WOMEN’S HEALTH WEDNESDAY
So in case you missed it, something real big happened in the world of women’s health news this week. The Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation is one of the nation’s largest breast cancer prevention and advocacy organizations. Its founder and CEO is a politician who served under the Bush administration. For the past few years the foundation has given huge grants to Planned Parenthood to provide breast cancer screenings to uninsured women. Yesterday, the foundation succumbed to pressure from anti-abortion protesters and cut all funding to Planned Parenthood.
And a lot of people got mad. Including this co-creator of The Daily Show, featured in this video.
To quote Patrick Hurd, CEO of Planned Parenthood in Southeastern Virgina, whose wife is currently battling breast cancer, “Cancer doesn’t care if you’re pro-choice, anti-abortion, progressive, conservative. Victims of cancer could care less about people’s politics.”
WOMEN’S HEALTH WEDNESDAY
In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, here’s instructions on how to perform a breast self-examination (or BSE) - another important patient education topic.
WOMEN’S HEALTH WEDNESDAY
Risk factors for developing breast cancer:
-Older than 55 years of age (annual mammograms are started at age 40, generally)
-Having had breast cancer in the past (this is one reason why some women choose to have a double mastectomy)
-Family history of breast cancer (specifically a mother, sister or daughter)
-Radiation exposure (such as treatment from a cancer earlier in life)
-Obesity
-Early-onset menarche (before age 12)
-Late-onset menopause (after age 55)
-Having your first child after age 35
-Drinking alcohol
MYTHS. The following are things that have been rumored to be risk factors, but have not been proven to play a role in the development of breast cancer: tight fitting bras, antiperspirants, breast implants and shift work (aka working the night shift).
