Breast Health Myths & Realities
  "I have concerns about my breast cancer diagnosis, but I'm not sure how to communicate with my doctor."

Anytime you have concerns or questions about your breast health, you should talk with your doctor. Communication is an important part of working with your doctor. You know your body best and you can provide them with valuable information.

Many people often say that after a diagnosis, they stop hearing the rest of what their doctor has to say. If you are comfortable, bring a close friend to help listen for key information from your physician.

Also, don’t feel pressured to make decisions immediately regarding your treatment. You may want to take some time to make your treatment decisions or seek a second opinion.

Below are some steps you can take to make conversations with your doctor easier:

1. Be prepared-gather information about your health concerns.

2. Write down your questions-making a list ahead of time will help you feel more prepared. Open ended questions will allow for in-depth discussion.

3. Share your story-Ask to explain your story and your concerns.

4. Provide feedback to your doctor-if you like how the conversation was handled, let him/her know it!

For help getting started, review our,  “Questions to ask the doctor.”

Being breast self-aware is the best way to detect breast cancer at it’s earliest stages.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® recommends that you:

1. Know your risk 
  • Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
  • Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer

2. Get screened
  • Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
  • Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
  • Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40

3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:
  • Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
  • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
  • Change in the size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
  • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
  • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
  • New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

To see illustrations of these warnings signs please visit the Breast Facts section.  
 
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Add exercise into your routine
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Limit postmenopausal hormone use
  • Breastfeed, if you can

For more information regarding treatment options, please visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Honoring Survivors

In 1995, New Balance created Honorary Team New Balance.  Each year, all Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliates have the opportunity to select a breast cancer survivor from within their community who they believe represents the mission of Susan G. Komen.  The Honorary Team New Balance Member is featured on the New Balance website, given a complimentary New Balance outfit, and serves as an ambassador for their local Race for the Cure.  This year, Susan G. Komen’s Greater Kansas City Affiliate has chosen Lisa Coyne as their Honorary Team New Balance Member for the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure®. 

Lisa is a true testament of why it is important to follow recommended screening guidelines.  As a nurse, Lisa knew it was important to talk with her doctor about what screening test were right for her. Lisa had a baseline mammogram at 35 so doctors would know in the future what was normal for her. During her well-woman exam at age 40, Lisa’s doctor recommended she start her first annual mammography screening.  Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer from the results of that mammogram. Thankfully, the results showed that the breast cancer was detected early before any symptoms were present.  When breast cancer is found before it spreads beyond the breast, the five-year survival rate in the U.S. is 99%.  “I’m a walkin’ talkin’ billboard for survivors only because I actually had that mammogram,” says Lisa.

Eight years later, Lisa has undergone multiple surgeries, including a double mastectomy and biopsy surgeries.  One thing that has gotten Lisa through the whole process is her faith in God. “Even as recently as four weeks ago, I am still having lumps tested. I can’t ever let my guard down,” reports Lisa. “But I am singing, laughing, smiling, and sharing my story.” Lisa was named Cancer Action Survivor of the Year in 2007 and works as a hospice nurse at Kansas City Hospice House.  She is thankful that recent genetic testing concluded that she did not pass the gene onto her daughters or her son. 

Congratulations Lisa on being selected as the 2012 Honorary Team New Balance for the Kansas City area.

Have a story to share? Click here to share your survivor or co-survivor story.

Thank you www.seeKCRun.com for providing photos off all our survivors who participated in the New Balance Fashion for the Cure event at Garry Gribbles in June.

Dear Komen

This column is your opportunity to ask questions related to breast health. If you have questions you would like answered in an upcoming "Dear Komen" column, please email our Community Outreach Manager. 

Dear Komen,
I heard that some counties in the metropolitan area have higher late-stage diagnosis rates than others. What counties are those and how can this be improved?

Sincerely,
Kevin in Lenexa

Dear Kevin in Lenexa,
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Kansas City completed our last Community Profile in 2011. This is an in-depth look at the “state of breast cancer” in our 17 county, bi-state service area. Data regarding late-stage diagnosis came from the Kansas and Missouri Cancer Registries.

The following counties had a noticeably higher late-stage diagnosis rate than the rest of our service area:

• Wyandotte County, KS       
• Buchanan County, MO       
• Jackson County, MO

As you may be aware, breast cancers diagnosed at an earlier stage are often more responsive to treatment than those diagnosed at a later stage.  If you are at average risk for breast cancer, one way to reduce a potential late-stage diagnosis is to have clinical breast exams beginning at age 20 and routine screening mammograms beginning at age 40. For women of higher risk, your doctor can provide you with the best screening options for your personal situation. In addition, everyone should know what is normal for them and see a doctor if something looks, feels, or seems abnormal. For more information, please read our breast self-awareness guidelines.

Komen Kansas City has provided grant dollars to local organizations in our service area to provide education and access to services with a goal of reducing late-stage breast cancer diagnosis. For information on these grant partners, please visit our website.

Sincerely,
Komen Kansas City 

Race for the Cure - August 12

The 19th Annual Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure is less than two months away. Are you registered yet? Make plan to join us on Sunday, August 12 at Union Station. The event includes a 5K competitive timed-run, a 5K non-competitive run/walk, and a 1 mile route. This fun event has something for everyone with live music along the route, games for kids, team contests, and plenty of exhibitor giveaways.

Unable to attend Race? Register as a Sleep In for the Cure or Pink in the Pew participant. You'll still earn a Race t-shirt and bib number.

Register now to start a team or participate as an individual. Your involvement will raise important funds for local breast health programs and national research.    

To register, please click here and enter your username and password in the login box at the top of the page.

USERNAME:

PASSWORD: Request your password via email 

Recycling Queen 

It takes a certain kind of person to find joy in recycling and trash pick-up. Luckily for Komen Kansas City, we found someone who loves her volunteer role as the Clean-Up Chair for Komen Kansas City’s Race for the Cure. Stephanie Beck first became involved with our organization through Komen’s 3-Day Races. “I had a conversation with the Race Chair about how I wanted to volunteer locally to help with clean-up in some capacity,” recalls Stephanie. “Somehow, I got roped into being the Clean-up Chairperson. But there is no other volunteer job I’d rather do.”

Since August 2007, Stephanie has been Clean-up Chair for this very important committee. Overseeing trash and recycling for an event with over 20,000 attendees is a big responsibility. Stephanie’s motto for her committee of volunteers is, “we leave the event space cleaner than it was before Race.”

“We strive harder ever year to be as conscious as we can about recycling,” says Stephanie. This is because one piece of non-recyclable material in a recycling dumpster can turn the whole dumpster into trash. By offering more recycling containers throughout the event and dedicating dumpsters specifically for cardboard recycling, Stephanie and her team of volunteers are increasing the number of pounds of trash that can be reused.

What to help Stephanie Race morning? Email us to sign up as a Dumpster Buddy or Roving Clean-up Volunteer for the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure. It’s a great way for individuals or groups to get community service hours or to participate in a team building activity. According to Stephanie, “our volunteers have one of the best jobs during Race because of all the new friends they get to meet while helping people get trash and recyclables in the right places.”

Stop by and see Stephanie (sporting a tutu) Race Morning. She promises a smile, a hug, a thank you and a trash bag to help us out!

Pictured above is Stephanie Beck “aka Dirty Girl” at the 2011 Race. “In 2007, I had large bins of trash and I was running through crowds of people. I yelled ‘excuse me, excuse me, dirty girl coming thru’ a few times,” remembers Stephanie. “Someone heard it and called me that later in the day. It has stuck.”