle of the tissue. But in many ways the

3D procedure is no dif-ferent that the traditional mammogram. “It takes the same amount of time and you still might expe-rience a small amount of temporary discomfort,” said Snell. According to a pam-

phlet developed by the Hologic company, because the breast is composed of overlapping structures of blood ves-sels, milk ducts, fat and ligaments, which when

viewed as a two-dimen-sional image may cause overlapping shadows, small cancers can be overlooked and normal tissue may appear to be abnormal. Early detection is the

key to survival. If breast cancer is detected before it has spread to the lymph nodes, the five-year sur-vival rate is almost 100 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. At Sanford, when a

patient comes in for a screening mammogram, both the 2D and the 3D views are done. An order from a physician is not required at Sanford for a simple screening mammogram unless the

patient is having specific symptoms. A patient can opt out of having the 3D procedure if they wish. Patients should check

with their insurance pro-vider prior to any proce-dure to verify coverage.

Early detection is the key to survival. If breast cancer is detected before it has spread to the lymph

nodes, the five-year survival rate is almost 100 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

GRETCHEN MAYERAMERICAN NEWS

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among

American women, aside from skin cancers. About one in eight women in the U.S. develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Fortunately, 90 percent of patients diag-nosed with breast cancer will survive the disease. A diagnosis of can-

cer can be difficult for patients and their care-givers. David Moeckly is a specialist pharmacist in the Express Scripts Oncology Therapeutic Resource Center and he helps patients understand the condition and manage the complex treatment. “What most people may

not realize is that men can get breast cancer as well, although it is 100 times more common among women,” Moeckly says. Breast cancer usually

originates in the linings of either the tubes (ducts)

that carry milk or the glands (lobules) that manufacture milk. Risk factors for breast

cancer include: Family medical histo-

ry: About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be hered-itary, meaning that they result directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. Having one first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer doubles a woman’s risk. Having two first-de-gree relatives increases her risk about three-fold. Personal history of

breast cancer: A woman with cancer in one breast is three-to-four times more likely to develop a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from a recur-rence (return) of the first cancer. Ethnicity: Overall,

white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than are

African-American women, but African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer. “The first symptom is

often the most common one – a new lump or mass,” Moeckly says. “A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer-ous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft or rounded. They can even be painful.” Getting annual mam-

mograms can help detect breast cancer early and save your life, he adds. “It is also important to

have any new breast mass or lump or breast change checked by a health care professional because mammograms do not catch all breast cancer cases,” Moeckly says. Treatment for breast

cancer can be difficult and invasive, including chemotherapy and radia-tion. Both the treatment and the stress can have a detrimental impact on your health and appetite.

Ensuring proper nutri-tion during treatment is very important, he adds. Paying careful attention to what you eat can also help ease the side-effects of treatment. Here are a few nutrition

tips to remember: Eat enough calories:

Treatment can often result in a poor appetite. One way to offset the lower food intake is to ingest high-calorie foods such as hard-cooked eggs, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, granola bars, liquid nutritional supple-ments, puddings, nuts, canned tuna or chicken, and trail mix. Tempt yourself: Eat

your favorite foods any-time of the day. Eating small meals or snacks ev-ery couple of hours rather than three large meals is usually more successful to increase food consump-tion. Some foods offset nau-

sea and vomiting: Many treatments can cause nausea and vomiting. Eat

6-8 meals a day, consist-ing of easy-to-digest foods such as soups, crackers, toast, dry cereals, broth, sport drinks, water, juice, gelatin and frozen fruit treats to help minimize these symptoms. Avoid spicy, greasy and overly sweet foods. Ginger and peppermint can also help reduce nausea. Stay hydrated: Severe

diarrhea during treat-ment can cause dehydra-tion. Eating foods such as oatmeal, bananas and rice can help treat diarrhea. Fried, spicy, or very sweet foods may make it worse. And remember to drink plenty of water. Stay adherent: As

always make sure to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor and do not self-adjust. For more information

about breast cancer and tips from specialist pharmacists, visit the Express Scripts research site at lab.express-scripts.com or you local medical provider.

What are your breast cancer risk factors? The answers could surprise youBRANDPOINT

Breast cancer stages help determine course of treatment

When doctors diagnose breast cancer, they typ-

ically tell their patients which stage the cancer is in. Men and women with no previous experience with cancer may not know what these stages signify or may not un-derstand the differences between the stages. The following is a rundown of breast cancer stages to help men and women diagnosed with breast cancer better understand their disease.

WHY ARE STAGES IMPORTANT? Staging helps doctors

determine how far the breast cancer has pro-gressed, but staging also helps doctors deter-mine the best course of treatment to contain or eliminate the cancer. For example, a person diag-nosed with stage 1 breast cancer will likely under-go a different course of treatment than someone diagnosed with stage 4.

HOW ARE STAGES DETERMINED? A number of factors

determine staging. These factors include: *the size of the tumor

within the breast, *the number of lymph

nodes affected, and *signs indicating if the

breast cancer has invaded other organs within the body. Signs that the cancer has

spread may be found in

Heather Snell demonstrates the Hologic 3D mammogram machine while Angie Poet stands at the computer to view the images. Both are Radiologic Technologists/Mammographers at Sanford Health in Aberdeen. Photo by Gretchen Mayer.

3D Mammography like a virtual tour

6-8 meals a day, consist-ing of easy-to-digest foods such as soups, crackers, toast, dry cereals, broth, sport drinks, water, juice, gelatin and frozen fruit treats to help minimize these symptoms. Avoid spicy, greasy and overly sweet foods. Ginger and peppermint can also help reduce nausea. Stay hydrated: Severe

diarrhea during treat-ment can cause dehydra-tion. Eating foods such as oatmeal, bananas and rice can help treat diarrhea. Fried, spicy, or very sweet foods may make it worse. And remember to drink plenty of water. Stay adherent: As

always make sure to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor and do not self-adjust. For more information

about breast cancer and tips from specialist pharmacists, visit the Express Scripts research site at lab.express-scripts.com or you local medical provider.

Breast cancer stages help determine course of treatment

When doctors diagnose breast cancer, they typ-

ically tell their patients which stage the cancer is in. Men and women with no previous experience with cancer may not know what these stages signify or may not un-derstand the differences between the stages. The following is a rundown of breast cancer stages to help men and women diagnosed with breast cancer better understand their disease.

WHY ARE STAGES IMPORTANT? Staging helps doctors

determine how far the breast cancer has pro-gressed, but staging also helps doctors deter-mine the best course of treatment to contain or eliminate the cancer. For example, a person diag-nosed with stage 1 breast cancer will likely under-go a different course of treatment than someone diagnosed with stage 4.

HOW ARE STAGES DETERMINED? A number of factors

determine staging. These factors include: *the size of the tumor

within the breast, *the number of lymph

nodes affected, and *signs indicating if the

breast cancer has invaded other organs within the body. Signs that the cancer has

spread may be found in

the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.

STAGE 0 & 1 When breast cancer is

detected early, it is often characterized as stage 0 or 1, which means the cancer cells have not spread beyond a very limited area. Stage 0 breast cancer

is a noninvasive cancer where abnormal cells have been found in the lining of the breast milk duct but have not spread outside the duct into sur-rounding breast tissue. Stage 0 breast cancer is very treatable, but if treatment is not sought, it can spread into sur-rounding breast tissue. Stage 1 breast cancer

is diagnosed when the tumor is very small and has not spread to the lymph nodes. In certain instances when a person is diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, no tumor is found in the breast. When a tumor is found, it is typ-ically two centimeters or smaller. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer that is discovered and treated at stage 1 has a five-year survival rate of roughly 98 percent.

STAGE 2 A stage 2 breast can-

cer diagnosis means the cancer has begun to grow or spread, but it is still in the early stages and typically very treatable. Stage 2 breast cancer is divided into two groups, stage 2A and stage 2B, a

distinction that is made because of the size of the tumor and if the breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. There may or may not

be a tumor present when a person is diagnosed with stage 2A breast can-cer. If a tumor is present, it is either less than two centimeters and cancer cells are present in less than four axillary lymph nodes or the tumor is be-tween two and five centi-meters but has not spread to the lymph nodes. A tumor is present

when a person is diag-nosed with stage 2B breast cancer, and that tumor is either between two and five centime-ters and spread to less than four axillary lymph nodes or it is larger than five centimeters but has not spread to any lymph nodes. Stage 2 breast cancers

typically respond well to treatment, but those treatments may be more aggressive than treat-ments for stage 0 or 1 breast cancers.

STAGE 3 Stage 3 breast cancer is

an advanced cancer that has invaded tissues sur-rounding the breast but has not spread to distant organs. Advancements to treat stage 3 breast can-cer have made treatment more effective, even if a doctor describes the can-cer as “inoperable,” which may mean that surgery will not be enough to rid the breast of the cancer

in its entirety. Stage 3 breast cancer is divided into a three subgroups, which are determined by the size of the tumor and if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or surrounding tissue. When a person is

diagnosed with stage 3A, 3B or 3C breast cancer, his or her physician will likely discuss treatment plans that include a combination of treatment options.

STAGE 4 A stage 4 breast cancer

diagnosis means the can-cer has spread to other areas of the body, which may include the brains, bones, lungs, or liver. Stage 4 breast cancer is considered incurable, though the NBCF notes that a growing number of women are living longer because their disease is being treated as a chronic condition. Treatment of stage

4 breast cancer may be determined by a patient’s access to specialists and sub-specialists, and some patients may be given the opportunity to partici-pate in therapies that are still in the experimental phase. Unlike in years past, many stage 4 breast cancer patients can extend their lives for sev-eral years thanks in large part to advancements in research and medical technology. More information about

breast cancer is available at www.nationalbreast-cancer.org.

We all learned from the Ice Bucket Chal-

lenge, which raised money for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), that giving to any par-ticular disease does not neccessarily mean digging deep in your own pocket. Sometimes, it just takes one little idea to spark something big. Not only did the Ice Bucket Challenge raise millions for ALS, but it also raised awareness, which is something that doesn’t wear a price tag. October is Breast Can-

cer Awareness month and current supporters of this cause can only hope that their awareness spreads just as fast and wide. Here are some ways you can donate and/or help raise awareness [while staying warm and dry]:

If you shop online, try Amazon’s Smile. It allows you to support a charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. You will find the “exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com,” with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase amount to the charitable organization of your choice. There are nearly one million orga-nizations to choose from, including several that support breast cancer patients or research. Several local businness-

es also support the cause. For example, at JcPenney in the Lakewood Mall, you can round up your purchase to contribute to breast cancer. To learn how other local business-es are supporting breast cancer awareness, see page 1C.

Donate your car. The American Cancer Soci-ety’s Cars for a Cure® donation program helps cancer patients and their families in numer-ous ways from lodging and support hotlines to clinical trials and rides to/from treatment. Both running and not-running vehicles are accepted as long as the donated vehicle has a transferable title. Visit www.cancer.org/involved/moreway-stogive/cars-for-a-cure-donate-your-car-to-char-ity-to-help-fight-cancer for more information, including the proper paperwork. It might seem like

a backwards thought, but you do not have to spend money to make a donation towards breast cancer. Just as sometimes the best things in life are free; sometimes the best thing to help save a life are also free. Donate your time. Volunteer at your local hospital.

Or, donate your hair. While the more widely known Locks of Love program donates hair for children fighting cancer, other programs such as the Beautiful Lengths campaign by Pantene/the American Cancer Society make wigs for women fighting cancer.

Mark your calendars and get ready to move. The Brown County Relay for Life is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2015. The relay honors lost loved ones, celebrates survivors and caregivers, and gives hope to those current-ly battling all types of cancer. Other events in South Dakota include the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure which are both held in Sioux Falls.

METRO CREATIVE

Ice bucket what?VICTORIA LUSKAMERICAN NEWS

Heather Snell demonstrates the Hologic 3D mammogram machine while Angie Poet stands at the computer to view the images. Both are Radiologic Technologists/Mammographers at Sanford Health in Aberdeen. Photo by Gretchen Mayer.

Area businesses support breast cancer

It’s the season of pink – October is Breast Cancer Awareness

Month, and several local businesses are joining the effort to raise money for prevention, treatment and awareness funds. In an effort to raise

awareness and have some fun, Profiling Beauty Health and Wellness Center is encouraging its students to dress up for a chance to win a 30-punch card. Those who wear pink to class can enter their name in once for the drawing. Those who dress up with the “Hot Yoga Time Machine” theme can add their names twice. Each week the studio picks a decade for students to mimic. “Right now we’re in the

1960s,” owner Candace Briscoe said. “So if you come to class in some type of ‘60s garb, then you get to put your name in the drawing twice.” All of the businesses

in the Briscoe Building band together in their breast cancer awareness efforts. “It’s something that is

actually very personal to me,” Briscoe said. To raise money, Profil-

ing Beauty is also col-lecting spare change. All dollars raised will go to The Breast Cancer Fund. If yoga isn’t your style,

you can help raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

fund just by test-driving a new Chevrolet.“Everybody around

here, we’re all wear-ing bracelets and we have lapel pins and we wear T-shirts on Friday afternoons to create awareness,” said Tyler Dutenhoeffer, business development manager at Steven Lust Automotive. As part of a national

campaign, Steven Lust will donate $10 for every new model tested in the month of October. “We’re actually hop-

ing more people come in, even if they have no desire to buy whatsoever, just to get them in the store and raise awareness

for a good cause,” Duten-hoeffer said. Concepts Salon and Spa

is selling a special bottle of the Aveda “hand relief” hand cream that’s larger than the normal size, and $4 of every bottle purchased goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. “We give away pink rib-

bons during breast cancer month,” Concepts owner Gloria Dahme said. The salon also sets aside a day where 10 percent of all product sales goes to breast cancer charities. The salon will also

keep out a donation jar out and proceeds from that can go to any breast

cancer group the salon chooses. Businesses can also

lead education efforts to help their customers learn about breast cancer and prevention. “We give them infor-

mation on getting into their doctor and different things like that; doing self-exams and even men and women, because it’s not just women, it’s men, too,” that are affected by breast cancer, Dahme said. Profiling Beauty has ed-

ucational cards available.

Follow @kgrandstrandAAN on Twitter.

KATHERINE [email protected]

The employees at Steven Lust Automotive have a special reason to support Breast Cancer Awareness this year – one of their coworkers is battling the disease. From left is Robert Grosz, Sales, Kevin Rath, Sales Manager, Gabe Dutenhoeffer, Sales, Paul Weiss, Sales, Jim Weaver, Service Manager, Saven Lech-ner, Service Writer, Tyler Dutenhoeffer, Business Development Manager, and Chris Beringer, Sales Manager. Photo by Gretchen Mayer.

Cancer – it’s all about making smart choices

“When it comes to breast cancer screen-ing, what works for

one woman might not work for another, which is why it can be so confus-ing for so many women,” states Lee Ann Tople, Di-rector of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital. One study suggests

that up to 40 percent of women have dense or fatty breast tissue. Many women have implants. All of these situations can factor in when diagnosing breast cancer. “Mammography has

been the gold standard for breast cancer screen-ing. It is the best tool to start the screening process. At Avera, we are always looking for diagnostic information specific to that patient. A mammogram may be followed up by an ultra-sound or magnification view. Women have a lot more levels of choice right now. It’s important that she work with her personal physician to make those decisions.” There have been a lot of

developments in the field in the past few years. “There are newer modal-ities, such as the con-trast-enhanced spectral

mammography in which a contrast agent is inject-ed into the breast, the automated whole breast ultrasound, molecular im-aging, and breast MRI.” While most cancer

treatment methods are available right here in Ab-erdeen, patients can also be referred to the Avera Cancer Institute in Sioux Falls for more specialized genomic testing and spe-cific personalized cancer diagnostic testing. And soon, Avera will

be offering the latest technology in radiation therapy in the new Don and Carmen Meyer Center of Excellence and Avera Cancer Institute. Groundbreaking for the new Insitute was held on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Genome studies are also

being conducted right here in Aberdeen at the Avera Health Research Institute and genetic counseling is available. While instances of

breast cancer in men are rare, they are certainly not excluded from need-ing screenings. In her 30 years of experience Tople has seen “… a fair amount of men come through.” Some of the fears and

concerns associated with screenings are the discomfort from compres-sion, (it is minor and lasts only a short while,) the

amount of radiation, (it is minimal,) and the waiting for the results. If one could look into a

crystal ball, what would the future hold for breast cancer diagnostics? “More technology as it re-lates to breast cancer and the available modalities. Who knows what could be the gold standard in 10 years?” And she leaves us with

this final bit of wisdom: “In looking at the in-dustry it’s about how important screenings are – not just mammograms but also colonoscopy and prostate screenings. Considering the cost of medicine, we need to ask ‘How can I prevent can-cer?’ It’s all about making smart choices.” Molecular imaging

is available at Avera St. Luke’s, as well as breast MRI. Patients are referred to the ACI for more specialized genomic testing and specific per-sonalized cancer diag-nostic testing. However, most cancer treatment methods are available here today and Avera St. Luke’s will be offering the latest technology in radi-ation therapy in the new Don and Carmen Meyer Center of Excellence and Avera Cancer Institute Aberdeen being built this fall!

GRETCHEN MAYERAMERICAN NEWS

MEN GET BREAST CANCER, T OO.

The truth of the matter is you don’t have to have lovely

lady humps to develop breast cancer. Men, too, have breast tissue, which means that they too can develop breast cancer. Although rare (less

than 1 percent of all breast cancer occurs in men according to breast-cancer.org), men should take note of any of the following symptoms and seek medical advice if in-

cessant changes occur:*a lump in the

breast tissue*pain in the

nipple*discharge

from the nipple*nipple is

inverted*sores develop

on the nipple and areola*lymph nodes under the

arm become enlarged. Breast cancer in men

is both diagnosed and treated the same way as in women: mammog-

raphy, biopsies, ultra-sounds, and/or exams, and through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, biological therapy and/or hormone therapy respec-tively.

VICTORIA LUSKAMERICAN NEWS

Cancer – it’s all about making smart choicesamount of radiation, (it is minimal,) and the waiting for the results. If one could look into a

crystal ball, what would the future hold for breast cancer diagnostics? “More technology as it re-lates to breast cancer and the available modalities. Who knows what could be the gold standard in 10 years?” And she leaves us with

this final bit of wisdom: “In looking at the in-dustry it’s about how important screenings are – not just mammograms but also colonoscopy and prostate screenings. Considering the cost of medicine, we need to ask ‘How can I prevent can-cer?’ It’s all about making smart choices.” Molecular imaging

is available at Avera St. Luke’s, as well as breast MRI. Patients are referred to the ACI for more specialized genomic testing and specific per-sonalized cancer diag-nostic testing. However, most cancer treatment methods are available here today and Avera St. Luke’s will be offering the latest technology in radi-ation therapy in the new Don and Carmen Meyer Center of Excellence and Avera Cancer Institute Aberdeen being built this fall!

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Apart from certain skin cancers, breast cancer is

the most common form of cancer among women, particularly American women. It does not seg-regate based on race and ethnicity or even gender, as men can be diagnosed with breast cancer as well. Depending on the

location of the cancer, its pervasiveness and the patient’s family history, various breast cancer treatments are available. A combination of radia-tion and chemotherapy may be necessary, but surgery may ultimately be the best option. Cancer removal surgery

involves the surgical removal of breast tissue. Sometimes the nipple and the skin can be spared, but other times the entire breast and even the lymph nodes under the arm must be removed. Many women who under-go mastectomy proce-dures choose to have some sort of post-surgery breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction

employs plastic surgery to restore a breast to near-normal shape and appearance following a mastectomy. A few dif-ferent procedures may be needed to reconstruct the breast, and surgery on the

other breast may be done to improve symmetry. According to Cancer Treat-ment Centers of America, many women are eligible to begin re-construction at the time of mastectomy, which can reduce the number of surgical procedures women must endure and can eliminate time spent without a breast.

Types of reconstructive surgery Reconstructive surgery

generally falls into two different groups: Im-plant-based and autolo-gous flap reconstructions. With implant-based

reconstruction, a perma-nent implant is inserted to reform the breast. Some women may need to use a tissue expander for several weeks prior to the insertion of an im-plant. The tissue expand-er is gradually filled with fluid and helps stretch the skin to create a space for the implant. Others may not need the tissue ex-pander and can have the implant inserted immedi-ately. This is called a sin-gle-stage reconstruction. The majority of breast implants used today are filled with sterile saline, but silicone gel implants also are available.

Autolo-gous flap reconstruc-tions use tissue from the stom-ach, back, thighs, or buttocks to

rebuild the breast. Fat, muscle and skin may be taken from the donation area of the body and used to rebuild the breast. A combination of body tissue and implant is sometimes necessary to perform the reconstruc-tion.

Nipple and areola re-construction After the breast has

been reconstructed, patients may want to have a nipple and areola added for a more natural look, particularly if these parts of the breast were removed in the original mastectomy. Skin graft-ing, in which skin is taken from elsewhere on the body to best match the color and texture of the breast, is often used to reconstruct the nipple and areola. Sometimes a nipple

sharing reconstructive technique is used if the healthy breast has a large nipple and areolar complex. Tattoos to create the appearance of an areola and nipple may be designed to forgo the need for skin grafting.

What to expect In the early stages of

treatment, patients will meet with plastic sur-geons to develop the best plan of action. Together they will discuss goals for reconstruction and how many procedures may be necessary as well as the potential risks and a prog-nosis will be discussed. Women should realize

that, while breast recon-struction has advanced and can successfully rebuild the breast, there are some side effects. Visible incision lines will likely be present on the breast and any area of the body that provided donor tissue. The reconstructed breast may not be exactly symmetrical to the other breast. The reconstructed breast will not have the same feel and sensation as it once did, and healing may take several weeks, during which the breast shape and position will improve. A breast cancer diag-

nosis and subsequent surgery for treatment can be life-altering. Thanks to advancements in plastic surgery, many women can opt for reconstruction and restore their figures to resemble what they were prior to being diag-nosed. More information about breast reconstruc-tion is available at http://breastreconstruction.org and www.cancer.org.

Various factors may increase a woman’s risk of

developing breast cancer, but the size of a woman’s breasts may not help doctors determine the gravity of that risk. Researchers have

uncovered connections between some genes that determine a woman’s breast size and those involved with breast can-cer, but those discoveries are not enough to deter-mine a definitive link. Scientists at commer-

cial DNA testing service 23andMe in California have found a correlation between the genes that determine whether a woman will wear a B cup or a D cup bra and the genes associated with breast cancer risk. Data from more than 16,000 females who had their ge-netic makeup examined was analyzed, particu-larly single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. SNPs are variations in DNA that may or may not have impact on predispo-sition to certain traits or illnesses. The researchers identified seven SNPs as “significantly associated” with breast size, three of which had previously been linked to risk. Doctors say that it is

unlikely breast size alone will dictate propensity

for breast cancer. Others have argued the DNA study was preliminary and possibly flawed be-cause it failed to account for complete information, such as breast density, participants’ weight or alcohol consumption -- all factors that can contrib-ute to breast cancer risk. Excess body weight

may be a more likely culprit in the correlation between cup size and cancer. The American Cancer Society says that as many as 20 percent of all cancer-related deaths were impacted by excess body weight. Being over-weight is clearly linked with an increased risk. There is not a large

enough body of evidence to link large breast size to an increased risk of breast cancer. It’s true that larger breasts have more breast cells susceptible to mutation, but many surmise that genetics and lifestyle factors are more likely than breast size to elevate a woman’s breast cancer risk. Women concerned

with breast cancer risk should complete a family history and speak with their doctors to address their concerns. Frequent self-examinations as well as routine physicals can make women more famil-iar with their breasts and more likely to recognize if anything is amiss.

METRO CREATIVE

Does breast size affect risk?According to the

Cancer Treatment Centers of America, many women

are eligible to begin reconstruction at the

same time of mastectomy.

METRO CREATIVE

TRIBUTESLaura Larson, Know what makes me smile? Thinking of when you started your journey and fast-forwarding three years (and counting!) to now and life being good! Being able to share what got you from there to here (sometimes with a tear, sometimes with a smile) – your courage, your strength, your determination. Challenges can certainly make life interesting, but overcoming those challenges make life meaningful. You are a role model on how to fight the fight with class and guts!Brenda and Tom

Rochelle Braun So are an amazing inspiration to us all in courage, spirit and strength.Lacey

Arleen Jarvis Grandma - We’ve watched you overcome cancer multiple times and each time we were amazed by your strength and courage. We can only hope to some day be as strong and brave as you are! You are so very special to each and every one of us. We love you!Your Grandchildren

Every woman & man – ALL ages Get your mammogram ASAP. It may save your life like mine did – twice! Thanks to Drs. (B & J) Gerber I had first cancer surgery on my birthday – October 14 – 26 years ago. My second was done on June 20th – nine years later. My grandkids, Thomas and Rebecca Gross, lost Grandma Caroline Gross to breast cancer. We miss her a lot.Linda Kirnan

Cindy, You caught your breast cancer really early. You’re in remission and doing great! Praise be to God!I love you, Mike

Laura, Three years a survivor! With each passing year I am continually amazed with your determination, positive attitude, strength, and compassion for others. I can’t tell you how proud I feel when I hear from others what a kind and caring person you are. Keep picking up those pennies!Love, Mom

Laura, I’ve watched you smile when you wanted to cry; laugh to hide the pain and go on when all you wanted to do was quit. You never let cancer define you or destroy you. All it did was make you stronger. Every day I am proud and grateful to call you my sister.Love you, Emily

In Memory of Connie Clemens Knapp It’s been seven years. We think of you every day. You are in our prayers and forever in our hearts. We love and miss you.Your Loving Family

In Memory of Shirley (Vetch) Artz Thinking of you, missing you and still praying for a cure.Love, Your Family

To My Dear Son, You were only five years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though shocked and terrified, I was determined to fight to stay alive. With your dad’s love and support I chose to undergo a modified radical mastectomy to give me the best chance of survival. And so, 25 years ago, I had that surgery and have never once regretted my decision, for it made it possi-ble for me and your dad to raise you together. I am so grateful and blessed to have survived through the years to witness and celebrate your life events – your birthdays, high school, then college graduation, your marriage to a lovely, caring young woman, and joy of joys God’s exquisite gift of not one but two grandchildren. I cherish the privilege of being in your life the last 25 years to see you grow into a respectful, loving son, husband, and father to your sons. I love you, I’m so proud of you, and I’m proud of me, too.Love, Your MomP.S. Happy 30th birthday Oct. 23. I’ll bring the cake!

Janet Hilgemann, You are a survivor and we wish you many more years of being cancer free! Keep the faith! You are loved!Deb, Dave, Tanner, Lindsey, Bob, Julie, Bobi & Josh