Posted by Carl Gerhardt on Oct 17, 2017
On 10/17/2017, Alyson Van Tiem PA-C, MPH spoke to the members of the Magnolia Rotary Club about Breast Cancer. Pictured above is Alyson Van Tiem.
 
Alyson told everyone that she is a Physician's Assistant at her clinic named "Simple Traditions Family Health PLLC" and since October 2017 is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she wanted to provide some insight into what breast cancer is, what some of the risk factors are, and what to do to try to avoid getting it. Alyson's clinic is located at 827 S. Magnolia Blvd. (FM 1774), Suite 6, Magnolia Texas 77355. Their office phone is 281-259-7400.
 
To start with, Alyson told everyone that she lost an aunt to breast cancer when she was just a child and talking about breast cancer is one way to honor her aunt. To that end, Alyson presented a slide show on the subject of breast cancer. Although breast cancer can occur in both men and women, it is far more common in  women as only 1 in 1,000 men get breast cancer. In fact, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Although many women get breast cancer, the actual cause of breast cancer is not known at this time. The medical profession has determined that about 10% of all breast cancers also have BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations but 10% is hardley a defining cause. Some of the known risk factors are as follows:
 

GENERAL

  • Aging: On average, women over 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Only about 10 – 15 percent of breast cancers occur in women younger than 45. However, this may vary for different races or ethnicities.
  • Gender: Although nearly 2,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year, breast cancer is 100 times more common in women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that over 190,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer annually.

GENETICS

  • Family history: Having a family history of breast cancer, particularly women with a mother, sister or daughter who has or had breast cancer, may double the risk.
  • Inherited factors: Some inherited genetic mutations may increase your breast cancer risks. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common inherited causes. Other rare mutations may also make some women more susceptible to developing breast cancer. Gene testing reveals the presence of potential genetic problems, particularly in families that have a history of breast cancer. Read about Angelina Jolie's decision based on her BRCA1 test.

BODY

  • Obesity: After menopause, fat tissue may contribute to increases in estrogen levels, and high levels of estrogen may increase the risk of breast cancer. Weight gain during adulthood and excess body fat around the waist may also play a role.
  • Not having children: Women who have had no children, or who were pregnant later in life (over age 35) may have a greater chance of developing breast cancer. Breast-feeding may help to lower your breast cancer risks.
  • High breast density: Women with less fatty tissue and more glandular and fibrous tissue may be at higher risk for developing breast cancer than women with less dense breasts.
  • Certain breast changes: Certain benign (noncancerous) breast conditions may increase breast cancer risk.
  • Menstrual history: Women who start menstruation at an early age (before age 12) and/or menopause at an older age (after age 55) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. The increase in risk may be due to a longer lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

LIFESTYLE

  • A sedentary lifestyle: Physical activity in the form of regular exercise for four to seven hours a week may help to reduce breast cancer risk.
  • Heavy drinking: The use of alcohol is linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.

PREVIOUS TREATMENTS

  • Birth control pills: Using oral contraceptives within the past 10 years may slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The risk decreases over time once the pills are stopped.
  • Combined post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT): Using combined hormone therapy after menopause increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Combined HT also increases the likelihood that the cancer may be found at a more advanced stage.
  • Diethylstilbestrol exposure (DES): Previous use of DES, a drug commonly given to pregnant women from 1940 to 1971 to prevent miscarriage, may slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Women whose mothers took DES during pregnancy may also have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.
  • Radiation exposure: Women who, as children or young adults, had radiation therapy to the chest area as treatment for another cancer have a significantly increased risk for breast cancer.
Some ideas as to how to help your body prevent breast cancer are:
 
  • Staying healthy.
  • Keeping your weight within normal range.
  • Staying active.
  • Not drinking alcohol.
  • Self examination and early detection.
A more detailed list of things to do to prevent breast cancer can be found at: https://cancerriskmonitor.com/. However, even if a women did all of the right htings, she may still develop breast cancer. Additional breast cancer information can also be found at: www.cancer.org.
 
 
 
 
 
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