Breast Cancer Awareness Published Oct. 13, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- From energy awareness to spousal abuse awareness, October keeps many busy. However, there is one thing that women should not forget and that is checking themselves for cancer. Among other things October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. Its purpose is to "bring attention to and promote breast cancer awareness," said Diane Bailey, a Women's Health nurse practitioner here. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Symptoms of this cancer include: swelling, skin irritation, pain, scaliness or thickening of the skin, abnormal discharge and a lump in the underarm area. These signs may not always lead to breast cancer, however they should not go ignored. It is important to get any changes promptly checked by a doctor. Bailey states that approximately 12 percent (about one in eight women) in the United States, will develop breast cancer over her lifetime. The breast cancer website (www.breastcancer.org) shows that just in 2010 alone, about 250,000 new cases were diagnosed. However, that does not mean men shouldn't be as cautious. About 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. "Get to know your own breasts," Bailey said. "Anyone with breast tissue is at risk. The risk especially increases if you are a female, as your age increases and if someone in your family has had it, especially if it's an immediate relative. Also if you smoke, you are at a higher risk." There is no way to prevent breast cancer, however, there are ways to catch it at an early stage, in order to prevent it from becoming more severe. Mammograms, self breast exams and annual women's health exams are all ways to be proactive in one's own health. Let's say one finds a breast abnormality, what can be done? Any woman's health clinic offers services that can determine what the abnormality is, provide counseling for any situation and list several different avenues one could take to treat the abnormality, Bailey stated. There are five different stages of breast cancer, and treatments very based on the patient's situation, said Bailey. Stage 0, there is no evidence of cancer cells or non-cancerous abnormal cells breaking out of the part of the breast in which they started. Stage I describes invasive breast cancer (cancer cells are breaking through or invading normal surrounding breast tissue), the tumor measures up to 2 centimeters and no lymph nodes are involved. Stage II is broken down into 2 categories Stage IIA and stage IIB. IIA describes invasive cancer that no tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes under the arm. Stage IIB describes invasive cancer that can be found in the chest wall or breast skin. Stage III is divided into subcategories known as IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. IIIA is when cancer is found in lymph nodes and are clumped together or sticking to other structures. IIB is when the cancer can be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breast and may have spread to lymph nodes, which clump together or sticking to other structures. IIIC is when there may be no sign of cancer in the breast, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes above or below the collarbone and near the breast bone. Stage IV describes invasive breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs of the body such as the lungs, distant lymph nodes, skin, bones, liver, or brain. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy or a combination of therapy. The decision is made between the doctor and the patient and every possible option should be considered, said the breast cancer website. Whether man, woman or child, staying aware of changes in your body is important and should not be ignored. There are many clinics and resources available on and off base that are there to assist patients. For more information go onto the Breast Cancer website at www.breastcancer.org or contact the Women's Health Clinic at 919-722-1802.